Advanced Training

Are you interested in honing your skills and deepening your understanding of mediation? Do you need to meet state requirements for continuing education in advanced mediation to be listed on the court roster? Are you planning a conference and looking for an engaging informative speaker?

Our range of advanced mediation trainings and workshops help you meet these needs. To give you an idea of the range of topics we offer, take a look at some of our popular workshops listed below.

Research is showing the efficacy of pre-mediation separate meetings with parties, yet most mediators have yet to try them. This workshop will examine the research and outcomes of pre-mediation separate meetings and give the do's and don'ts to make them efficient and effective. Included is a video of pre-mediation meetings in a business partnership dissolution.

Two sets of videos of a small business dispute show comparative mediation techniques by Zena Zumeta, JD and Jonathan Muth, JD, both highly regarded mediators in Michigan. Zena Zumeta uses the facilitative style in mostly joint sessions; Jon Muth uses the evaluative style in mostly caucus sessions. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of caucus style and joint session style of mediation across the array of areas of mediation.

The earlier the better: a look at early stage mediation as a way to increase efficiency and satisfaction. Late-stage mediation has been a familiar process for attorneys in many jurisdictions. This method of dealing with impasses tends to work well to avoid trials, but clients today are also interested in reducing expenses and animosity. Early stage mediation is a method of accomplishing both.

Based on the book and training Great Meetings, Great Results by Dee Kelsey and Pam Plumb, the workshop will go in depth into the role of the facilitator, the role of the scribe, and tools and techniques for facilitating group discussion and decision-making. The workshop includes practice sessions. This workshop is appropriate for anyone who would like to facilitate meetings, beginner or experienced facilitator. 

Mediators make superior group facilitators, because they know how to use process and stay out of content. This workshop will discuss the differences between mediation and facilitation. It will introduce the process and give time for participants to practice.

Framing issues is a powerful mediator tool that is often given short shrift in basic training. Take this skill to a new level and improve your efficiency and effectiveness. How is framing different from re-framing? Are there new approaches to framing issues? How do the "pros" frame issues? This workshop will include discussion, video, and role play.

Learn how to ask effective questions to screen for domestic violence and other impediments to mediation. Using the Michigan Domestic Violence Screening Protocol plus video and role play, this workshop will introduce participants to the theory and practice of screening for impediments to mediation. It will also introduce alternative designs for the mediation process for the safety and protection of participants. This training can be one hour to a full day.

This workshop will discuss verbal and emotional abuse and how it impacts mediation for divorce and dissolution of intimate relationships. Verbal and emotional abuse by female perpetrators of will also be discussed. Includes screening protocol, video and role play.

Adult Guardianship and Family Caregiver mediation are quite different from other types of mediation. This can be presented as an introduction to Elder Mediation, or a full training. At the conclusion of the full training, participants will be prepared to organize and perform Elder Mediations, or to participate in Elder mediations. 

Mindfulness and spirituality are both core skills of mediation and can enhance mediation practice. This workshop will introduce you to the concepts of mindfulness and spirituality as separate from religion, will relate them to mediation and ADR, and will give you a chance to experience them through exercises and a short guided meditation.

This interactive session will address issues such as dealing with power imbalance, managing third parties and attorneys; and dealing with tough ethical dilemmas in mediation. The format will include discussion and fishbowl role play demonstration by the instructor of cases brought in by the participants. Participants will have the opportunity to join in as mediators and parties.

Mediators often prefer for lawyers to absent themselves from a mediation or stay in the background. This workshop will present a protocol for effectively working with lawyers as part of a mediation team and inviting them to be part of the main act. The goal is appreciation of the role of mediation by attorneys and appreciation of the role of attorneys by mediators.