How do mediators guide their clients through the maze of emotions surrounding their disagreements to where they can break through their conflict and engage in truly productive communication? In contextual mediation, the mediator first determines the context within which the parties' dispute arose, then works to resolve the conflict underlying the dispute. Once this is done, resolving the dispute becomes much easier, and resolutions that are more likely to be permanent can be reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mediation Quarterly is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)