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High Conflict Mediation Training - online 

Upcoming Courses

Option 1: Understanding High Conflict

Hours: 14 credit hours

Cost: $750  ADRIA members, $850 non-ADRIA members


Option 2: High Conflict Mediation: Managing Conflict & Complexity in Mediation

Hours: 28 credit hours

Cost: $1100 ADRIA members, $1300 non-ADRIA members

This course is also part of the Separation and Divorce Mediation Certificate Program


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Course Description

The potential for conflict is everywhere. Escalation and high conflict behaviours are almost unavoidable for many professionals working in conflict resolution. Mediators, and allied professionals working with parties involved in potentially high conflict mediations need to understand and manage complexity, emotional intensity, and challenges that may arise during a mediation.

Using a trauma informed practice perspective, this course prepares mediators to manage aspects of high conflict mediations, including safety screening, dealing with parties experiencing poor mental health, addictions and substance use issues, strong emotions, and challenging behaviours associated with personality disorders.   Mediators will be equipped with the tools to determine whether to proceed, and if so, to mediate what can be high conflict discussions.

Why Use a Trauma-Informed Practice Perspective?

Trauma-informed practice (TIP) is a holistic, non-judgmental, non-blaming approach to working with people. TIP promotes safety, control, choice, and relationship that must start with an awareness of the prevalence of trauma in society – and the high probability that people accessing services and supports have experienced trauma. A TIP approach also recognizes that trauma has systemic and wide-reaching effects on individuals’ development, mental health, and adaptations/behaviours (BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, 2013).

This approach is a strengths-based and client-centered approach that is compatible with, and builds on, the values outlined in the ADR Canada Mediation Code of Ethics. This approach is also consistent with interest-based mediation wherein the parties to the mediation remain the experts in their own lives and are the best people to make decisions about and solutions to their problems.

 A TIP approach to mediation can introduce skills and resources to the parties, as well as identify existing strengths, so that parties to a mediation may have other options to use when encountering conflict in the future

Goals

In the context of high conflict and complex mediation cases, students will:

  • gain a trauma informed perspective
  • develop skills and tools for high conflict mediation
  • demonstrate self-awareness and critical self-reflection
  • be able to separate the people from problem behaviours
  • be able to reflect on perspectives and needs
  • recognize areas for future development of their practice skills and competencies
  • note limitations and ethical responsibilities in relation to these limitations

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • be introduced to evidence-based content on trauma, mental health, and addictions
  • engage in personal and professional self-reflection
  • explore ethics
  • be introduced to skills and techniques to use in high conflict and complex mediations
  • consider professional identity/stance
  • *develop a professional portfolio/resource list for practice
  • *develop a plan for high conflict practice
  • *have an opportunity to practice new skills and demonstrate self-awareness and reflection as part of the student assessment

*28-hour High Conflict Mediation course only

Learning Format

This course is designed to be flexible to meet your learning goals. Students will get more out of the course if they complete all the readings, videos, activities, assignments, and participate fully in the live sessions. However, we understand that not everyone taking this course is looking for that level of engagement, especially during these difficult times of virtual… well, everything. That’s why we have created a flexible course where students can choose to take the 14 hour or 28 hour course.

Students will engage in blended online learning (synchronous and asynchronous) to explore high conflict behaviours and complexities from a trauma informed perspective. Students will get out of this course what they put into it, including engagement with the content, activities, exercises, and live sessions. Openness to self-reflection is a key aspect of this learning process. The 28 hour course is evaluated and also includes portfolio development, role-play, and self-assessment.

    Option 1: Understanding High Conflict

    Hours: 14 credit hours

    In addition to class hours/live sessions, students can expect to spend about 2 hours per week on reading and 1 hour per week on activities to prepare for live sessions

    Includes: Course manual and course videos/links, access to forum, four live sessions

    Requires: Full attendance and participation in all live sessions. A letter of attendance for “Understanding High Conflict” will be issued.

    Prerequisite: Students must have completed mediation training (preferably interest-based mediation). The expectation is that students are already comfortable mediating, as this course does not teach basic mediation (this is an advanced course).

    Option 2: High Conflict Mediation: Managing Conflict & Complexity in Mediation

    Hours: 28 credit hours

    In addition to class hours/live sessions, students can expect to spend about 2 hours per week on reading and 1 hour per week on activities to prepare for live sessions.

    Assignments will take approximately 8-12 additional hours – this depends on learning style and on whether you are currently practicing or just starting out. Students will also be required to participate in a 75 minute role-play.

    Includes: Course manual and course videos/links, access to forum, five live sessions, one role-play, coach feedback on role-play and self-assessment assignment, marking of portfolio.

    Requires: Full attendance and participation in all live sessions; completion of all assignments (self-reflection post, role-play and self-assessment, portfolio). A Certificate for “High Conflict Mediation: Managing Conflict & Complexity in Mediation” will be issued upon successful completion of this course. This course is also part of the Separation and Divorce Mediation Certificate Program.

    Prerequisite: Students must have completed interest-based mediation training. The expectation is that students are already comfortable mediating, as this course does not teach basic mediation (this is an advanced course).

    Timeline:

    Pre-course – once you have signed the confidentiality agreement, the materials will be sent to you, and you will also be given access to the course webpage on adralberta.com. You can read the manual, complete the activities in the manual, watch the course videos, and do your 2 forum postings (Introduction Post and Self-Reflection Post – due 48 hours before first live session). 

    Week 1 – Introduction, Trauma Informed Practice, Ethics (3-hour live session); estimated 2 hours of course reading, 1 hour completing activities.  

    Week 2 – Mental Health and Illness, Addictions and Substance Use, PTSD, Personality Disorders, and Anger (3-hour live session); estimated 2 hours of course reading, 1 hour completing activities. 

    Week 3 – Case Development (3-hour live session); estimated 2 hours of course reading, 1 hour completing activities. 

    Week 4 – Dealing with High Conflict (3-hour live session); estimated 2 hours of course reading, 1 hour completing activities.  

    A letter of attendance for “Understanding High Conflict” will be issued for students registered for option 1.


    High Conflict Mediation: Managing Conflict & Complexity in Mediation students

    Week 5 – Portfolio assignment due; No live session

    Week 6 – Role-play assignment due:  No live session

    Week 7 – Assignments returned to students. No live session

    Week 8 – Sharing key learnings from Portfolio assignment and Role-play Debrief; (3-hour live session)


     Training Comparison

     

     Option 1: 

     Understanding High Conflict


     

    Option 2:

     High Conflict Mediation   Managing Conflict & Complexity   in Mediation 


    Cost


     $750 ADRIA members

     $850 non-ADRIA members


     $1100 ADRIA members

     $1300 non-ADRIA members


    Credit Hours


     14 credit hours


     28 credit hours

    Prerequisites


     Students must have completed   mediation training (preferably   interest-based) 


    		  Students must have completed   interest-based mediation training.


    Part of the requirements for  the Separation and Divorce  Mediation Certificate Program


    		  NO  YES
    Full attendance of live sessions  Required - four sessions

     

     Required - five sessions


    Participation in discussion and  activities during live session and  pre-session reading and     activities


    		  Required   Required


    Brief self-introduction forum  post:
    Introduce yourself to your  classmates (150-200 words),
    due 2 days before first live session.

     Strongly encouraged, but not   graded – this activity will help   develop a more collegial and safe   learning environment.

     Required, but not graded – this   activity will help develop a more
     collegial and safe learning   environment.


    Initial self-reflection forum  post: 
    300-500 words, due 2
    days before     first live session.  Consider where you are in your  learning, where you want to be, and possible challenges. (And,   try to find time to read your   classmates posts)


    		  Strongly encouraged, but not   graded – this will be discussed
     in the first live session.    		 Required, but not graded – this will be discussed in the first live session.


    Understanding High Conflict


    		  Letter of attendance issued upon   completion   n/a


    Professional Portfolio:
    Develop a plan and a portfolio for professional practice in high   conflict mediation using trauma   informed principles.


    		  n/a  Graded, 40% of final mark


    Role-play  Demonstration: 
    Students will   be expected to organize a role-   play in which they demonstrate   skills mediating in high conflict.   They will record this role-play   and submit it to the office for   grading and feedback.  

     Please review the rubric for the role-play assessment criteria.


    		   n/a  Graded, 20% of final mark


    Role-play Self-  Assessment: 
    Students will  complete a self-assessment  assignment on their role-play.

    Please review the rubric for the role-play self-assessment .


    		  n/a  Graded, 40% of final mark


    High Conflict Mediation:  Managing Conflict &   Complexity in Mediation


    		   n/a  Course Certificate issued upon   successful completion


    ADR Designation Qualification

    This course qualifies as 14 hours (Option 1) or 28 hours (Option 2) of specialized ADR training towards the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) and Chartered Mediator (C.Med) professional designations.

    Alberta's association of mediators and arbitrators. 
    Your source for ADR information and expertise.

    Our main office is located in Edmonton:
    #225, Tower 1
    3697 Millwoods Road NW 
    Edmonton, AB T6K 3L6

    Contact Us:

    Toll Free: 1-800-232-7214
    Edmonton area: (780) 433-4881
    Fax: (780) 433-9024
    Email: info@adralberta.com

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