Hi There!

Thank you for taking this important step.

We've received your mediation retainer, and your session is now confirmed. I know that reaching this point is rarely easy. Conflict can be emotionally exhausting, time-consuming, and filled with uncertainty. My hope is that this process provides a structured, supportive path forward.

Your next steps are below — please complete each one.

1. Schedule Your Pre-Mediation Meeting

If we haven't already done so, please schedule your meeting with me with the calendar button below.  
 

This is an individual pre-mediation conversation I have with each participant, so everyone has a chance to understand the process, ask questions, and arrive feeling informed and prepared.

2. Read, Sign, and Prepare

Before we meet, please complete both of the following prior to our Pre-Mediation Meeting:

Read: 

Preparing for Your Mediation — a short guide to help you think through what to bring and what to expect. 

Please bring any documentation you feel is relevant to our Pre-Mediation Meeting.

Sign:

You'll receive your Mediation Engagement Agreement and Confidentiality Agreement by email within 48 hours of booking your meeting. Please sign and return both before our scheduled meeting — this protects what you share with me and confirms how we'll work together. If you haven't received it within 48 hours, please text me at 512.269.8377.

3. The Guided Mediation Session

During mediation, my role is to provide a structured, neutral, and supportive process where each person has the opportunity to be heard, explore options, and work toward practical agreements you create together. We'll schedule this once Steps 1 and 2 are complete.

4. Resolution and Follow-Up

If and when agreements are reached, we'll review next steps and discuss whether additional professionals — such as attorneys, accountants, or financial advisors — should assist in formalizing the outcome.

A few important reminders:

• Mediation is voluntary and collaborative.
• I serve as a neutral third party and do not provide legal advice or determine outcomes.
• The agreements reached in mediation are created by the participants themselves.
• If specialized legal, financial, or tax guidance is needed, I encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals.

Thank you again for placing your trust in this process. I consider it an honor to walk alongside people during some of life's most difficult conversations. My goal is not simply to help you resolve the issue in front of you, but to help you move through it with clarity, dignity, and confidence.

If you have any questions before we meet, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Warmly,

Marianne MacKenzie Peterson
The Modern Mediator™
 

Transformational Conflict Resolution for Work, Family, and Partnership
mm@mariannemackenzie.com
(512) 269-8377