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The first step in
becoming a mediator is to take our 40-Hour Professional Mediation
Training course, offered four times a year. We alternate between a
weekday format, which runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and
a weekend format, which runs Thursday evening from 5 to 9 p.m. and 8:30 to
5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday two weeks in a row.
Our 40-Hour Professional Mediation Training course is designed to
acquaint adult learners with the philosophy, concepts, process model and
specific behavioral skills that a beginner needs in order to have a working
knowledge of the role of a third party neutral mediator. It is highly
experiential, being a mix of lecture, discussion, demonstration and
participant role-playing with instructor and peer feedback.
One of the best aspects of our training is mediator involvement. Our senior
mediators present concepts, demonstrate stages of the mediation process,
and coach small group practices. We involve one mediator for every
participant in the training, so participants are able to see varying styles
of applying our mediation model and mediation skills and techniques.
Cost of the training is $565
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Approved
for CLE credit though the Washington State Bar Association (37.5 general
credits, including 2 ethics credits), Approved as a Washington State Clock
Hour Offering for Educators (40 clock hours)
By the end of 40 hours of classroom time participants will have met the
following objectives:
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Be familiar with the 8-step mediation process
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Be introduced to conflict styles and the anger arousal cycle
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Understand case development and conciliation
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Understand the role of a third party
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Know about community-based mediation and RCW 7.75
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Understand the dynamics of co-mediation
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Understand the difference between issues and interests
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Perform the mediator opening statement
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Perform mediator feedback of disputants' opening statements
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Perform agenda building with disputants
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Perform facilitation of negotiations with disputants
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Be introduced to specific skills for dealing with power imbalances
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Perform a caucus with disputants
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Perform a written settlement and closure with disputants
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Be able to co-mediate a complete mock mediation
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Perform basic mediation communication skills
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We offer two advanced
trainings. The prerequisite for both is the forty-hour Basic Mediation
Training course.
Family Mediation Training is offered twice a year. This twenty-hour
course is a prerequisite for mediating family cases and includes
information about Washington
State law that
impacts family mediations. The course provides an opportunity for role-play
practice in working with the higher emotional climate typically present in
these cases.
Multi-Party Mediation Training is offered once a year. This
twenty-hour course introduces participants to a three-stage model for
working with groups in conflict. The course provides an opportunity for
role-play practice in working with the complexities and dynamics that
impact group problem-solving efforts.
The cost for each of the advanced trainings is $140 for current Thurston
County DRC volunteers, $245 for current volunteers at other DRCs, and $285
for all others.
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Click on form to
download in PDF format.
40-Hour Mediation Course Registration
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The DRC offers a
continuing practical education program for those who have completed the
40-hour Professional Mediation Training and wish to continue building their
skills as well as volunteer for the Center. This program, which is offered
at no additional cost, includes the following steps:
1) Professional evaluation of
take- home exam
2) Observation of 6 mediation cases
3) Final mock mediation
4) Co-mediation with DRC certified mediators
5) Certification
6) On-going mediator in-services
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People
take our trainings for a variety of reasons. Some wish to become certified
mediators and volunteer for us; others want these valuable skills to
enhance their professional lives; and still others want personal growth in
communication and conflict resolution skills.
Here are a few
quotes from training evaluations:
"When humor and warmth are combined with experienced, comprehensive
instruction, you have top-notch training. The DRC training is simply
top-notch."
"This was the best training of any kind I've had in a long time.
Practical, useful-and inspiring."
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