The best time to seek the help of a mediator is as early in the dispute as those involved feel "stuck".  You’ve worked hard to resolve the issues that brought you to the place of needing help.  You are at an impasse.  That is the time to seek the help of a mediator. 

​Mediation can be scheduled at any time before, during, or even after other approaches to resolution have been tried.  The conflict process has been likened to the stages of a ripening banana: green banana – conflicted parties aren’t ready for help; over ripe banana – conflicted parties have been hurt emotionally and hardened in the process and they aren’t willing to mediate; ripe banana – ready and willing to ask for help from an intervening third party neutral.