MEDIACIJA SOCIALINIO DARBO KONFLIKTINĖSE SITUACIJOSE: KLIENTO Į(SI)GALINIMO PRIIMTI SPRENDIMĄ ASPEKTAS / MEDIATION IN CONFLICT SITUATIONS IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE: AN ASPECT OF EMPOWERING THE CLIENT’S DECISION-MAKING ABILITIES

In the article, a qualitative study aims to reveal the possibilities for applying mediation as a method to empower clients in making decisions in conflict situations in social work. Mediation initially emerged in Lithuanian society in the judicial sphere, but entirely new opportunities have begun to take shape in social work. The analysis of the participants’ reflective experiences reveals that social mediation is gradually becoming a competence or specialisation for social workers. Active listening to the client, their involvement in the mediation process, where equality and openness between the conflicting parties prevail, opens up opportunities for the client’s personal transformation process, aimed at empowering them to take responsibility for the process, seek solutions, and adhere to them. The analysis shows that mediation influences clients’ empowerment to make decisions in conflict situations in social work, and enables them to act in real life as well.