Philip Crump,
Mediator
& Facilitator
2200 Fort Union Drive • Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

(505) 989-8558 • philip at pcmediate.com  

Since 1992, serving Santa Fe, Taos, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Ratón, Silver City, Farmington...all of New Mexico!

 Home: About Mediation & Facilitation
 About Philip Crump (includes Resume)
 Divorce, Custody, Family & Relationship Mediation
 Employment, EEO & Workplace Mediation
 Construction, Commercial & Partnership Mediation
 Special Education/Disability/ADA Mediation
 Facilitation, Planning & Group Processes


Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe.

A Prayer for Peace --Satish Kumar (1981)

 

16 years of helping people be their best, even when they feel their worst...

“We got more out of this session that we did from a year of couple’s therapy...”

“A large part of the experience was the great planning and orchestration that Philip Crump provided.
The family felt very empowered, supported, and informed. He is a gem.”

“I wish we had come to see you two years ago...”

“I now have a much better appreciation for the way you conducted that meeting, having attended a meeting two months ago which, no doubt, would have gone much smoother had someone with your abilities been present.”

“Thank you for everything you did. We were able to
[finalize our divorce] withoutgoing to court, and without lawyers.”

“Mr. Crump demonstrates great skill in fostering and atmosphere of trust in which differences in viewpoint may safely be expressed....He has also demonstrated an ability—through empathic listening—to help angry adults express their feeling safely, to clarify issues and re-establish working relationships.”

Do you have a problem that needs a solution?

Are you involved in a difficult situation that...

   • continues, despite your best efforts?

   • drains your spirit, resources, energy?

   • you want resolved quickly, with dignity?

Reach a complete, cooperative and constructive resolution—
through mediation with a skilled and experienced mediator
.

 

WHAT IS MEDIATION?
Mediation is confidential, voluntary and informal. It is a way for people to make creative and fair decisions together regarding their disputed issues. People who want cost-effective and low-impact forms of decision-making can use the assistance of a neutral mediator, who has no stake in the outcome of those decisions. Unlike arbitration or litigation, mediating parties have all the decision-making power. There is no third party (judge or arbitrator) telling anybody what to do.

If you want to make your own important and mutually acceptable decisions that are good for all of you, AND you are willing to do what it takes, then read on....

(If you want a stranger making important decisions that impact your life, or if you prefer the battlefield to the peace table, then this may not be the way for you....)

I want to help you be your best—at a time when that may seem difficult or impossible.

The mediator helps each person express perspectives and needs in ways that others may hear and understand. When people really understand what each other's issues or needs are, they usually are more able to respond positively to those needs. Mediators help people distinguish their positions (what they want) from their needs and interests (why they want them).

I am strongly committed to creating safe spaces in which people problem-solve together to make effective mutual decisions. Facilitation is similar; because it usually involves groups, though it may not be confidential in the same way. I provide mediation, facilitation and training for a broad range of issues, such as divorce, child custody, work relationships, disability, special education, construction  and other areas where creative problem-solving has been difficult.

Mediation and Facilitation can provide broader satisfaction including:
• Substantive satisfaction (getting results),
Procedural satisfaction (in a way that works for you) and
Psychological satisfaction (feeling good or complete about the outcome).
All three are important for people who really want to move ahead, in a way that merely settling the substantive issues cannot provide.

WHAT MEDIATION IS NOT:
It is not Arbitration, in which a neutral person hears from both sides and makes a decision (as a judge).
It is not Settlement Facilitation (what lawyers often call “mediation”), in which a facilitator—usually an attorney—shuttles     between rooms containing clients and attorneys, negotiating settlement.
It is not Litigation, in which a formal judge hears from attorneys and decides outcomes.
It is not Psychotherapy; though feelings may be expressed, it is about decision-making, not healing

Although mediation often takes place around issues that may have legal implications, the decisions themselves are best made by the participants. Courts have recognized this and often urge people to mediate rather than rely on the capriciousness of a overworked judge dealing with a crowded court docket.

A major advantage to mediation is that it allows participants to share their personal feelings, experiences, expectations, and hopes—privately and in constructive ways. This is not therapy; while individual psychological features shape human action, mediation focuses on behavior and its immediate motivations and impacts. The ultimate goal of most therapy is mental and emotional health and happiness. The ultimate goal of most mediation and facilitation is good decision-making.

“Philip, ...There really aren’t words in any vocabulary I can think of to express how deeply grateful I am to you and your dedication to this process of mediation. You are truly an artist in the realm of collaboration.”
                                                                                                                                         --Unsolicited note from client

 

Why Mediation works:

§         You remain in control—in a confidential, informal and flexible process that moves at your pace

§         You get more of what you need—resolution on your terms of the important issues, big and small

§         Mediation is more affordable—and often faster than other ways of settling disputes and making decisions

§         Mediation is positive—“win-win” means focusing on getting everyone’s needs met, with mutual respect

§         Mediation inspires creativity—you become free to explore more options, collaboratively, and with safety

§         Mediation encourages hope—end “blame games”--open the door to many previously unseen possibilities

§         Mediation is goal-oriented—towards your own fair, complete and durable resolution of the issues

 

WHAT IS MY APPROACH?
For me, mediation focuses on how people want things to be in the future (what they can influence) rather than on the past (what they can't change). It is about creating a positive future rather than remaining stuck in pain, blame and retribution. Recognizing that actions in the past may have impact, however, the mediator can help people say what they need in order to move beyond past events.

I do not practice “muscle” mediation; I do not tell parties what they should do or force them to accept a particular decision or outcome. Clarifying questions help reduce the misunderstanding so often a part of conflicts. I can help brainstorm possible approaches to resolution. Cooperative problem solving replaces personal assumptions. I do have a responsibility to help people “reality test” proposals for resolution they may bring forward, including the consequences for not accepting a less-than-perfect outcome.

MEDIATOR VALUES
My approach encompasses the values I hold as a mediator/facilitator, including:

·            Act compassionately—because each person has needs to be acknowledged

·            Demonstrate patience and flexibility—because it may take longer than planned

·            Remain nonjudgmental—because my opinion will only interfere with their resolution

·            Exemplify objectivity & neutrality—I will advocate for everyone at the table

·            Model respect and trust—because each person adds value to the discussion

·            Encourage mutuality & optimism—because creativity occurs when people work together

·            Show empathy & acceptance—I can understand and accept others’ experience

·            Practice detachment and harmlessness—because my job is to keep everyone safe

You can read about mediation and my work at Santa Fe New Mexican article about mediation and hear a radio interview with me about workplace mediation at PEACE TALKS: MEDIATION IN THE WORKPLACE. An additional article (from the Journal North) describes many of the advantages of mediation.

My commitment  
To move people confronting a difficult situation along a common path toward mutual, lasting resolution of issues

So that they experience relief, renewed personal strength, and increased capacity to work together comfortably

Thereby best serving themselves and those they influence.


HOW DOES IT WORK?
One of the disputing parties contacts the mediator. Either that person or the mediator invites the other person to mediate the dispute. Mediation occurs only when everyone agrees to it, even though someone may be skeptical at first. I provide time for a brief Free Consultation before the session actually begins, giving participants a chance to ask about my approach and for everyone to decide whether mediation seems the most suitable avenue for resolution of their situation. (As a professional committed to providing potential clients with the highest level of service, if it seems there will not be a good “fit” among us, I will help them find other appropriate mediation services.)

The mediation begins with signing the Agreement to Mediate. It sets out the conditions and characteristics of mediation, some basic ground rules for discussion, and the mediator's fee. In the session, each person has opportunity to speak and to be heard, until the issues and perspectives are clear. The mediator facilitates the discussion and negotiation until the parties reach agreement.

My critical question for you is—
             "What do you want to achieve in the mediation process?" –-
                      When you identify your (mutual, positive, future-focused) goals, I’ll do my best to help you reach them.

The typical outcome of mediation is a Memorandum of Agreement, which describes in writing the terms of settlement reached through mediation. For informal disputes, this is usually sufficient. For some legal matters, this document goes to the attorneys for review, revision and inclusion with the case documents.

WHAT DOES IT COST?
In general, because there are no extensive fees for preparation, documentation, discovery, filing of motions or other activities associated with legal actions, the cost of a mediated resolution is often much less than settlement via litigation. In addition, the emotional cost tends to be much lower, since mediation provides a safe means of addressing relationship concerns as well as facilitating settlement of the specific issues. The costs and conditions are outlined in the Agreement to Mediate signed by everyone present at the session. Sessions usually run an hour and a half to two hours.
 
WHAT IS FACILITATION?*
Facilitation is a related approach that addresses larger group concerns. Often, it means helping members of a group define their goals and agree on how to reach them. Sometimes, facilitation in conjunction with mediation brings out particular issues facing members of the group and then presents the issues for discussion in a safe and constructive atmosphere. Likewise, this process can be used to help groups plan their future by bringing out everyone’s hopes, dreams (and fears) in a productive setting.

I am experienced with both public and private facilitation—land-use and planning decisions, as well as strategic planning for boards and businesses and partnering on construction projects. I am proud to be a part of the New Mexico First facilitation team. The City of Albuquerque Land Use Facilitation Program provides a safe place for neighbors and applicants for planning changes to come together and hash out their concerns prior to formal hearing. I have been an active member of that land-use program since its beginning in 1998.

Appreciative Inquiry is an approach to organization development—how people work together effectively—that focuses on “what works” rather than what does not. Remember “Seek and ye shall find?” Well, if you look for problems, sure enough you will find them. Instead, looking for positive activities, strategies, approaches and attitudes helps individuals and groups learn how to strengthen what they may already know.

For group workplace disputes, a process referred to as “intervention” uses both mediation and facilitation techniques to help people talk safely and openly about the issues of concern and create new group understanding and agreements about how to make the work situation better for everyone. Many of the organizations listed in my resume have asked me to help them become more effective using this approach.

* See a lot more at  Facilitation, Planning & Group Processes

 

Links to Professional Organizations:
 New Mexico Mediation Association – Our statewide professional organization
 Association for Conflict Resolution – The national organization of mediators

Contact Information:

Philip Crump, Mediator & Facilitator
Phone: (505) 989-8558    
2200 Fort Union Drive
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505        Philip at pcmediate.com
                Please contact me for a Free Consultation!

 Home: About Mediation & Facilitation
 About Philip Crump (includes Resume)
 Divorce, Custody, Family & Relationship Mediation
 Employment, EEO & Workplace Mediation
 Construction, Commercial & Partnership Mediation
 Special Education/Disability/ADA Mediation
 Facilitation, Planning & Group Processes

I am a member of the Santa Fe Alliance—locally-owned independent businesses, organizations and community members dedicated to building a healthy local economy.     www.SantaFeAlliance.com

 

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