• Mediators

• Attorneys

• Dispute Resolvers

• Judges

• Counselors

• Tribunal Members

• Anyone who helps others reach agreement

• The livestream training is held twice a year.
• Please navigate to the register/checkout page to see the dates for the upcoming livestream trainings.
• Dates and times are subject to change, postponement or cancellation. A minimum of 6 participants is required to proceed with the class. If the minimum is not met, the class will be canceled with a 2-week notification. You will automatically be placed in the next scheduled class and notified to confirm if that date suits.

• The 1st part is an online self-directed course (it's easy - you'll log in and watch it anytime before the 2nd part).
• The 2nd part is a livestream training on Zoom with the trainer and other trainees.

• 4 hours self-directed: online course to take on your own

• 8 hours virtual: live stream with trainer on Zoom

• Membership: with the New Ways for Work Provider Network, which includes regularly recurring Q & A sessions with our trainers and other providers

• Website listing: listing on the HCI website Provider List

• Certificate of Completion

• Email support: responses within 1-2 business days

• Consultation group (optional)

• It is highly recommended that you purchase the book that goes with this course: Mediating High-Conflict Disputes: A Breakthrough Approach by Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. Michael Lomax, JD. It can also be purchased on Amazon in various countries.

• Identify the conflict dynamics of five types of high-conflict personalities.

•  Apply brain science to managing high-conflict people with empathy, attention and respect.

•  Reduce resistance to positive problem-solving with a 2-step mediator method.

•  Provide a structured mediation approach designed for high-conflict personalities.

•  Teach parties to make their agenda with the mediator’s assistance, and to change their agenda by agreement as needed throughout the process.

•  Teach parties a 3-step method for making proposals, asking questions respectfully and thoughtfully giving a response.

•  Educate high conflict parties about choices and consequences in making their decisions.

•  Assist high-conflict clients and lawyers in addressing ambivalence about final agreements.

 Part 1 (self-directed): Understanding and Managing High Conflict Personalities 

• Section 1: 90 minutes

  There will be an overview of five high conflict personality disorders and their common behavior patterns. Two different brain styles of handling conflict will be addressed. Tips for reducing client resistance and dealing with negative advocates will be addressed.

• Section 2: 90 minutes
  The CARS Method® will be presented for managing high conflict individuals in any setting: Connecting with Empathy, Attention and Respect; Analyzing Options, including Making Proposals; Responding to Misinformation including the BIFF Response®; and 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 (Zoom): 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

• 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. 

• Section 3: 60 minutes
  The role-play exercise will be completed and 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.

• 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. 

• 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.

• You will receive a Certificate of Completion upon successful completion of the training that will indicate 12.0 hours of completed training.
• You may wish to submit the Certificate of Completion to your licensing board for their determination, and is dependent on your licensing board’s regulations.

**High Conflict Institute is not an approved continuing education provider by licensure boards; however, our training is accepted by many licensing boards in many states, provinces, and countries. 

• Yes, we are happy to offer discounts for those from:
  • non-profit organizations
  • governmental organizations
  • military
• We offer limited scholarships to those who may be just starting out or need a little help. Contact [email protected] to inquire.