Family Mediation with John Haynes (Ukrainian subtitles)
- Jun 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 1
John Haynes
Before 1978, there was no publicly available way in the United Kingdom to resolve issues related to divorce other than through separate legal representation. The concept of a third party helping separating partners cooperatively work out the consequences of their parting was a true revolution. The Finer Committee recommended such a scheme in 1973, and the voluntary sector began providing these services in the late 1970s.
John Haynes, who died at the age of 67, was an inspiring mediator who taught members of this new profession how it should be done.
Professional Vision and Impact
A highly skilled teacher, Haynes was firmly convinced that mediation should stand as an independent profession, rather than functioning as a subset of legal practice, social work, or counseling.
The establishment of the UK College of Family Mediators in 1995 reflected this very determination.
Haynes also played an important, albeit indirect, role in incorporating mediation into the Family Law Act 1996, which made the practice accessible through the legal aid system.
He served as the founding president of the Academy of Family Mediators. In 1984, he delivered the inaugural lecture in London for the National Family Conciliation Council (which later became National Family Mediation) and began traveling the globe. His efforts resulted in the training of 20,000 mediators worldwide — predominantly lawyers and social science professionals. Throughout his career, he worked extensively across North and South America, Europe, Australia, and South Africa.
Core Literature
His books became the absolute foundation of this newly emerging discipline. His most notable works included:
Divorce Mediation: A Practical Guide for Therapists and Counselors (1981)
Mediating Divorce: Casebook of Strategies for Successful Family Negotiations (co-authored with his wife, Gretchen)
Personal Philosophy and Legacy
Haynes was also one of the founding members of the World Mediation Forum. His readiness to express his Quaker faith — specifically the belief that goodness can always be found in people — often surprised those around him.
"If you don't see the good in your client", he once observed, "then dig for it".
He was widely distinguished by his humility, clarity of thought, immense zest for life, mischievous sense of humor, and profound generosity in sharing his ideas.
John Haynes, mediator Born: October 28, 1932 | Died: December 22, 1999