Are you responsible for helping people work through conflict?

Do you manage important conversations between clients, employees, team members, volunteers,or other people you work with?

Do you want to improve your ability to facilitate conversations of consequence?

Do you want to learn to mediate or enhance your conflict resolution skills?

Learn how to support parties working through conflict or engaging in other important conversations in a different way.  Our Understanding-Based model focuses on guiding parties to make knowing and informed choices together in a  respectful manner.  Highlights of our basic training, Working Creatively with Conflict, include:

• Positive neutrality – how to support all parties to a conflict without taking sides
• Enhancing understanding and empathy through the Loop of Understanding
• Developing creative options that address differing needs and interests
• Creating the groundwork for the parties to make effective and lasting decisions together now and in the future

Who Will Benefit From This Training?

This training is appropriate for mediators, lawyers, collaborative professionals, business consultants, executive coaches, managers and supervisors, human resources professionals, ombuds-people, non-profit staff, and other people whose work will be enhanced by  increased skills in conflict resolution.

“An exceptional program:  well thought-out, well executed, made difficult material clear, organized and accessible and created terrific group process.”      – Laura Schwartz, Marin County

What is the Format of the Training?

The training combines presentations, teacher demonstrations, case simulations and discussions. Concise briefings introducing the model and tools of the Understanding Based Approach alternate with demonstrations and role-plays designed to immerse the participants in the process. Central to the learning are real to life simulations in which the participants work through mediations from beginning to end. The participants have a chance to apply the concepts and skills introduced in the briefings, and to experience the emotional challenges faced by parties in dispute. Participants describe these different modes of learning and their interplay as enjoyable as they are engaging and rewarding.

Overall I found the program to be extremely effective and valuable to me on so many different levels professionally and personally.  I felt it opening up many different opportunities for me and avenues for further learning and exploration. I have always hated role plays but was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed the role plays here and got a lot out of them both when I played a party and a mediator.  The specific feedback during the role plays was very well done by all instructors. – Lisa Auer, San Franciso

Who are the Trainers?

Catherine Conner and Gary Friedman. For more information, see their bios here.

The program felt like an elegant choreography – rhythm, flow, balance, energy, dynamic and intellectual challenge, deepened understanding at every level.  The thought and experience that have gone into developing this training has elevated the rewards to the highest caliber.  – Ellen Sanford, MFT

What are the Logistics – When, Where, Cost?

Registration is between 1:45 and 2:15 on Wednesday March 21, 2018. The training begins on the afternoon of  Wednesday March 21 at 2:30 pm through 9:00 pm.  On Thursday and Friday, the sessions run from 9am – 9 pm (with ample breaks for meals and rest). On Saturday, the session runs 9am – 6pm. The program ends on Sunday March 25 with a session from 9am – 12:15pm.

The training will be held at Green Gulch Farm, a Zen Center and working farm in Muir Beach, CA. The accommodations at Green Gulch are very unique and set in a beautiful, rustic location. Most participants stay in the Japanese-inspired Guest House.  The gardens are lovely and the delicious vegetarian fare is served in a country style in a health conscious atmosphere.  Three delicious vegetarian meals a day are provided, as well as all-day coffee, tea, and snack service.  There is wireless internet available, but most cell phones do not work in Green Gulch proper.  There is payphone available and an office phone for emergencies.  Participants should plan ahead with respect to the availability of phone contact.

The program training fee is $1,350 plus a fee for the facility, lodging, and meals as follows:

Private room at Green Gulch:  $720, for a total of $2,070

Shared double room at Green Gulch:  $600, for a total of $1,950

Commuter for those not staying at Green Gulch:  $250, for a total of $1,600

A 5-10% discount is available for our CUC Connect members.  Click here for more information.

A deposit of $500.00 is necessary to secure registration. (Reduction in fee available based on economic need.)

Please note our cancellation policy:  If you cancel 2 weeks or more 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 program unless there is a replacement for your seat.

“The best learning experience I have ever had (and I’m old.) The location at the Zen Center matches the mood and feeling of the program.” – Nancy Perkovich

Is there Continuing Education Credit?

Mental Health: The Center for Understanding in Conflict is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. The Center for Understanding in Conflict maintains responsibility for this program and its content.  BBS licensees may also receive credit from The Center for Understanding in Conflict as a provider approved by the California Psychological Association.  This course qualifies for 32 CE credits.

Legal:  The Center for Understanding in Conflict is an accredited provider of California Continuing Legal Education.  The Working Creatively with Conflict Training —appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys — will qualify for 32 participatory and 8 self study CA MCLE credit hours.

“Overall, it was so much more than what I would or could have ever imagined it would be like.  The intensity and depth of the learning was intriguing and fulfilling.  I learned so much about how important it is to get underneath the problem before you can truly begin to resolve anything.”

To register, scroll to the bottom of this page.

For additional information, please email us at [email protected] or call us at (844)242-3428.