Flourish Consulting and Mediation FAQ's

General Information

How can I be updated on new developments at Flourish?

To add your e-mail to our mailing list (we will never contact you more than twice per month), please contact us.

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Publications

How do I download a publication from the website?

Simply click the “buy now” button and follow the instructions. You will need a PayPal account to complete your transaction — a free account can be obtained here. Once the order is processed, you will receive an e–mail confirming your order and containing everything you need to download the publication. Once downloaded, you may save it to your personal computer or print it out, as you prefer.

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Once I buy a book, how can I use it?

You may print or save the book for the use of yourself and your family. While you may choose to share your printed version with others (in the same way you would any other book), we ask that you do not distribute electronic copies to others — since that is a violation of the author copyright. If you are a clinician or other professional and would like to purchase bulk copies or multiple electronic licenses, please contact us for reduced pricing.

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Why do I need PayPal to order an e–book?

At this time, our site is enable to accept payments only through the PayPal system. As such, you will need a PayPal account to complete your transaction. PayPal is one of the safest ways to purchase items online. A free, easy–to–use account can be obtained here. PayPal allows you to choose secure processing of your order either by credit card or directly from a confirmed bank account. In either case, none of your financial or account information is available to Flourish Consulting (or any other merchant).

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Coaching

What is a life coach?

A life coach is a partner who helps an individual to reach his or her stated goals through strength assessment, encouragement and accountability. A coach can help you design a plan to reach goals in many areas of your life: relationship, fitness, personal achievement, self–esteem enhancement, and much more. A life coach partners with you, not to diagnose a problem or work through issues from the past, but to develop a game plan for the future. Coaching can be an invigorating and helpful experience to assist individuals with a variety of challenges.

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What is a career coach?

A career coach is similar to a life coach, in that the coach partners with each individual to help meet a particular goal. With career coaching, this goal is related in some way to the workplace — choosing a career, getting a new job, enhancing workplace skills or overcoming barriers to success. A career coach may be invited by the individual being coached, or in some cases by his or her manager. Career coaches may be invited to address a particular issue, or to prepare an individual for the next stage of his or her career.

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What is the difference between coaching and counseling?

Let us first offer the disclaimer that this is a far oversimplified account of the differences, but should present at least the basic outline of the differences between coaching and counseling — at least as they work in our particular practice of each field.

In counseling or psychotherapy, the therapist often helps the client search for the root of the current problem in order to facilitate a long-term solution. A therapist might use her clinical judgment to help a client see how past events have impacted the present, and to resolve issues at their source. In general, a therapist’s job is to assess or diagnose a problem by looking at symptoms and helping the client alleviate the symptoms.

A coach, on the other hand, focuses less on the problem and more on the solution. Rather than examining the past, a coach looks only at the future — where the client wants to go and how to get there. A coach typically focuses more on behaviors and less on feelings (though most coaches are very empathic people who do address feelings along the way). Coaches may be more likely to be directive, hold clients accountable on a daily basis and challenge clients to push themselves; while therapists are more focused on creating a safe environment for change to occur when the client has resolved outstanding emotional issues.

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What do coaching and counseling have in common?

Despite the differences, there are many similarities between coaching and counseling. In both cases, an empathic, caring professional creates a relationship with an individual client in order to facilitate change. In both professions, the therapist and the client mutually agree on goals, boundaries, risks, contract and payment. In both fields, the professional treats the client with positive regard and support, acts in the client’s best interest to the best of her ability and abides by an ethical code of behavior. Both coaching and psychotherapy can empower clients to make significant and lasting changes in their lives.

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Do I need a coach or a therapist?

This is a hard question to answer, because it depends on the individual seeking help, the situation, the timing, and many other factors. In general, if you have a specific goal in mind for making changes in your life and you feel emotionally ready to work toward that goal, coaching may be a good option for you. Coaches are appropriate for those seeking guidance, accountability and encouragement; and who are comfortable with a directive style (as in, having someone make suggestions about behaviors you might try).

On the other hand, if there are unresolved issues from your recent or distant past that you feel are strongly connected to your current dilemma, you might wish to consult a therapist. If you find yourself struggling with complex emotional issues, or you are experiencing severe depression, strong mood swings, blackouts, addiction, memory problems, obsessions, panic attacks or other mental health symptoms, therapy is a better choice. If you have experienced severe trauma or abuse that has never been treated, it is recommended that you seek therapy either before or in addition to coaching.

Finally, if you are not sure which field would be most helpful for you at this time, you might wish to contact one or more professionals in each field and ask them how they might be most helpful to you (at Flourish, you can always contact us to ask about your particular situation). In all cases, if you ever feel that you are not getting what you need from any helping professional, be sure to speak up, and if necessary, seek help elsewhere. Your health is the most important thing, and your instincts should be trusted.

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How can coaching help my company?

Coaching is a great solution for helping individual employees, managers or departments to enhance skills and improve career satisfaction and performance. Coaching can be very broad or very targeted, depending on the presenting issue, as well as time and budget constraints. Coaching is collaborative by nature, and many employees enjoy the one–on–one attention in a coaching session that is rare in larger training sessions. Coaching is a wonderful solution for difficult career transitions (up, down, in, out) and for addressing problems or conflicts within the organization.

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Mediation/Dispute Resolution

What is mediation?

In the court system, legal mediation by a state–registered neutral can take the place of a decision by a judge, and is equally enforceable and binding. In private settings — such as within the company — mediation can be a preventive measure before problems escalate to legal proceedings, departmental transfers, or termination of employment. Flourish Consulting & Mediation focuses on private and corporate mediations.

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Why call a mediator?

Time and money are often the first reasons companies and individuals are drawn to mediation. Mediation is typically faster and far less expensive than other forms of dispute resolution — particularly litigation. By eliminating red tape, court costs and most attorneys’ fees, mediation can save untold time and financial resources.

More importantly, however, mediation offers a far greater opportunity than traditional solutions for parties to preserve and/or repair their relationship. Maintaining the relationship between the disputants can not only preserve morale and mental health; it can save productivity that might otherwise be lost to in–fighting, poor communication, or even vengeful behavior. Because mediation is a facilitative, voluntary process, the participants have an opportunity to be heard and to own the solution that is created. They are therefore more likely to lend that solution their full support.

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What does a mediator do?

A mediator is a neutral third party who facilitates discussion between two parties regarding a specific dispute. By discussing the issue with both parties together, and each person individually, the mediator helps the disputants find common ground. The mediator focuses the conversation and creates a structure for safe expression, as well as helping brainstorm potential solutions. Both sides are challenged to create specific, clear solutions that can be measured, and to develop consequences for non–compliance.

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How does mediation end?

Mediations can end in two ways: (1) agreement — in which the parties agree in writing to specific terms that resolve the dispute, or (2) impasse — when no agreement can be reached and other methods of resolution must be employed. Both results can be productive steps in the process of airing out issues and resolving a dispute.

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What is the difference between legal/traditional and private mediation?

Traditional mediation is a legal proceeding conducted by a registered neutral, in affiliation with a legal court proceeding. The results of a legal mediation are binding, and bear the same legal weight as a court decision.

Private mediation, also known as informal, internal or corporate mediation, is the specialty of Flourish Consulting & Mediation. This type of dispute resolution is typically conducted before a legal proceeding would be considered, often between two managers or employees at the same organization. Private mediation can also be conducted between two individuals when no official legal decision is needed.

For every mediation — traditional or private — it is critical to use a properly trained and certified mediator.

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How can private mediation help my company?

When two or more members of an organization have an unresolved conflict, it can interrupt the flow of daily business activity. During a dispute, productivity suffers: communication weakens as the parties either avoid or undermine one another, time is wasted complaining to supervisors and attempting to gain the allegiance of coworkers, and employees eventually become discouraged and de–motivated.

Internal mediation is a safe, confidential way to resolve conflict within a company. Rather than costly, superficial solutions like employment termination, litigation, or inter–departmental transfers — mediation helps employees to create an organic solution in which they are personally invested and committed. Mediation can help repair relationships, as well as enhance trust and morale within the organization.

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What types of situations work best for mediation?

Mediation can be successful for a wide variety of situations. Interpersonal disputes are the most common — whether between employees or managers at a company, neighbors, or even family members. The best scenarios for mediation are those in which a dispute between two parties has been ongoing for some time and is impeding the organization or family from accomplishing its goals or desires. Typically, mediation addresses the specific issue being disputed, and allows parties to begin resolving the deeper conflict between them on their own.

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When is mediation NOT appropriate?

Private or corporate mediation is not usually appropriate for addressing criminal behaviors, or other situations in which the law mandates specific remedies for public protection [although sometimes these cases are mediated by court–appointed neutrals]. A dispute in which there is a pattern of violent behavior between the parties may not appropriate for mediation. It is critical that any history or allegations of violence be disclosed to the mediator in advance so that arrangements can be made to ensure the safety of all participants.

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How do I choose the right mediator?

Every mediation is different, and there are a wide variety of dispute resolution professionals available — many have different backgrounds, credentials, and expertise. Some mediators are attorneys, while others are professionals in other fields, such as human behavior or psychology. Regardless of background, every professional mediator should be certified — having completed the requisite training hours and hands–on experience for certification. For private or corporate mediations, a mediator with experience in business environments is ideal.

For legally-binding mediations (in lieu of court decisions), some states also require the mediator be a registered neutral. For a list of Georgia’s registered neutrals, click here. Please note that certain types of mediation, like divorce or domestic violence mediation, require advanced training on the part of the mediator.

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