Issue 5. First half 2010

The article shows the historical evolution of the mediation concept and of the figure of mediator. some etymological, doctrinal and usual definitions of the mediation concept are provided in this paper.

Emotions and feelings are present in mediation. During the process, the mediator's emotions arrive to the working table, along with those of the attendees, and people who are not present at the room, but are also involved. It is essential for the mediator to correctly handle this emotional mix. The article contains a reflection on the natural emotional language we find easily accessible in our everyday vocabulary. One of the main resources employed by a capable mediator is emotional intelligence. Facilitating the meeting is only possible when the role of the mediator's emotions and the participants' emotions is understood. Various mediation strategies are established and employed, so that all emotional expression is beneficial to the entire process.

Intercultural mediation in the health system allows immigrants to access public services by supporting their integration, making the acceptance and the follow-up of treatments easier. The Mediation actions that are currently carried out by hospitals, health centres and NGOs have a prevention approach to the conflicts that might arise between immigrants and the health system in the country where they are settled. The main action lines of this mediation action draw upon the information given to migrants, awareness raising among the population, training of professionals, and translation and interpreting.

Sometimes, families find themselves in hard in-law situations that make them feel they have lost control of their situation as fathers, mothers and suns and daughters. The author describes a Family Mediation process, its steps and the interventions that allowed a family in a hard in-law situation to take control again of their family life.