What process involves a third party helping parties to reach their own solution without acting as a judge?

The process that involves a third party helping parties to reach their own solution without acting as a judge is mediation. In mediation, the mediator facilitates conversation between the parties, encouraging them to communicate and negotiate their differences in a collaborative environment. The mediator does not impose a decision or outcome; instead, they guide the parties toward finding a mutually agreeable solution to their conflict. This keeps the power in the hands of the parties involved, allowing them to directly influence the resolution.

Conciliation, while sometimes used interchangeably with mediation, typically involves more direct recommendations or suggestions from the conciliator, who may play a more active role in proposing solutions. Arbitration is a more formal process where a third party hears both sides and makes a binding decision, much like a judge in court. Litigation involves taking disputes to court, where a judge or jury decides the outcome, significantly differing from the collaborative nature of mediation.