Family Mediation NI (Available across NI)

Family Mediation NI has a main office in Belfast from where the coordination of appointments across towns in NI is arranged.

028 9024 3265 (The Enquiry Line is open Mon, Tues Wed & Thurs 10am to 3pm)

Family Mediation offers separating parents the opportunity to take control of their future arrangements for co-parenting their children by helping them find solutions that suit their family circumstances and prevent entry into Court system. The process is also appropriate in other family dispute circumstances.

Family mediation aims to assist separating parents to find private solutions to private problems, reduce negative impact on children and reduce costs. Parents are empowered to find new ways to communicate post separation, they develop a parenting plan, agree contact and residency and access to other extended family members, the role of new partners, new siblings, in fact any issue they wish to discuss can be addressed in a safe and productive environment with the focus on the needs of the children.  They are assisted to develop their own Mediated Agreement.  Direct child Consultation is an additional part of the process used in those cases assessed as appropriate.

FMNI is a training organisation for family mediators i.e We offer an accredited Foundation Training Programme in Family Mediation, approved by the College of Mediators UK and Mediators Institute Ireland.

FMNI is contracted by Dept of Health to provide FREE early intervention mediation to separated parents not in the courts in all five Trust areas.

Preventing entrenchment in the legal system can achieve the best outcomes for children.

FMNI aims to work with other services and the legal profession to achieve the best outcomes for children.

Studies show that engagement in a mediation process reduces the negative impact of parental separation on children.

NOTE: Mediation is not Counselling. FMNI offers a high quality service across NI using a panel of Professional Family Mediators. This Panel is obliged to access regular supervision with our in-house Professional Practice Consultants and attend Continuous Professional Development events to maintain their Panel Membership and membership of accredited bodies. All cases are subject to a robust screening and assessment process to ensure suitability for the facilitative model of mediation offered by FMNI. Confidentiality is our priority and is only breached when a child protection issue or criminal activity is alleged.

One of the top ten Adverse Childhood Experiences for children, is a poorly managed parental separation. Engaging with a practical process that places the child at the heart of the process is beneficial to all. No longer a couple, but always a parent.

Contact FMNI to find out if this process can benefit your family into the future.

To make your first appointment ( Pre-mediation Individual appointment ) Please phone 028 9024 3265 or

Email enquiry@familymediationni.org.uk or administration@familymediationni.org.