What Services Do You Offer?
Common Ground offers mediation, educational advocacy, IEP support, executive function coaching, and parent coaching. Services are structured, collaborative, and designed to help clients move forward with clarity and practical next steps.
What Is Mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process that helps people work through conflict with the support of a neutral third party. Rather than taking sides or making decisions, the mediator guides respectful conversation, helps clarify concerns, and supports problem-solving so the people involved can reach their own agreements.
Mediation offers a more collaborative and less stressful alternative to litigation. It allows participants to maintain control over outcomes, preserve relationships where possible, and move forward with greater clarity and understanding.
Because the process is flexible and focused on communication, mediation is often faster, more cost-effective, and more emotionally supportive than adversarial approaches.
At Common Ground, we create a calm, structured space where all voices are heard and meaningful resolution becomes possible.
What Can I Expect From The Mediation Process?
Mediation typically begins with an intake process to understand the nature of the dispute and ensure that mediation is appropriate for the matter. Sessions are structured yet flexible, allowing participants to share concerns, identify priorities, and explore potential solutions.
The mediator facilitates respectful communication, helps clarify areas of agreement and disagreement, and supports collaborative problem-solving. Participants are encouraged to speak openly and thoughtfully while maintaining a focus on constructive outcomes.
Mediation does not require parties to reach an agreement. The goal is to support informed decision-making and forward movement, whether that results in a full agreement, partial agreement, or greater clarity about next steps.
Is Mediation Confidential?
Yes. Mediation is a confidential process, with limited exceptions required by law. Confidentiality helps create a safe space where participants can speak openly, consider options thoughtfully, and engage in honest conversation without concern that statements will later be used against them.
The specific scope of confidentiality is reviewed before mediation begins so everyone understands what to expect.
Do Both Parties Have To Agree To Mediation?
Yes. Mediation is a voluntary process, and all participants must choose to take part. No one can be forced into mediation, and any party may pause or end the process at any time.
This shared willingness helps support respectful dialogue and more productive conversations.
What If We Don’t Reach An Agreement?
Reaching an agreement is not required for mediation to be meaningful. Many participants find value in gaining clarity, improving communication, or better understanding their options—even if full resolution is not reached.
Partial agreements or narrowed issues can still represent important progress.
Is Mediation Right For My Situation?
Mediation can be helpful in many situations, but it is not the right fit for every matter. During the intake process, we take time to assess whether mediation is appropriate based on the nature of the conflict, readiness to participate, and any safety considerations.
If mediation is not a good fit, we will discuss alternative paths forward.
How Many Sessions Are Typically Needed?
The number of sessions needed varies based on the complexity of the issues and the goals of the participants. Some matters are resolved in a single session, while others benefit from additional meetings.
Mediation is paced intentionally to allow for thoughtful discussion without unnecessary pressure or delay.
What Is Educational Advocacy?
Educational advocacy supports families navigating school systems, accommodations, evaluations, and special education services. This may include record review, strategic preparation, and communication support to help families participate confidently and collaboratively.
Educational advocacy is not legal representation and does not replace advice from an attorney.
What Is IEP Support?
IEP support provides structured guidance before, during, and after IEP meetings. Services may include review of assessments, eligibility considerations, goal feedback, meeting preparation, and post-meeting action planning so families feel informed and supported.
What Is Executive Function Coaching?
Executive function coaching is skills-based support focused on planning, organization, time management, task initiation, and follow-through. Coaching is practical and action-oriented, designed to build sustainable routines and strategies for school and daily life.
Coaching is not therapy and does not include diagnosis or mental health treatment.
What Is Parent Coaching?
Parent coaching provides collaborative, strengths-based guidance to help parents build confidence, strengthen communication, and implement practical strategies for behavior challenges, emotional regulation, and consistent family routines.
Parent coaching is not therapy and does not include diagnosis or mental health treatment.
Professional Fees
Mediation
$350/hour with a three-hour minimum per mediation session. Packages available on request.
Educational Advocacy + IEP Support
$225/hour with a 90-minute minimum for IEP meetings and 60-minute minimum for strategy sessions. Document review is billed at a rate of $125 hourly.
Executive Function Coaching
$225/hour (60-minute sessions). Packages available upon request.
Parent Coaching
$225/hour (60-minute sessions). Packages available upon request.
A limited number of reduced-rate openings may be available on a case-by-case basis, depending on scope and current availability. Payment is required prior to the commencement of services.
Cancellation Policy
All session modification or cancellation requests require at least two (2) business days’ notice. Requests made with less than two business days’ notice are non-refundable.
Sessions begin promptly at the scheduled start time. Late arrivals do not extend the session and billed time will not be adjusted.
Failure to attend a scheduled session without notice constitutes a no-show. Fees for no-show sessions are non-refundable and may not be credited toward future services.
