Mediation

Katie D.

August 29, 2010 - 10:25 AM

This weekend and next weekend, the CRES cohort is participating in a mediation training which provides the groundwork for future work in community and law-based mediations.

For those who have not been involved with mediation in the past, it is a form of conflict resolution in which two parties (or sometimes more) bring a dispute to a mediator (or team of mediators) and together work out a resolution acceptable to all participants. Mediations occur in a huge range of situations, from disputes in the workplace to roommate arguments, divorce settlements, small claims, and development.

As mediators, we are learning to become a neutral third party, able to navigate a dispute between two parties and to guide them into reaching a resolution satisfying to each.

It's an intriguing process. Basically, when two people are upset at each other, there is often such a breach of communication that they can't even hear the other person's perspective anymore. The emotions of a dispute get in the way of understanding the immediate issues at hand. A mediator listens to each party, affirming their interests and creating an atmosphere of equal dialogue.

It's sort of like a dance. Essentially, you ask each person to share their stories. Then you summarize each story, affirming that their perspectives are heard and valued, but removing the inflammatory language so the other party can access the underlying issues.

We spent the last two days learning the techniques for mediation. These include basic skills like questioning and active listening, as well as specific procedures for moving through a mediation meeting with the parties. We've witnessed demo mediations, done exercises to practice concepts, and held mock mediations.

I'm beginning to get the feel for the process and practice of mediation. It has to do with creating a safe space of dialogue, in which the participants themselves can begin to first voice their concerns and then develop their own solutions.

I'm not sure this is the area of conflict resolution I will be spending most of my time with. But I can immediately see these skills applying to my own life and methods of communication in the world. I can imagine situations of negotiation and relationships in which this model for resolving conflicts could make an amazing difference.

It has been a demanding first weekend in the program, with two marathon days of training. But I already feel I've grown in both practical skills and in self-confidence. Next weekend we will complete the training, and maybe I'll start working with a mediation provider as part of my internship requirement.

Regardless, I feel lucky to have these new skills. Transforming conflict into resolution is a powerful and exciting concept. I can't wait to put my mediation training into practice.