Why This Series

Transitioning from “I have training” to “This is part of my real work” can feel unclear and overwhelming. Many people are unsure where to start, how to talk about what they do, or how to build a practice that fits their life and values.

This series focuses on the practical and human sides of that transition. Together we will:

• Explore what draws you to consensual dispute resolution now
• Connect your internal motivations with realistic professional goals
• Look at your current work context and identify concrete next steps
• Consider how to bring people in the door in a way that feels authentic and sustainable

The emphasis is on real-world application, honest conversation, and mutual support among participants.

What You Will Learn

Across the three sessions, you will:

• Clarify your motivations, values, and vision for doing ADR or mediation work
• Identify your strengths, gaps, and barriers in making this shift
• Map your current professional situation against what you want next
• Design a focused action plan for integrating conflict work into your practice or job
• Explore ways to speak about and offer your services that fit who you are
• Develop simple strategies for outreach, referrals, and relationship building
• Build accountability and support for taking your next steps after the series ends

Between sessions, you will have brief reflective exercises and “homework” to deepen learning and keep momentum.

Who Should Attend

This series is designed for people who:

• Have completed at least one conflict resolution, mediation, or ADR training
• Are excited about incorporating the Understanding-based Model into their work
• Want to add consensual dispute resolution to an existing profession, or start a new practice
• Feel unsure how to begin or would benefit from structured guidance and community support

Whether you are a lawyer, mental health professional, coach, consultant, HR professional, ombud, nonprofit staff member, or come from another field, this series will help you move from intention to action.

“I took this series because I needed to explore the transition from being a lawyer to conflict work. Your Next Steps taught me that making meaningful human connections is the best way to grow a mediation practice. One of the learners and I connected during breakout sessions in this course, and she sent me a referral six months later.”

– Hansa R. Patel, Mediator and Mindfulness Teacher

Topics and Schedule

Session 1 – May 14, 2026: Assessing Yourself
We will look at where you are now, what you are wanting for the future, and what needs to change to move in that direction. You will identify possible internal and external barriers and begin naming your priorities.

Session 2 – June 4, 2026: Assessing Your Situation and Creating a Plan
We will delve into the concrete aspects of your current professional situation and compare them with your desired path. You will explore options, resources, and constraints, and begin crafting a realistic action plan to close the gap.

Session 3 – June 25, 2026: Implementing the Plan
We will focus on putting your plan into motion. This includes how to talk about your work, how to let people know about your new or expanded services, and how to build relationships that can lead to opportunities and referrals. You will leave with clear, next steps.

Format and Details

Dates and Times
May 14, June 4, and June 25, 2026
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Pacific Time
12:00 PM – 2:30 PM Eastern Time

Location
Live Online (Zoom)
After registration, you will receive a separate email with Zoom connection details prior to the first session. Participants are encouraged to log in ten minutes early to troubleshoot any technical issues.

Structure
Each session includes brief presentations, individual reflection, small group exercises, and large group conversation. Short assignments between sessions help you refine and test your evolving plan.

Cost
The training fee for the entire three-part series is $350.
Participants are expected to attend all three sessions to benefit fully from the experience.

About the Center

The Center for Understanding in Conflict pioneered the Understanding-based approach to mediation and is one of the first and only nonprofit conflict resolution training organizations worldwide.

Since 1982, the Center has trained more than 10,000 professionals, including leaders from the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, Intel Corporation, Roche, SAP, and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Our approach is grounded in real-world practice, human connection, and the belief that conflict can be a doorway to transformation.

Faculty

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 conflict resolution skills with the Center for Understanding in Conflict and in other settings.

Melanie has worked in professional development for many years, including previously as the Associate Director for Public Interest & Public Sector Programs at Berkeley Law and in attorney development at Latham & Watkins LLP. In her law practice career, Melanie litigated civil rights cases, including marriage equality, employment discrimination, issues involving transgender and gender non-conforming youth and their families and issues facing LGBTQI elders, at the National Center for LGBTQ Rights. Melanie’s mediation, coaching and training practice focuses on improving dynamics where ongoing relationships are essential, including workplace teams, family and community organizational settings.

Caitlin Meredith, MPH, MA, is a mediator, coach and conflict skills trainer who works with individuals, organizations and families navigating transitions and conflict. Her curiosity about conflict led to 13 years with Doctors Without Borders in war zones in sub-Saharan Africa, and then to consulting in the criminal justice system. After working in the aftermath of big conflicts, she decided to learn more about preventing and working through disagreements through courageous conversations. This curiosity led her to the Center for Understanding in Conflict. In addition to her private practice, Caitlin volunteers her time as a mediator for community and court-based mediation programs in Colorado and California. She also teaches Core Mediation and Negotiation classes at the Monterey College of Law and co-hosts a podcast about women’s financial literacy. In all of her endeavors, Caitlin finds honest, clear and vulnerable communication to be the key ingredient for creating meaningful connections in our lives. Also, humor.

Cancellation Policy

Please note our cancellation policy for this series: there are no refunds 30 days before the program begins or after the start of the series. A credit may be applied to a future program if a request to transfer is made in advance of the series start date.

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.

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