Understanding Facilitative and Evaluative Mediation: How Experienced Mediators Really Practice
For years, mediation theory has framed facilitative and evaluative mediation approaches as distinct, and often opposing, models. Mediation training programs, textbooks, and mediator biographies frequently present these approaches as choices, as though mediators must align themselves with one camp or the other. Facilitative and transformative mediation are often discussed in the context of distinct styles, […]
The Expanding Role of Mediation: Making a Bigger Dent in the Universe
When I first wrote about “A Dent in the Universe” in July 2019, mediation stood on the edge of a historic moment: the signing of what would soon become the Singapore Convention. At the time, the world sensed the promise of mediation to reshape conflict resolution across borders. Six years later, that promise is no […]
Ego Management in Mediation: Strategies for 2025
Why Does Ego Management in Mediation Matter? Ego management in mediation involves intentionally recognizing, regulating, and redirecting ego-driven behaviors during dispute resolution. One of the most powerful forces in any mediation room, ego is often tied to issues of self esteem. It shows up in clients who feel their reputation is on the line, in […]
My Wishes to Mediation Students in Rwanda and all Aspiring Mediators
Rwanda, the verdant country of a thousand hills, stands as a stark reminder of what happens when we allow hatred to triumph over humanity. While best known for its genocidal past, yet striving not to be defined by it, Rwanda leads the African continent in implementing a broad policy of conflict resolution throughout its society. […]
Certified mediator? The Sparrow and the Peacock
Having taught mediation skills for over twenty-five years and, more recently, having developed an online mediation training curriculum, it’s only natural that I stand as a zealous proponent of mediation training. It follows then, that I am increasingly alarmed by the number of mediators entering the profession who have little or no training, and even […]
A Roadmap to Build a Successful Mediation Career
Many students in our mediation training programs ask about the steps they should take to translate their professional training into a successful mediation career. While an education and a high-quality mediation training program are essential for laying the foundation of a career, they are not the ultimate indicators of a successful career in mediation. What […]
From Genocide to Reconciliation, Lessons from Rwanda
Earlier this year, Rwandan President Paul Kagame spoke to the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast gathering (click to read) and attempted to answer a simple question: after a country loses a million people in a genocide, how do you repair that country? How can you break the cycle of violence, heal the psychological wounds created by a […]
A Case for Forgiveness in Mediation
What is the Role of Forgiveness in Mediation? Forgiveness can be a powerful and transformative element in mediation and conflict resolution. While forgiveness in mediation is not always the main goal, it can create a conducive environment for amicably resolving conflicts. The case for forgiveness in mediation stems not just from its potential to facilitate […]
How to Become a Mediator in California
Opportunities for mediators in California continue to expand. In a state of its size with a large and diverse population and a robust economy exposed to market-driven and social pressures, the number of disputes is bound to rise. And rising caseloads are straining judicial resources, causing backlogs of cases and delays for disputants in getting […]
The Cost of Conflict
I read with interest Angela Bilbow’s article, Mediation: The Unsung Hero (link below) and think it important to comment on the countervailing themes of international developments favoring commercial mediation and the perceived underutilization of mediation as a dispute resolution option. Having taught recently in Turkey with one of the Brick Court Chambers symposium members, John Sturrock […]