New Ways for Mediation℠ Training:

Agenda

(download PDF version here)

Part 1: Understanding and Managing High Conflict Personalities
Completed On-Demand

IMPORTANT: This first part will be two 90-minute webinars and one 60-minute demonstration video, to be viewed at the participant’s convenience before “live” Parts 2 & 3.

Section 1: 90 minutes
To work effectively with potentially high conflict clients, professionals must understand some of their different ways of thinking, feelings, and behavior. This webinar provides an overview of five high conflict personality disorders, their common behavior patterns, how to identify them, tips for working with them, and what NOT to do in working with them.

Section 2: 90 minutes
High conflict brain dynamics will be briefly explained, then the CARS Method® will be provided for managing high conflict individuals in any setting, including Connecting with Empathy, Attention and Respect; Analyzing Options, including Making Proposals; Responding to Misinformation including the BIFF Response®; Setting Limits on high conflict behavior. The 4 Big Skills of all New Ways methods will be introduced: managed emotions, flexible thinking, moderate behavior, and checking yourself.

Section 3: 60 minutes
This demonstration video (“Is Divorce Mediation for You?”) will show the structure, various techniques, and several paradigm shifts, of the New Ways for Mediation method, using a divorce example but applicable to any mediation.

Part 2: Skills and Structure of New Ways for Mediation
Livestream via Zoom

Section 1: 90 minutes
In this session, the client skills and tasks will be addressed, along with the three skills for mediators to emphasize in this very structured process. There will be a practice exercise of the EAR Statement method, described in Day 1. The structure of the New Ways for Mediation method will be presented, including four stages that emphasize the active role of the parties with the mediator as a guide:

Stage 1: Establishing the process
Stage 2: Guiding the parties to make their agenda
Stage 3: Guiding the parties to make and respond to proposals
Stage 4: Finalizing and revising their agreements

15-MINUTE BREAK

Section 2: 90 minutes
There will be further discussion of the skills and structure presented in the previous session, addressing its paradigm shifts and questions about it. Then, a role-play high conflict mediation exercise will be explained and practiced by participants in Zoom break-out rooms of three people each. Participants will have a choice of a divorce role-play scenario or a workplace scenario.

15-MINUTE BREAK

Section 3: 60 minutes
The role-play exercise will be debriefed with feedback and questions from each group. Problem areas and fine-tuning will be discussed, in preparation for the next day’s mediation practice exercise.   

Part 3: Further Mediation Practice and Coaching Skills
Livestream via Zoom

Section 1: 90 minutes
There will be a brief review of the 4 client tasks (asking questions, making their agenda, making their proposals, making their decisions); the 3 mediator skills (connecting with EAR, structuring, and educating the parties); and the 4 stages of the New Ways for Mediation method. Then there will be a second role-play high conflict mediation exercise to give an opportunity to practice what was learned on Day 2.

15-MINUTE  BREAK

Section 2: 90 minutes
The role-play exercise will be debriefed with feedback and questions from each group.

A method of single-session Pre-Mediation Coaching and screening for appropriateness for mediation will be presented. Two models of the New Ways for Families® parent skills training method will be briefly explained: 1) the counseling model and 2) coaching with the NWFF online program to prepare parents for success in mediation. The New Ways for Work™ coaching method will be addressed as preparation for workplace mediation.

15-MINUTE BREAK

Section 3: 60 minutes
The BIFF Response® method for written communication for clients, lawyers, and mediators will be explained, and possibly practiced. Additional high conflict resources will be presented. Final Q&A as needed.

Learning Objectives

1.    Identify the conflict dynamics of five types of high-conflict personalities.
2.    Apply brain science to managing high-conflict people with empathy, attention and respect.
3.    Reduce resistance to positive problem-solving with a 2-step mediator method.
4.    Provide a structured mediation approach designed for high-conflict personalities.
5.    Teach parties to make their agenda with the mediator’s assistance, and to change their agenda by agreement as needed throughout the process.
6.    Teach parties a 3-step method for making proposals, asking questions respectfully and thoughtfully giving a response.
7.    Educate high conflict parties about choices and consequences in making their decisions.
8.    Assist high-conflict clients and lawyers in addressing ambivalence about final agreements.

"I took the New Ways for Mediation course with Bill Eddy in March 2022. The course was extremely valuable to me in my work as an external workplace mediator, investigator, coach and conflict trainer. The on demand portions of the course were a convenient way to receive the foundational material while having time to digest and process that information ahead of time. The live stream classes brought the foundational concepts together with the opportunity to practice the concepts through role plays and interacting with Bill and other course participants. 

I have followed HCI's work for quite some time and have attempted to implement the strategies, but the course was a game-changer for me to integrate the strategies and implement them immediately in my day to day work. I am becoming adept in using these tools and am able to coach others on their use as well. Highly recommended." Cherolyn K, BC, CANADA

"I’ve been putting the training into practice and finding it works really well. Very glad that I did it!" Kerrily J, Vic, AUSTRALIA

"I just wanted to let you know that I found the training extremely valuable. It made a lasting impression on me. I’ve found myself reflecting on it frequently since - particularly the underlying tone of delivery of the training and the compassion for high conflict people were things that really inspired me. It makes me want to delve even more deeply into the many resources the High Conflict Institute has available, as well as explore opportunities for Bill and Megan to bring more training to Sydney. With thanks and best wishes!" Hilary K, Sydney, AUSTRALIA

"I feel very fortunate to have had Bill in one of my small group sessions. In general, having a small group of participants was beneficial, as we could all ask questions and contribute in the sessions. I learned a lot and look forward to put it all in practice. Thank you Bill! Natasa S, Queensland, AUSTRALIA