Healthcare Mediation for Disputes Regarding Acute or Chronic Illness, Psychiatry, and Addiction

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Healthcare, mental health, and addiction mediation is a confidential, guided process that helps families, caregivers, and support networks work through disagreements about medical care, treatment plans, or support strategies for a loved one facing significant health-related challenges. This area of mediation likely will include facets of coparenting or probate mediation, and similarly, it brings a neutral third party into emotionally charged situations to facilitate communication, identify shared goals, and help parties move toward resolution.

This form of mediation is especially valuable when legal, ethical, or financial questions complicate an already difficult situation.

When This Mediation Is Helpful

  • There is no clear agreement about a course of treatment, especially for chronic illness, psychiatric care, or substance use recovery.

  • It is unclear who has the legal or moral authority to make decisions for the individual in question.

  • The cost of care or treatment is significant, and there is disagreement about how to pay for it or whether it is justified.

  • There is concern that the issue may end up in court, regardless of who is formally designated as the decision maker.

  • Family members, guardians, or caregivers are in conflict, leading to stalled or fractured decision-making.

Key Topics That May Be Addressed

  • Major medical procedures or long-term treatment plans

  • Involuntary or court-ordered psychiatric care or addiction treatment

  • Placement in long-term care or rehabilitation facilities

  • Use of private funds to cover medical or therapeutic costs

  • Communication protocols between caregivers, providers, and family members

  • Guardianship, power of attorney, or healthcare proxy disputes

Special Expertise:

MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION

Our team is especially well prepared to assist in disputes involving mental health and addiction. We understand the unique sensitivities, stigma, and legal complexity that can arise in these situations. Whether the conflict centers around treatment refusal, behavioral conditions for remaining in a shared home, or concerns over caregiver burnout, our mediators provide a structured environment to work toward clear, respectful solutions.

Children’s Healthcare

Mediation may be used when parents or guardians disagree on treatment plans for a child, including surgery, ongoing care, or complex medical procedures. These situations may arise in shared custody scenarios, blended families, or even intact families facing difficult choices.
Our mediators—who are also trained therapists—understand the emotional toll of parenting a sick child, and the intense stress that can surface in moments of disagreement. Mediation offers a space to express concerns, explore options, and reach an agreement that supports the child’s best interest.

Benefits of Mediation

  • Reduces stress and conflict during critical and emotionally difficult times

  • Provides a neutral space for all voices to be heard, including those of the patient if appropriate

  • Clarifies roles and responsibilities without requiring immediate court intervention

  • Offers a faster, more cost-effective alternative to litigation

  • Helps avoid legal escalation by reaching consensus on next steps

Moving Forward

Mediation may lead to:

  • A written agreement outlining care decisions, financial responsibilities, or future steps

  • Clarified communication strategies between involved parties

  • A partial resolution with continued mediation or legal review

  • No agreement, in which case the parties may proceed to court better informed and more focused

We are trained and registered to provide healthcare-related mediation services throughout Georgia. Our mediators are skilled in navigating complex medical, mental health, and addiction-related disputes with professionalism and sensitivity.