Susan Schweizer, a principal at Mediation Partners New England, is a conflict specialist focusing on conflict between people and/or organizations in several settings: business, families dealing with elder decisions, family businesses, and organizations. Susan also offers services in facilitation, training, and coaching. Susan is a certified family mediator
By providing a forum for constructive discussions she focuses on moving forward with problem solving preventing problems as well shaping a way forward in existing problems or disputes. Susan also provides conflict coaching for individuals who would like to resolve the conflict themselves but desire advice on strategies or tactics.
I have been mediating since 2002 when I attended U MASS at Boston graduate program in conflict resolution. I broadened my skills and tools set by earning my Master’s in Mediation and Conflict Studies at Champlain College in 2014. My experience has been varied including over one hundred small claims court in MA and NH as well as private cases involving elder issues in families, business, communities struggling with consolidating school districts, families managing shared inherited assets, and employee relations issues in both for-profit and non-profits. I am a certified family mediator.
Once an interested person contacts me, I offer a 30 minute free consultation. During this consultation I ask the person to provide a brief explanation of the dispute or problem to be solved and then I explain the mediation process. The free consultation gives the interested party an opportunity to ask questions and, importantly, get a sense if they could be comfortable working me and trust me. If the person is interested, I ask to be put in contact with the other person or people that will be participating in the mediation so that each can also meet with me for a free consultation.
Once the parties decide to engage me, I send two documents: an Agreement to Mediate and a Fee Agreement. Each of these documents need to be signed by each person participating in the mediation. The next step is for me to conduct in-depth interviews of each participant. During these sessions I explore the nature of the conflict or problem and probe about what each participant wants to achieve. It is during these interviews the location and timing of the mediation is determined. I am prepared to mediate via phone, video, or in-person. There are also text applications that can used if the participants prefer.
MS in Mediation and Conflict Studies, Woodbury Institute at Champlain College
42 Graduate Credits in Conflict Studies – Univ of Massachusetts at Boston
MS in Interdisciplinary Information Science, Univ of Pittsburgh (honors)
MS in Library Service, Columbia University (honors)
BA in Social Studies, Univ at Albany, NY
