New: Training Course on offer from 18 January 2010. 10 evenings at UCC until 22 March).
This course is for community leaders, teachers, youth workers and everybody who wants to make a difference to their local community or organisation.
For bookings phone UCC Centre for Adult Continuing Education 021 4904717. e-mail r.sexton@ucc.ie or shortcourses@ucc.ie
Course Fee: € 250
Contents:
- general conflict awareness, escalation, de-escalation
- resolution techniques and their uses mediation as opposed to negotiation, arbitration,
legislation
- creating safe space, ground rules, managing issues such as confidentiality, impartiality,
trust etc.
- stages of the mediation process
- techniques for active listening, paraphrasing, summarising, reframing
- introduction to Community Mediation as a service that requires volunteers to be trained
to mediate conflicts in neighbourhoods.
- introduction to Peer Mediation in schools
- limits of the mediation process
- other methods for reconciliation and restorative justice
Why Mediation?
- Litigation is often 10 x more costly than mediation. Studies have shown that Mediation can resolve conflicts at a fraction of the cost.
- In situations where there is an on-going between parents, neighbours, or colleagues mediation provides a much more satisfying and sustainable solution.
- Conflicts are an inescapable part of life.
- They can be processed for everybody’s benefit.
- Positive change follows well managed conflict.
- Unhealthy cycles of conflict can be broken by listening carefully to hidden messages in the way conflicts unfold.
- Gaining insights into the way we communicate (or fail to communicate) will benefit your life and that of your family.
- Conflicts are opportunities for learning more about ourselves and each other. Conflict Resolution sessions can guide you in your learning process.
The Mediation Process defined:
- is a voluntary process for disputants wishing to resolve their conflict. It is geared towards finding common ground and workable solutions for seemingly insoluable problems.
- The Mediator is a neutral guide who provides equal support to all parties of a conflict. He listens to all disputants in turn, identifies issues and helps them find solutions.
- The aim of a mediation session is to reach agreement about one or several issues and to establish a process of implementing them.
- Mediation as a way of resolving disputes has been proven over many years to be successful and very beneficial for couples, families and neighbourhoods.
Basic Outline of the Mediation Process:
Setting the Stage:
Explain that as a mediator you will help the disputants come up with their own solutions, without taking sides nor giving advice nor telling them how to solve their problem.
Ask the disputants to agree that they will:
- Try to solve the problem
- speak with respect and avoid engaging in personal attacks
- Speak one at a time without interrupting each other
- be as honest as they can
- keep confidential everything that is said during the mediation session
Getting the stories out
- Ask disputants in turn “what happened?” After he/she has finished, restate what was said and ask clarifying questions. Show that you are listening by reflecting back.
- Ask each disputant to restate how the other person feels and why.
- Ask each disputant what they need to feel that the conflict is resolved.
- Ask “Is there anything else?
Brainstorming solutions:
Ask disputants in turn “What can you do here and now to help solve the problem?” Encourage them to be specific. Restate what they say.
It they get stuck, ask questions such as “what would you tell someone else to do who had a similar problem?” “How would this solution work?” “Can you think of something else you could do?” Can you say more about your idea.”
Resolution:
Help the disputants reach a solution that works for both of them. Help them make the solution specific. Who does what, when, where, how?
Restate the solutions and all of their parts to the disputants.
Ask each person individually if he or she agrees to the solutions they have chosen.