Community Boards’ Conflict Resolution Clinics are intensive, two-hour workshops designed for both new and experienced conflict resolution practitioners, attorneys, HR managers, specialists, and other interested individuals. Led by seasoned professionals, these clinics cover an exciting variety of topics and conflict resolution and restorative justice practices.
Upcoming Conflict Resolution Clinics
May
Creating Connection with Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
Giving Empathy to Others and Yourself
Trainer: Katharina W. Dress, MA
Date: May 17, Wednesday
Times: 5:30-7:30pm PDT
Cost: CB Member, $25 | Public, $45
Location: Live Interactive Workshop on Zoom
After registering, participants will receive the Zoom information in the transaction confirmation email.
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Are you sometimes frustrated trying to help your mediation clients hear and understand each other in a new way, but they’re stuck in their heads and positions?
Ms. Dress’ workshop offers an introduction to the consciousness and tools of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), developed by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, and shows how they can help create deep connection and understanding between mediation parties with ongoing relationships.
Using this model, we can move away from the specifics of “he said, she said” into the heart of the issue, uncovering the parties’ deeper needs that have not been recognized, honored, or met.
Through a presentation, demonstration, and opportunities for participatory exercises, workshop participants will learn and practice a new way to develop and show empathy for others and oneself.
Key Learning Objectives
- Introduction to the NVC language of OFNR (Observations, Feelings, Needs, Requests)
- Practicing a needs-centered empathy process for others and oneself
Prerequisites: If you would like to register for Katharina’s second workshop on July 12, Pre-Mediation for Adult Family Conflicts, participation in this workshop or prior experience with the NVC Empathy Model are strongly recommended.
Trainer
KATHARINA W. DRESS, MA
Katharina W. Dress, MA, has been a mediator since 2015 and a facilitator and trainer for 40 years. She has a Master’s Degree in Communications from San Francisco State University and extensive conflict resolution skills training, including in Elder Mediation, Online Mediation, Conflict Coaching and Nonviolent Communication (NVC). She is founder and principal mediator at AGING IN HARMONY.
As a trainer, Ms. Dress offers her own conflict resolution skills and cultural competency workshops throughout the Bay Area and beyond and regularly assists other organizations during their Mediation trainings. For over 10 years she participated in the NVC-based Mediate Your Life training program offered by John Kinyon and Ike Lasater, as a learner as well as a member of the training team. Ms. Dress is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) and is actively involved in the organization’s Elder Mediation Section.
June
Exploring Reconciliation & Healing in Mediation
Trainers: John Ford & John Kinyon
Date: June 28, Wednesday
Times: 6:00-8:00pm PDT
Cost: CB Member, $25 | Public, $45
Location: Live Interactive Workshop on Zoom
After registering, participants will receive the Zoom information in the transaction confirmation email.
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At the heart of all relational mediations lies the question of reconciliation — to what degree is emotional hurt driving the conflict? By contrast, transactional mediation tends to focus on resolution and settlement.
If you are curious about difference, and how reconciliation can be fostered for deep and lasting healing, as well as robust resolution and agreements, then do join us for this interactive presentation with two practitioners who are inspired by Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication (NVC) frame.
Using feelings and needs language as foundational elements we’ll first explore different pathways to mutual acknowledgment and reconciliation. In the second part of our presentation, we’ll offer you a Reconciliation & Healing model from the work of Nonviolent Communication that John Kinyon uses in his mediation work. You’ll also have an opportunity to give the facilitation of a reconciliation conversation a try in a short break out practice.
By the end participants be able to:
- Define reconciliation and distinguish it from resolution and settlement
- Ground a conversation about reconciliation in feelings and needs language
- Articulate a clear path and process for the facilitation of the reconciliation conversation
Trainers
JOHN FORD
John Ford is a workplace mediator and trainer who focuses on relational conflict between employees especially in teams. Inspired by Non-Violent Communication he is the producer of The Empathy Set of Cards and also two different Talking Sticks, both of which have become part and parcel of how he mediates with an emphasis on reconciliation.
Currently, John teaches negotiation and mediation at UC Hastings. He has taught organizational collaboration online through Creighton University, organizational conflict management through JFK University, and mediation to graduate business and psychology students at Golden Gate University. John is a past president of the Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California (ADRNC) and was the managing editor of www.mediate.com from 2000 to 2010. John was the trainer of a two-day Mastering Workplace Mediation seminar for members of the New Concept Human Resources Association (NCHRA) for 10 years.
It is John’s passion to make the world a more peaceful place that has inspired him to write his book Peace at Work: The HR Manager’s Guide to Workplace Mediation. Learn more at www.johnford.com and www.empathyset.com.
JOHN KINYON
John Kinyon has devoted his life and career to furthering human connection and cooperation around the world through empathic communication. His work is at the intersection of communication, consciousness, and conflict transformation.
John is a mediator, certified trainer of Nonviolent Communication/NVC, and co-creator of the Mediate Your Life (MYL) training program, based in the work of NVC. For over 20 years he has mediated conflicts and developed and delivered the MYL/NVC training throughout the U.S. and in counties around the world in Europe, Asia, and Australia. His approach provides conversation “maps” for navigating challenges and conflicts, inner and outer, in all aspects of life.
John offers online and in person trainings, courses, and programs internationally, and facilitates international online forums that focus on healing social-political and personal divides and building empathic community. He works with individuals and organizations as a mediator and trainer, as well being an author and speaker.
Learn more about John at www.johnkinyon.com.
July
Pre-Mediation for Adult Family Conflicts
Creating Understanding One Party at a Time
Trainer: Katharina W. Dress, MA
Date: July 12, Wednesday
Times: 5:30-7:30pm PDT
Cost: CB Member, $25 | Public, $45
Location: Live Interactive Workshop on Zoom
After registering, participants will receive the Zoom information in the transaction confirmation email.
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A big challenge in Adult Family Mediation (and other types of mediation where the potential participants have an ongoing relationship) is to enroll all parties in the process.
Extensive pre-mediation conversations are especially important, because the different generations tend to have very different experiences, perspectives, and goals. Even if older family members have cognitive or memory challenges, their voices must be heard, in order to find solutions that work for everyone involved and heal the divide tearing apart many families with aging loved ones.
Ms. Dress’ workshop introduces a pre-mediation process rooted in the consciousness and tools of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), allowing mediator and parties to understand everyone’s needs BEFORE getting together for a joint meeting and thus increasing the parties’ willingness to participate. It will include a presentation, demonstration, and opportunities for participatory exercises.
Key Learning Objectives
- Understanding the importance of thorough individual pre-mediation sessions with all mediation parties who are involved in an ongoing relationship
- Learning and practicing a pre-mediation process rooted in the needs-centered NVC Empathy Model
Prerequisites: Participation in Ms. Dress’ May 17 introductory workshop, Creating Connection with Nonviolent Communication (NVC), or prior experience with the NVC Empathy Model are strongly recommended.
Trainer
KATHARINA W. DRESS, MA
Katharina W. Dress, MA, has been a mediator since 2015 and a facilitator and trainer for 40 years. She has a Master’s Degree in Communications from San Francisco State University and extensive conflict resolution skills training, including in Elder Mediation, Online Mediation, Conflict Coaching and Nonviolent Communication (NVC). She is founder and principal mediator at AGING IN HARMONY.
As a trainer, Ms. Dress offers her own conflict resolution skills and cultural competency workshops throughout the Bay Area and beyond and regularly assists other organizations during their Mediation trainings. For over 10 years she participated in the NVC-based Mediate Your Life training program offered by John Kinyon and Ike Lasater, as a learner as well as a member of the training team. Ms. Dress is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) and is actively involved in the organization’s Elder Mediation Section.
Clinic Cancellation & Transfer Fees
If you cancel more than 24 hours before the clinic start time, there is a $7.50 cancellation fee. This fee will be waived one time if registration is transferred to a subsequent clinic that begins within twelve months of the training start date. No refunds for cancellations 24 hours or less before the clinic start time.
QUESTIONS?
Sarah Moss, Mediation and Training Coordinator
smoss@communityboards.org