Joan Spencer: B.A. (Psych.)., B.S.W., M.A.A.S.W. (Accred.)
Mental Health Social Worker
Allied Health
Email:
Enquiries@jspencer.com.au Phone: (03) 9796 5965. Locations in Hallam
and Pakenham, Victoria, Australia. Hallam; 182 Princes
Highway. Pakenham: 6 Eleanor Court. Joan Spencer
& Associates is a fee for service private practice. Established 1993.
Medicare rebates available following
referral by G. P. of a Mental Health Care Plan to Joan Spencer. (see below)
The Mediation Process can help you
when your marriage has irretrievably broken down:
To find resolution to areas of dispute such as residential rights
under the family law, property settlement etc. with the minimum of legal and
court fees.
Isolate the matters of dispute between parties through the
assistance of a neutral third person or persons, thereby assisting you to
develop options and alternatives to reach consensual and voluntary agreement
that satisfies each participants (partner's and children's) needs.
Attain acceptable resolution and settlement of issues of dispute
through an impartial and neutral third party who has no authoritative
decision-making powers.
WHAT IS MEDIATION?
Mediation, sometimes referred to as dispute resolution,
is a decision-making process by which
people in a relationship are helped to co-operatively
resolve their differences with the help of
qualified and impartial mediators. Such a relationship
may be between husband and wife,
couples in a defacto arrangement, parent and child,
family, employer and employee, or others
in dispute.
Because mediation is a structured process provided in a
safe and supportive environment,
each participant can feel free to express their views
openly.
EVERYONE IN MEDIATION HAS THE RIGHT TO:
Have an equal say.
To be encouraged to talk openly and without fear.
To check out and record agreements.
AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COUNSELLING:
Mediation can be sought as an alternative to counselling. Sometimes
mediation arises out
of the counselling process.
At Joan Spencer & Associates we may, as a part of counselling, offer a
couple in a relationship
a process of resolution known as a "healing separation," or
"therapeutic time-out."
Part of this "healing separation" is an agreement on how each will
respect the rights of the other,
and as they live apart, what financial and other arrangements are seen as
necessary by the
couple concerned.
This process is a form of mediation.
If at the end of the process the couple resolve to end their relationship, a
further mediation
session is offered which involves consideration of such matters as:
Arrangements for children.
Division of property
Parenting of children. etc.
We can help you develop your parenting plan, as suggested by the Family Law
Act.
CO-PARENTING FOR DIVORCED OR SEPARATING COUPLES:
We also offer to divorced and separating couple a series of workshops to help
them co-parent
