Joining a Support and Development Group is an invaluable opportunity to take your conflict resolution practice to the next level. Imagine having a dedicated space to bring your most pressing challenges, gain fresh perspectives, and explore innovative solutions with a community of like-minded professionals. The insights you gain, combined with the relationships you build, will deepen your mastery of the understanding-based model and enhance your effectiveness in the real-world situations you encounter daily. If you’re ready to invest in your growth and be part of a dynamic learning environment, we encourage you to sign up or reach out with any questions. Take the next step in your professional journey—this is the perfect setting to refine your skills, gain support, and make lasting connections.

How the Group Works

The Support and Development Group is a collaborative learning environment designed for professionals who have completed the Center’s basic training and seek to deepen their understanding and application of the understanding-based model. This program offers a unique opportunity for participants to engage in practical learning by presenting real-world challenges they’ve encountered in integrating the model into their work. Through collective exploration, the group investigates not only what is meaningful to the participant presenting but also what resonates with others, fostering broader insights and growth.

Group Size and Structure

The intimate group size, limited to 10 participants, encourages deep, interactive discussions. These sessions are led by seasoned facilitators from The Center for Understanding in Conflict who guide the group in theoretical reflection and practical problem-solving. Participants commit to five 2-hour meetings over six months, creating a sustained, trust-based learning community. The continuity of these meetings allows members to build strong connections, enabling more candid sharing and deeper exploration of personal and professional conflict resolution challenges.

What You’ll Gain

In addition to learning through case presentations, the group is structured to encourage self-reflection and mutual feedback, ensuring that participants can transform theoretical knowledge into confident, applied practice in real time. By fostering a supportive environment where professionals can candidly share and explore their experiences, this group is instrumental in making a real difference in their professional lives.

Logistics

Dates: February 27, March 27, April 24, May 22, and June 26, 2025

Time: 12PM – 2PM Pacific

Format: Online

Cost: $500 for the full series

Who are the Trainers?*

Catherine Conner has been a mediation and collaborative practice trainer since 2004. She is a frequent presenter at collaborative conferences and family law workshops. She authored Collaborative Practice Materials with Steven Neustadter and Margaret Anderson. Catherine Conner’s private practice focuses on family law alternate dispute resolution, including mediation, collaborative practice, and private judging. She graduated from the UC Berkeley School of Law in 1982 and is a founding partner of Conner, Lawrence, Rodney, Olhiser & Barrett, LLP. In 1992, Catherine became a Certified Family Law Specialist.  She has been honored as the recipient of the Rex Sater Award for Excellence in Family Law, the Eureka award by Collaborative Practice California and was the 2018 honoree for Careers of Distinction.  She was on the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals from 2007-2014 and served as the President in 2013. She has been a board member of the CUC since 2015.

Melanie Rowen is a mediator and conflict coach who believes in the power of understanding-based conflict resolution to transform our world. She frequently trains individuals and groups on effective communication in conflict situations and on creating inclusive environments, particularly around gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Melanie previously litigated civil rights cases, including marriage equality, employment discrimination, issues involving transgender and gender non-conforming youth and their families, and issues facing LGBTQ+ elders, at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and served on the Board of Directors of the Transgender Law Center. Earlier in her career, she worked in business litigation at Latham & Watkins LLP, and for many years, she was the Associate Director for Public Interest Programs at UC Berkeley School of Law. Melanie currently works in attorney professional development at the Bay Area offices of a large law firm, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Law Placement.

Cancellation Policy 

Please note our cancellation policy:  If you cancel within 30 days prior to the program, your deposit will be returned minus a $250.00 administration fee. Less than 2 weeks (but more than one week) prior to the program, we will retain 50% of the total cost of the program (half of which may be applied to against a future program). Please note that refunds are not made for cancellations within the last week prior to the series start unless there is a replacement for your seat. There are no refunds after the start of the series.

PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATIONS RECEIVED LESS THAN 72 HOURS PRIOR TO PROGRAM START WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TRAINING TEAM DUE TO DEMANDS OF PREPARATION TIME AND ROLE PLAY ASSIGNMENTS.

For additional information, please email us at [email protected].

*Please note that trainers are subject to availability and may change prior to program start without notice.

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