Credentials

Simply having credentials doesn't make someone worthy of being your mediator or parenting coordinator....

Instead, think of credentials as a starting point and not the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. It's important to make sure that the Mediator or Parenting Coordinator's designations are meaningful to you and your needs, because you will almost certainly be paying up for the these marks and what they bestow on the professional. Does the designation mean anything unique in the services that you require?

It can be impressive to find a service provider with all the letters after their name, and there is nothing wrong with that. But if you just need someone with expertise in the dynamics of the divorced families then you are paying the freight for all of the expertise that you aren't using and don't expect to need. In that case, someone who is focused their practice in the specific and unique territories of divorce and with less invested in getting disproportionate credentials can provide qualified assistance at a lower cost.

Assume that the letters after the mediator or parenting coordinator's name mean something in terms of the price you will pay, as in "the more credentials, the bigger the bill." That's not always true, but that kind of thinking will help you find someone who is "properly qualified" to work with you, rather than being over- or underqualified.

Training, education and experience....

Credential confusion can leave consumers vulnerable to service providers with unsuitable experience or knowledge in functioning with divorcing families.

In general, legitimate credentials prove that the professional is furthering his or her education; with the rules and regulations of the organization awarding the credentials. However, don't sell experience short and give too much credit to letters after the professional's name without verifying that they truly are keeping up with education relevant to the field of service as a mediator or parenting coordinator. Are they knowledgable and alert to the latest empirical clinical divorce research? Methods and outcomes are changing nearly every year, current information and knowledge is crucial. Have they done the demanding and respected work to earn the designation of expert and proficient in the unique environment of divorce and children.

By asking the professional to spell out the benefits you get from their expertise, you go a long way toward defining what to expect from the relationship.