"I never thought there was a place that would not judge us or simply tell us to get divorced. We wanted to save our marriage, but it was poisoned with so much hurt. Now we have addressed the past and are moving toward a healthy future. It is very hard work. Mediation, then counseling for our childhood abuse (which was free under IAI's grant) and conflict resolution, parenting and anger management classes, but the people at Innovative Alternatives, Inc. really do care...hey want to see us get better and be happy! Now we are dating again and on the road to doing that without risking our lives and our children's welfare in a war zone! There are just no words......... -client couple, confidential

"Our divorce was sad of course, but would have been a nightmare, and probably a war without your divorce and custody mediation services. Your process helped us focus on our needs and those of our children so they would not get caught in the middle - either now or in the future. Thank you!" -client confidential

"It has been almost a year and I haven't heard a single complaint out of anyone in either department. Before your mediation, I had someone from one or both departments in my office complaining almost every day. I will certainly call on you again if the need ever arises in a different area, but it looks like this issue is finally over, and you helped me save both managers who are extremely valuable to our organization! They are now actually allies instead of enemies! Thanks so much!" -Chief Financial Officer

"I've learned a lot from the program. I feel that now I have more power to say something and stand up for the one getting bullied."

"Yes, because I thought bullying was fighting and arguing. Now I see the students that play around and look like they are having fun, but one of them isn't."

"I've been treating my younger sister better. I've learned to talk to her and not yell. For me that's a big improvement."

"Bully" Therapeutic Group:

"I've stopped and there is no reason to bully. I am a leader and I must treat everybody right."

"I noticed an incident between two freshmen. I stepped in and told the bully to stop. We exchanged words and then a teacher came in and asked the bully to leave. I had empathy for the person being bullied - name called - so I made it stop."

Teacher & Counselor:

"This program highly impacted our children by giving them a more profound awareness of how to deal with bullying situations. As a whole 3^rd grade level, the children feel safer and are more assertive. This program was highly effective and successful with our students." -3^rd Grade Team, Kruse Elementary

"When I was in school, the boys in my gym class and the coaches would pelt this poor kid with balls almost daily and make fun of him for not being athletic. I feel so guilty now that I'm an adult and know how it can destroy a kid. I want this program to work for the kids in our school."

"Thank you for proving to be a true professional and sympathetic to our needs. You are doing a magnificent job of keeping us on track to making this program our own while not 'throwing us into the fire.'" - Teacher, Miller Intermediate School

Parents:

"I know what it's like to be bullied. I am so glad there is a program like this one for my child."

"My daughter made a commitment as of last night, after seeing the anti-bullying program, to try to be kinder to others and watch how she speaks and acts towards them."

"We knew my son was being bullied from 5^th to 7^th grade, but he would never say what was happening or who was doing it. He never told me until high school, 'Mom, I just wanted to die every day. It wouldn't stop. It was the coach as well as the other boys. I was afraid to tell, afraid it would get worse, so I just suffered.' It still affects him into his 20's. This is why Innovative Alternatives, Inc. does something about bullying. It happened to my son." -Sharon Bayus, MA, LPC President & CEO

"There is no way I could adequately express the positive impact Conflict Resolution hashad on the students here at Jessup Elementary thanks to the dedicated staff at Innovative Alternatives.  Our school is a much better place due to the influence of Innovative Alternatives." -Suzanne Hubbard, Counselor; Pasadena I.S.D.

"Peer Mediation changed my life. It taught me to solve problems. If peer mediation was never on this campus, imagine what this school would be like." -7^th grade student, Queens Intermediate

"Students have taken ownership and responsibility for, not only themselves, but their relationships with others. Kids are looking out for each other." -Teacher, Dobie High School

“My counselor is awesome. She knows when and where to go in our sessions. I learned several techniques to cope with stressors and how to identify emotions leading to resulting actions. The sessions exceeded my expectations" - client confidential

“…..mediation saved our family!" - client confidential

“Our divorce was sad of course, but would have been a nightmare, and probably a war without your divorce and custody mediation services. Your process helped us focus on our needs and those of our children so they would not get caught in the middle—either now or in the future. Thank you!" - client confidential

“My counselor was awesome. She helped me through a very difficult time in my life. Her attitude and professionalism was A+. Thank God for people like her…I felt very confident and supported during my traumatic time by my counselor and was able to regain my self-respect and power because of it. My counselor has been very helpful and I have really learned that the abuse was not my fault. One thing that has stayed with me is that I am a worthy person I can honestly say I am here for a reason." -Sixteen-year-old sexually abused victim

“I am doing a lot better. My counselor is very good and we are working on resolving many problems I’ve carried for a long time. I know it’s a process and my counselor is helping me keep on task and confront my fears instead of hiding them or pushing them away." -Adult victim of childhood abuse

“I can honestly say I am here for a reason. That is something I never would have said 2 years ago. I am a sixteen year old who was sexually abused by my father from a very young age. I was able to keep it a secret for 13 years. I covered the abuse well with good grades, lots of friends and lots of extra curricular activities. Materially- I had everything. When I was a freshman I went to IAI for counseling…My dad went to court because he said that it didn’t happen. It was hard to face him and tell the jury about the last 13 years of my life. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I would have never been able to do it without the help of my counselor. I wouldn’t be here today without that help.”

“Our daughter’s counselor was a great help to her… Because of the relationship our little girl had with her, we were willing to drive an hour and a half one-way to continue her therapy at Innovative Alternatives.  Thank you for all you have given our angel. You have been her angel.  God bless and good luck." -client parent

“All the services received from IAI are first rate, very professional, and best of all – very effective. After 7 years of conflict in one of our nursing departments,, it is finally over thanks to IAI." -Nurse Manager

“Thank you for resolving the on-going 3-year, interdepartmental dispute in our district! A full year has passed without further incident!” --CFO

“The negotiation skills I leaned in this mediation training saved this company 2 million dollars!” --Procurement Director

“The customer service training taught me so many people skills, that I feel I am ready for any interaction with any customer. I do not need to take things personally even if they attack me for something I never did, and I can teach my staff these simple skills as well. First rate!” --Manager

“Peer Mediation Training] Best training I’ve received in 17 years of teaching..." -Teacher

“The skills I learned have completely changed the manner in which I approach ministry, they are Biblical and they work. I know how to help others through very difficult situations, and if the situation is very complicated, I refer it to IAI!” –Local Pastor

“After we made agreements in our Reconciliation Mediation, it was important to have the skills to keep those agreements. This [Family Conflict Resolution] training provided not only the keys to hearing each other’s meaning when we speak, but also taught us to speak in such a way that we can be heard and avoid escalating a situation. We will use these skills not only with each other, but also with our children, in the workplace and in the ministries in which we serve in our church. We highly recommend IAI and its programs!”

"[Family Reconciliation Mediation is]Absolutely a superior process/method for working out differences, building relationships, dissecting the ‘what’s working, what’s not working’ dynamics of any relationship; learning more about your partner and yourself in a very secure and unintimidating, supportive environment! It truly helped to understand and address different dynamics of our relationship! –Client Confidential

"She’s been trying to get me to do this for years and I always assumed she wanted to try to ‘fix me’ and was very defensive about coming. I am really glad we came. Thank you for all your help! Things have gotten consistently better for us since we made the first appointment!" -Client Confidential