Mediation is a process in which an impartial third party (the mediator) assists couples and disputants in finding a mutually acceptable solution to their conflicts. Mediation is both voluntary and confidential.
Mediation works because it allows the participants to find the best and longest lasting solutions themselves with an intermediary's help. While it might be hard to imagine calmly and rationally discussing the dissolution of your marriage, the alternative is costly litigation and the court deciding what's best for you and your family.