Our Mission
Our Mission is to help you find a path from conflict to mutual understanding. By working to remove barriers to communication, you are given voice and empowered to reach a common ground.
Have questions about Common Ground and mediation in general?
Learn more about the range of dispute resolution services we provide.
Learn more about the cost to you for mediation (no more than $25) .
Our Services
Common Ground provides a range of Dispute Resolution services, including mediation, conflict coaching, lemon law arbitration and trainings and consultations.
Conflict coaching is described as developing a set of skills and strategies to manage conflict.
The New York State Lemon Law statute provides a legal remedy for buyers or lessees of new and used cars that turn out to be lemons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our most frequently asked questions answered for you.
Mediation is a private, confidential and voluntary meeting between two or more people who are involved in a conflict. Mediations are facilitated by a neutral, specially trained person called a "mediator."
Mediations cost $25 per person per mediation. If you cannot pay due to financial hardship, we will ask you to complete a Waiver and your session will be free. Payment is expected before your mediation date is scheduled. To find out more about payment methods accepted and to pay for mediation services, visit this page. Cancellations less than 48 hours prior to your mediation will result in forfeiture of your payment. We appreciate your cooperation! Thank you!
Mediations take time, but not as much time as going to court. Usually, mediations take about two hours. If you do not solve your problem or come to an agreement during that time, you can schedule subsequent mediation sessions with your mediator.
It takes about two weeks to schedule your mediation after we have spoken with all of the people involved in your conflict.
If the other party refuses to mediate, you can come to Common Ground for a Conflict Coaching Session. Conflict coaching is a one-on-one meeting with a trained conflict coach who helps you problem solve about your conflict with the other person. The sessions cost $25 per session. Each session can take between one to two hours. Book and pay for your coaching session here!
If you reach an Agreement, your mediator will put it into a written document for each of you to sign. Please bring your Agreement to Court if your mediation was referred by the Court, and the Judge will incorporate it into the Court Record. Common Ground will also send a copy of your Agreement to the Judge, your lawyer (if you have one) and your child's Attorney.
No! We're sorry, but Common Ground does not provide child care. Please DO NOT bring your child to your mediation or conflict coaching session, even if the child you are bringing is not the subject-child of the mediation. Mediation topics, especially child custody, are not apprpriate subjects to discuss in a child's presence. If you do bring your child to your session, you will not be able to mediate at that time and we will need to reschedule your mediation session. We hope you understand and appreciate your cooperation. Thank you!
Our Partners
Contact Us
For questions and bookings, please contact us through the below form. You can also call, text or email us.
Office Address
11 William Street Catskill, NY 12414
Call Us
518-943-0523
Email Us
info@commongroundinc.org
