Innovative Services for People in Transition-
Carol Weser and Sarah Gurney Offer
Their Services as Co-Mediators
by Sarah Glade Gurney
Sonoma West Times & News
February 2010 Progress
Carol Weser and Sarah Gurney offer their services as co-mediators.
I’ve learned from my collaborative
law practice that I deliver
better legal services to my
client when I work closely with a mental
health professional on the client’s
team. Now I want to apply this lesson
to my mediation practice,” says
Sebastopol attorney Sarah Gurney.
Carol Weser and Sarah Gurney now offer their paired services as comediators
for clients in transition in
their family lives. They believe this is
the first time such services have been
available in Sonoma County.
Traditional mediation involves one
attorney working as a neutral facilitator
for two clients to help them settle
their legal disputes. Co-mediation
adds the mental health professional to
the mediation sessions.
The mental health professional
helps the clients with the emotional
issues and communication challenges
in ways that enhance the effectiveness
of the attorney. “We believe that this
new form of mediation may be more
effective that the one-professional
model and less costly than collaborative
practice with the four-member
team,” say Carol and Sarah.
The co-mediation team works with
these goals in mind: to help clients
achieve respectful communication,
transparency in the exchange of information,
and resolution without having
to go to court. Carol supports clients in
clarifying and expressing their needs
and interests, and together with
Sarah, helps the clients brainstorm
and assess options, then negotiate a
lasting, win-win conclusion.
Carol has spent her adult life helping
to improve the quality of life on a
one-person and one-couple-at-a-time
level, both in her psychotherapy practice
and as a dispute resolution coach.
In practice for over 30 years, she holds
two California licenses, Marriage and
Family Therapist and Clinical
Psychologist.
Sarah entered the practice of law
after two other successful careers.
She’s worked exclusively in Sonoma
County for 19 years, starting as a litigation
associate, then as a partner in
a downtown Santa Rosa law firm.
Going solo in 2006 in Sebastopol, she
has dedicated her professional efforts
to out-of-court settlement.
Carol and Sarah look forward to
working with clients together. Their
assistance can help clients through
the emotional issues and stresses that
accompany any major life change.
Give them a call if you need their help
with your family situation.
Contact Dr. Weser:
Dr. Carol Weser
carolweser.com
526-2288
Contact Sarah Glade Gurney:
Click here
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