Working with Trauma Survivors in Mediation

In this time of increased intentional violence both in our communities and in war zones throughout the world, in this time of increased unintentional violence - tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, those of us in service professions are presented more and more with survivors of trauma, both emotional and physical. As mediators we must be prepared to structure our mediation practice so that survivors are able to effectively discuss issues in conflict, develop options to resolve them and make informed decisions with good judgement. We must be able to serve those sent to us or requesting mediation in a safe, open environment, with sessions that are structured to help clients mediate in their own best interest. I urge all of you in the mediation field to take training on Working with Trauma Survivors in Mediation as well as training on working with Domestic Abuse and its implications for mediation. Also, keep in touch with us at www.partnersinmediation.com for information on our trainings which will be offered in the near future. The other website to visit frequently is www.mediate.com for articles on mediation.