Sometimes what we need isn’t a course or a workshop – it’s a conversation. The Understanding-Based Coaching Program offers individuals and organizations personalized, one-on-one support grounded in the Understanding-Based model of conflict resolution. Whether you’re facing a professional challenge, seeking to integrate this model more deeply into your work, or navigating a difficult relationship, our trained coaches are here to help.

Why Coaching?

This coaching program brings the Understanding-Based model into new territory – supporting people not just in resolving conflict, but in developing their capacity to work with conflict more effectively. It is designed for people looking for individualized guidance, where group trainings may not fit or aren’t available at the right time.

With a coach, you can:

• Clarify how you want to use the Understanding-Based model

• Set and make progress toward professional or personal goals

• Reflect on inner work and explore practical strategies

• Talk through specific cases or challenges

• Receive accountability and ongoing support, as agreed

• Be connected to additional resources within our community

It’s a space for thoughtful exploration, skill-building, and growth.

How It Works

You can work with a coach in two ways:

1. Choose your coach – Browse our list of approved coaches and reach out directly.
2. Need help choosing? – Fill out a short inquiry form and we’ll schedule a no cost 15-minute intake call to understand what you’re looking for. A coach will follow up with tailored recommendations to help you find the right fit.

All of our coaches are available to meet with you via Zoom. Other arrangements may be possible depending on location and availability.

Sessions and Fees

You can schedule a single session or set up a series with your coach. Pricing and payment details are set individually by each coach – most offer sliding scale options. You’ll work out fees directly with your coach during your initial conversation.

Payment is made through the Center for Understanding in Conflict. A portion of each fee supports the Center’s ongoing work with trainers and program development.

Who Are the Coaches?

Coaches in this program are experienced practitioners who have completed our teacher training and are approved by our Program Committee. All are deeply versed in:

• • Practical application of the Understanding-Based Model in real world settings
  • How to work through challenges that arise in conflict resolution work
  • Advanced use of the Loop of Understanding and other tools to explore what is beneath the surface
  • Self-reflection to enhance the relationship between a conflict professional and people they are working with

They have also participated in our “How to Be a CUC Coach” training series, and many are active teachers, mentors, and conflict professionals across a variety of fields.

About Me

Through deep listening and gentle guidance, I help you clarify what matters most — whether that’s integrating the Understanding-Based Model more fully into your practice, navigating a challenging case, or discovering new possibilities in how you engage with conflict. With over 40 years of experience as a mediator and more than 20 years of teaching with the Center for Understanding in Conflict, I bring a curious, compassionate, and tailored approach that honors your unique situation and goals. My hope is to create a space where you can reflect, experiment, and grow into the conflict professional you want to be.

What I Offer

• Consultation on challenging cases, professional patterns, or conflicts

• Support for deepening your use of the Understanding-Based Model

• Guidance in developing or refining an ADR or conflict resolution program

Focus Areas

I offer general coaching and do not specialize in a particular niche.

How I Work

I offer coaching sessions both online and in person, depending on what works best for you.

Fees

• Sliding scale options available

About Me

I am an internationally accredited mediator and experienced coach, working across cultures and languages. I support professionals navigating workplace and commercial conflict, especially in global and multicultural settings. With a background in reflective practice and supervision, I help clients communicate with authenticity, think creatively, and stay grounded through conflict and change.

What I Offer

• Support with challenges in specific cases, situations, or patterns in your work
• Professional development using the Understanding-Based Model
• Guidance in developing or integrating ADR or conflict resolution programs

Focus Areas

I work broadly across professional and organizational settings, with a particular focus on:

• Workplace dynamics
• Commercial disputes
• Cross-cultural and multilingual environments

How I Work

I offer coaching sessions both online and in person, based on what best suits your needs.

Fees

• Hourly rate options available

About Me

I am a lawyer, mediator, trainer, and coach. After many years practicing law with a focus on resolving disputes through litigation and negotiation, I now work to help others navigate conflict by fostering understanding in a peaceful and respectful environment. Alongside my private practice, I serve on the Roster of Mediators for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Martha’s Vineyard Mediation Center, and San Francisco Community Boards. I hold a Juris Doctor from Villanova University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University.

What I Offer

• Consultation on challenging cases, work dynamics, or recurring patterns

• Support for integrating the Understanding-Based Model into your professional life

• Coaching for building or evolving an ADR or conflict resolution program

Focus Areas

I work broadly and do not focus on a particular niche.

How I Work

I offer online.

Fees

• Rates are negotiated on a case-by-case basis

About Me

I’m a mediator, trainer, and coach who supports people in integrating the Understanding-Based Model into both their professional lives and everyday practice. I’m particularly drawn to working with individuals navigating career transitions or developing new roles—as mediators, HR professionals, trainers, or conflict practitioners. Whether you’re stepping into something new or recalibrating your approach, I offer grounded, practical support with a focus on clarity, confidence, and connection.

With a background that includes international work with Doctors Without Borders, I bring a global perspective and an adaptable, encouraging presence to every coaching conversation.

What I Offer

• Guidance in applying the Understanding-Based Model to your professional context

• Support for career transitions or shifting professional identity

• Coaching for developing or refining a conflict resolution or ADR practice

Focus Areas

• Practice development

• Career and role transitions

• Integrating conflict resolution skills into new or evolving work

How I Work

I offer coaching sessions online, and in some cases, in person depending on location and availability.

Fees

• Sliding scale and hourly rate options available

About Me

I’m a CUC trainer and coach with many years of experience in the Understanding-Based Model and in professional development. Before starting my own mediation, training, and coaching practice, I worked at UC Berkeley supporting law students and alumni pursuing public interest careers. I later coached attorneys at Latham & Watkins LLP. Earlier in my legal career, I focused on LGBTQ+ advocacy, particularly in the areas of relationship recognition, family and elder law, and support for transgender communities.

In my coaching work, I often support clients in exploring how a deeper understanding of neurodiversity, chronic illness, or disability can open up new approaches to conflict and professional challenges. My goal is to help create space for reflection, clarity, and growth that aligns with each person’s values and experience.

What I Offer

• Support in navigating challenges in specific cases, work situations, or recurring patterns

• Guidance on integrating the Understanding-Based Model into your professional practice

• Coaching on developing or strengthening a conflict resolution or ADR program

Focus Areas

In this coaching context, I do not focus on a specific niche. In my mediation practice, I often work with:

• Workplace teams

• Community organizations

• LGBTQ+ and non-traditional families

How I Work

I offer coaching sessions online and in person, depending on your needs and location.

Fees

• Sliding scale and hourly rate options available

About Me

I am a coach, facilitator, and educator with a focus on empathy, emotional intelligence, and communication in complex professional and organizational settings. With more than 30 years of experience in education and leadership development, I support individuals and teams navigating challenging workplace dynamics, moments of conflict, and patterns that feel difficult to shift.

My work is informed by the Understanding-Based Model, alongside other human-centered and relational approaches, and emphasizes slowing down reactivity, deepening self-awareness, and strengthening trust-based relationships. Whether working one-on-one or with groups, I bring a steady, compassionate presence that helps people gain clarity, confidence, and practical tools for engaging more intentionally in their work.

In addition to coaching, I provide professional development for practitioners and organizations seeking to integrate understanding-based and empathy-centered approaches into their work, or to design ADR programs rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and human dignity. My coaching style is supportive and nonjudgmental, creating space for exploration, learning, and meaningful transformation.

What I Offer

• Consultation on complex or recurring cases and patterns
• Support in applying understanding-based and empathy-centered approaches to real-world situations
• Guidance in developing or evolving conflict resolution and ADR programs
• Professional development focused on communication, trust, and relational capacity

Focus Areas

In this coaching context, I support individuals and B-corp organizations working in or with:

• Workplace teams and organizational leaders
• Community-based and mission-driven organizations
• Educators, facilitators, and helping professionals
• Individuals navigating interpersonal or professional conflict

My areas of focus include:

• Workplace and organizational relationships
• Empathy and emotional intelligence
• Communication, leadership, and trust-building
• Community and home relationships (including but not limited to parents, families, polycules)

How I Work

I offer coaching sessions online and in person, depending on what works best for you. My approach is collaborative and reflective, balancing practical application with thoughtful inquiry.

Fees

• Sliding scale and hourly rate options available

A Gateway to the Model

This coaching program is not only a service – it is a doorway. For many, it is the beginning of a deeper connection to the Center for Understanding in Conflict and to a new way of engaging with others. Clients frequently go on to attend our trainings, join our community of practitioners, or become long-term collaborators.