David and Angela have reached family mediation day. Using information presented in previous units, prepare a memo indicating the number of sessions necessary to resolve David and Angela’s current family conflict. Be sure to substantiate your conclusion.
Also note how family law mediation in the situation of David and Angela would differ significantly from negotiations in a labor relations setting. What questions could a mediator use to defuse the anger that David and Angela may feel as the session begins?
Your memo should be at least two typed pages in length.
****KEY FACTS ON DAVID AND ANGELA FICTICIOUS COUPLE******
In this week’s Seminar, we meet our fictitious couple, David and Angela, who met as high school seniors and dated for three years prior to their marriage. The couple is now in their seventh year of marriage. There are increasing problems over money. David, who was more outgoing in the earlier days of the relationship, has become more distant during the past year. Angela suspects that David is having an affair, and often raises this issue. David denies that he is having an affair. David and Angela have two children, Benjamin (age two) and Connie (age four). David is a Certified Public Accountant. He works many extra hours during the spring each year. Angela is also an accountant but is not a CPA. Angela hates accounting and would prefer to be writing screenplays. She has worked outside the home, in an accounting job, on a part-time basis since the birth of Connie. David believes that Angela does not work hard enough at her job. Angela believes that David is not ambitious enough to move ahead at work.
