Are you interested in getting involved in the field of separation and divorce?
Want to build your knowledge and skills to work effectively and ethically with families going through separation and divorce?
Earn a Certificate in Separation and Divorce Mediation.
Developed by seasoned mediators, in partnership with the ADR Institute of Alberta, the Certificate in Separation and Divorce Mediation provides participants with the skills necessary to achieve more sustainable and satisfactory outcomes for changing families.
Who should take this program?
Experienced mediators and advanced mediation students interested in working in the separation and divorce field.
What does the Certificate Program entail?
The Separation & Divorce Mediation Certificate Program consists of three courses:
*Credit hours include time spent completing assignments
Additional Certificate Requirements
- ADRIA membership is required to take ADRIA courses and to register in our Program Certificates.
- Learners must successfully complete Communications in ADR and the National Introductory Mediation Course (or equivalent training) prior to registering in this program.
- There is continuous intake into this Certificate Program (you can start with any of the three courses).
- The Parenting After Separation course (PAS), available at no cost through Alberta Justice, is recommended before starting the program (you must complete this course by the third session of the Foundations, Parenting Plans, and Child Support course).
- Full attendance during each module is required.
- Students can expect 30-45 minutes of homework each evening of the course.
- The program must be completed within three years (two is recommended).
Learning Format
This Certificate Program is 9 days in person, or 17 online sessions (93 hours) of training, the program courses include lecture, video, personal reflection, group discussion, and small group activities and role-playing with a coach providing feedback. Instructors are available for consultation regarding assignments throughout the course and to ensure student success.
What will I learn?
- practice mediating the issues common to separation and divorce including parenting plans, child support, spousal support, and division of property
- know how to screen clients and prepare them for mediation, including safe practices for identifying and working with situations of domestic violence, substance use, and mental health challenges
- leave the course with tools and resources to use in your practice, including valuable reference materials and templates
Learning Objectives
- Learn which federal and provincial legislation governs separation and divorce and when they apply, including the Divorce Act, Family Law Act, Family Property Act, and Alberta’s Child Support Guidelines.
- Understand the ethical considerations specific to divorce and separation.
- Explore the emotional impact of separation and divorce on partners, parents and children, and the impact on mediation.
- Know how to screen clients and prepare them for mediation, including how to identify situations of domestic violence and how to put safety procedures in place.
- Draft parenting plans and calculate child support.
- Calculate spousal support and facilitate division of property.
- Practice techniques to work with high conflict behaviours and situations.
Course Materials
Course materials include a Learner’s Manual for each module and access to the student website (including a virtual Reference Book). The Reference Book includes copies of the applicable legislation, and samples and templates for all the issues common to this work, as well as a list of resources and referral agencies to help clients prepare for mediation.
Program Fees
|
Separation & Divorce Mediation: Foundations, Parenting Plans, and Child Support |
$2,000 |
|
Separation & Divorce Mediation: Spousal Support and Division of Property |
$800 |
|
High Conflict Mediation: Managing Conflict & Complexity in Mediation |
$1100 |
Application for Program Certificate
Upon completion of all three courses and the additional assignments, please download and complete the Program Certificate Application form.
Certificate Application Fee: $25 (upon completion of all courses)
ADR Designation Qualification
Once complete, this Program Certificate qualifies as 93 hours of specialized ADR training towards the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med), Qualified Family Mediator (Q. Med Fam), and Chartered Mediator (C.Med) professional designations.
More questions about designations? Check out our FAQ:
Instructors
The creators and instructors of the Program Certificate in Separation and Divorce Mediation are Judith Lake C.Med., Rachel McDonald C.Med., and Joanne Munro C.Med.
Together, they have helped thousands of clients work collaboratively through separation and divorce as well as issues of guardianship and grandparent time. All three provide family mediation through their private practices and through Alberta Justice Resolution Services. They have been actively involved in teaching and mentoring mediators for well over a decade.
The well‐researched course content and extensive student manuals are evidence of their passion for ethical practice and continuous learning. Their goal is for mediators taking the program to be well‐equipped to work safely and skillfully in this highly charged and emotionally intense field.
