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For Those Feeling Generous: A Gift for Clients, Friends - Book Review
I love this book. It reminds us that we can take family law problems to another level, one not taught in law schools: generosity.
Lean into Liminality
This article discusses Shinrin yoku, Using Nature Forest Therapy as a Restorative Practice.
Ask Yourself This Kind of Question When an Argument Rattles You
When a difficult conversation rattles you, using a centering question can help you get your balance back.
Being Grateful for Some Conflicts
It might seem strange to use the words ‘grateful’ and ‘conflict’ in the same sentence.
When Teachers, Parents, and Students are Victims of Stockholm Syndrome
Teachers need the support of parents and the community in the districts in which they teach.
Establishing Rapport in Mediation
Establishing rapport seems like a nice thing to do, right? I don’t think so.
Lessons from the Iroquois
In our mediation efforts, once we are in the realm of “public policy,” we are inevitably poking our noses into questions of intergenerational equity and “governance” and how authentic collaboration can be achieved or improved.
Leaving Facebook
I was a fan of Facebook from my first login. I registered right after it opened to the public in 2006, and I led most of my friends onto the platform. I am now choosing to leave Facebook.
Lest We Forget
After celebrating ANZAC Day, FairWay’s Denise Evans and Bruce Reid explore the themes of war, conflict, and learning from mistakes of the past.
The Faultlines of the Current Ideological Divide - Part 1
This article discusses the ideological divide looking at conflict from both a mediator's (Part 1) and a therapist's perspective (Part 2).
Mediators Should Have Strategies and Skills to Break Impasses
This article discusses this concept: “Conflict in divorce cannot be resolved if we don't talk to each other.”
Doing Nothin’!
Acceleration in conflict begets acceleration until we become mice on a treadmill.
Retentions and Reflections
I have fallen in love with mediation in this position. I enjoy the satisfaction of making people feel heard and working through issues.
Thinking About Using Mediation to Resolve Your Employment Dispute Without Going Through Litigation First?
One of the things we would find out very quickly through an employment litigation assessment was whether both sides were open, willing and able to exchange all relevant information in good faith about the facts in dispute right away.
Bee in Your Bonnet
The expression “to have a bee in one’s bonnet” has a variety of meanings.
Turning Ideas Into Action; Thoughts from Edinburgh
What is unique about those who possess a willingness to walk toward conflict?
Keep Your Enemies Closer
We are all capable of hating; but we are all capable of loving, as well.
Exciting ADR Developments in China and Hong Kong
Navigating the United States’ approach to mediation can be tricky for international firms as there is no uniform approach.
In Isolation Together
Ok, we’ve got a problem: Britain has announced a new Minister of Loneliness.
SCOTUS to Consider Delegation of “Wholly Groundless” Arbitrability Claims
The high court's opinion will resolve a split among the Circuit Courts of Appeal regarding whether a court may decide the issue of arbitrability in situations where the arbitration claim is groundless.
Dispute Resolution 101!
My husband’s stay in the hospital has taught me a very basic lesson: knowing how to resolve disputes is a necessary tool in every aspect of life, especially in stressful situations such as hospital stays.
Child Dependency Mediation Update
Mediator Randy Drew discusses the success of their multi-mediator approach.
Expectations and Self-Determination
The social capital of any society is education and identity.
Comparative Data on Mediation Websites: Most Visited and Most Linked
According to Alexa.com, Mediate.com is most visited and most linked dispute resolution website. See the new data here!
Employment Arbitration Agreements Reach Epic Status
Employees who contractually agree to resolve employment disputes in an individualized arbitration waive all rights to class actions or any other collective dispute process.
I’m Not Neutral About Neutrality: I’m Partial to Multi-Partiality
Embarking upon the journey of becoming a mediator led me into learning a new language, one that would be spoken both internally – (in how I would think about the mediation participants and their circumstances) - and externally – (in how I would interact with them).
Building a Golden Bridge and Other Lessons from Dr. William Ury
Dr. Ury says that in modern day conflict, where we seek to win at the expense of our adversary. In doing so, we invariably ensure mutual loss. “Instead,” he said, “The aim of modern day conflict resolution must focus on finding mutual gains.”
People Pleasers in Conflict
Some of us have a pattern known as people-pleasing.
Bullied or Mobbed? The Dangerous Search for Vindication
In the 9 years since I left my own toxic workplace, I’ve coached and consulted with people in all stages of being bullying or mobbed (bullied by a group).
Not Just Another Set of Lamb Chops!
Someone once said to me that while to a butcher a pair of lamb chops is just another set of lamb chops, to a person who has not eaten in a long while, it will be the best meal ever. In sum, it is all a matter of perspective.
7 Reasons Why You Should Keep Communicating
Miscommunication plagues divorces in numerous different ways.
Interview with Thomas Stipanowich
This is the complete interview by Robert Benjamin with Tom Stipanowich, Co-Director of Pepperdine's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and former Director of CPR in New York, filmed as part of Mediate.com's 'Views from the Eye of the Storm' Video Series.
A Toddler's Wisdom on Conflict Resolution
The values we share matter more than our differences.
Responsibility in Mediation: Who has it? - Part 2
I love mediation because parties get to probe, understand, make choices, create options and arrive at mutual decisions, saying how they feel about this conflict.
Getting a Divorce? Mediate, Don't Litigate.
Getting a divorce? You have options that will allow you to pick the right people to help you do that, but there’s no one size fits all choice.
Disability Mediation : An Overview
This article is to give an over view of the use of disability mediation and a case study. The article will highlight some of the benefits of utilizing specialist mediators, confidentiality and why disability mediation works.
Two Converging Trends
Us mediators and consultants try to help people create constructive engagements and dialogues that lead to real problem solving.
The Conflict Iceberg
The metaphor of an iceberg has commonly been used as a metaphor about conflict.
ADR Forms, Methods and Practices
Dispute resolution comes in as many forms as there are people in dispute.
Why Is Conflict Such a Big Deal?
Conflict is a big deal because it affects our two most basic values – strength of self and care of other.
Interview with Andrew Schepard
This is the complete interview by Robert Benjamin with Andrew Schepard, a leading professor, editor and writer of family law and mediation, filmed as part of Mediate.com's 'Views from the Eye of the Storm' Video Series.
Measuring Progress on Team Agreements Worth Keeping
The backbone of any project or change effort is the team that’s been entrusted to make it happen.
Norms and Nonviolence
This article discusses the impact of gender equality on nonviolent conflict.
“Trusting” the Expert
In its Smarter Living section on April 29, 2018, the New York Times posted an interesting article about how our unconscious biases can play tricks on us when it comes to experts.
Planners are No Long Generalists with a Specialty
There’s recent discussion in urban planning journals about the way professional city planners should be educated today. Having a conversation about planning in advance prevents many community-conflicts down the road.
Review of Mediation Handbook
The handbook doesn’t reflect a Western Perspective, rather it reflects a global perspective of mediation and that is the only way we can have a holistic view of mediation.
Responsibility in Mediation: Who has it?
Mediation is a wonderful process and I love mediation but I do not want to see it get more complicated with “what mediators need to do” kinds of stuff.
India’s Internet Citizens Can Finally Settle Online!
This millennial generation demands quick, accessible and tech-ridden supply of solutions to all its needs. How, then, does this generation remain indifferent and accommodating of the traditionally inefficient court system?
Interview with Larry Fong
This is the complete interview by Robert Benjamin with Larry Fong, a leading Canadian Family Mediator, filmed as part of Mediate.com's "'Views from the Eye of the Storm' Video Series.
Top Ten Ways To Protect Your Kids From The Fallout Of A High Conflict Break-Up
Joan is an author, therapist, mediator, and parenting coordinator with four decades of experience working with high conflict parents who are separating.