Mediation can be as simple as a conversation between people (often referred to as “parties”) who are having a conflict, with the support of a neutral facilitator to help guide the conversation. Mediators make sure all parties have a chance to speak, be heard and express their needs and interests. Sessions usually last approximately 2 hours, and parties sometimes schedule additional sessions, as needed. Mediation is often used as an alternative to court and legal processes, which can be costly and unnecessarily traumatic.