TEORIJSKI OKVIRI ZA PRIMJENU OSNAŽIVANJA U MEDIJACIJI RODITELJSKIH SUKOBA

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS FOR THE APPLICATION OF EMPOWERMENT IN THE MEDIATION OF PARENTAL CONFLICTS ABSTRACT Empowerment is a process which enables the mediation participants to gain or regain the control of their own lives and which includes the recognition of the sources of their inability and learning of the ways and methods to achieve the desired outcomes by activating the strengths and resources of the participants. Empowerment enables the establishment of the balance of power in the relationships and emphasises the role of the participants, their right to self-determination and their own decision-making, which is of key importance in the process of the mediation of parental conflicts. Even when an agreement was reached in the mediation of parental conflicts, it has been shown that its implementation is often very complex, especially if it was reached directively, since the needs of the family parent and children are more complex than that. Therefore the paper presents the concept of empowerment and the possibility of its implementation in mediation and some other theoretical concepts significant for understanding of the complex family and parental dynamics during and after the divorce. The understanding and application of these theoretical concepts in the family mediation practice is important for the mediators in order to empower the participants in a timely and effective manner to, even if they fail to reach an agreement, improve their level of readiness to reshape the conflicted relationship which, when the parents are in question, continues even after the termination of partner relationships. Key words: family mediation, parental conflicts, empowerment.