40-Hour Mediation and Conflict Resolution Mediation Training (NY and CA CLE Eligible)
2026-09-17 08:00 - 2026-09-25 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | ONLINE
September 17–19 and 24–25, 2026 | Online (Zoom)
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM PST | 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM CST | 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM EST
All sessions include breaks throughout the day
To register, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Are you the person others turn to when they are in conflict?
Whether you mediate disputes professionally or want to improve how you support meaningful conversations – in families, workplaces, or communities – this immersive, in-person training will provide you with the essential skills, structure, and confidence to navigate conflict with greater clarity and connection.
What You’ll Learn
Grounded in the Understanding-Based model from Challenging Conflict, this training focuses on:

Positive Neutrality – supporting all parties without taking sides
The Loop of Understanding – building empathy and connection through active listening
Creative Options – crafting solutions that meet deeper needs and interests
A Foundation for the Future – enabling lasting, self-determined agreements

Who Should Attend?
This training is designed for anyone whose personal or professional life involves guiding others through conflict, whether formally or informally. Our participants consistently report that this program reshapes not only how they approach conflict, but how they understand communication, decision-making, and relationship dynamics. Here’s how this training applies to different professional roles:
Mediators and Conflict Resolution Professionals
Whether you are newly exploring mediation or seeking to deepen your practice, this training offers a hands-on approach that moves beyond traditional tools and techniques. You will learn how to facilitate conversations where parties truly understand each other – often for the first time – and co-create durable, meaningful resolutions.
Lawyers, Collaborative Professionals, and Ombuds
For legal professionals, , this model shifts the focus from advocacy and positioning to understanding and informed choice. You will learn how to support clients in engaging constructively with conflict while still addressing legal realities – without relying on control, pressure, or adversarial dynamics.
Human Resources Leaders, Managers, and Nonprofit Staff
If you are responsible for managing people, teams, or organizational culture, this training provides a vital toolkit for navigating interpersonal tension, staff grievances, and sensitive conversations. The Understanding-Based model helps you foster clarity, empathy, and accountability – leading to more resilient teams and healthier workplace dynamics.
Executive Coaches, Consultants, and Educators
When your work centers on growth, transformation, and leadership, conflict is often just beneath the surface. This training equips you with a new lens and skill set for working with clients or groups who are stuck in disagreement, misalignment, or tension. You will be better prepared to support breakthroughs – whether in strategic planning, coaching conversations, or facilitation work.
Anyone Seeking a More Meaningful Way to Work with Conflict
You do not need to be a professional mediator to benefit from this training. If you are the person people come to when there is tension – in your family, workplace, or community – or if you want to better understand and navigate conflict in your own life, this training offers a practical, compassionate framework that will change how you listen, speak, and relate to others.
Program Format
This online training features a mix of short presentations, live demonstrations, and small group role plays in full-length practice mediations. You’ll have the chance to practice in a safe, supportive environment with real-time feedback and coaching from experienced trainers.
Schedule Overview
Each day is 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM PST | 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM CST | 11:00 AM – 7:30 PM EST, with breaks throughout the day. Participants are encouraged to log in at 7:50 AM PST to troubleshoot Zoom and settle in to Canvas, our e-learning platform.
About the Center for Understanding in Conflict and Our Model
The Center for Understanding in Conflict (CUC) was founded over four decades ago by Gary Friedman and Jack Himmelstein, who pioneered a radical approach to mediation and conflict resolution. Drawing from their experiences as lawyers, educators, and people impacted by conflict themselves, they developed what is now known as the Understanding-Based model.
This approach challenges the traditional win-lose, adversarial frameworks that dominate many legal and organizational systems. Instead of seeing conflict as something to suppress, manage, or solve through external authority, the Understanding-Based model embraces it as an opportunity for deeper human connection which supports the impulse to work together towards mutually beneficial solutions. .
At its heart, the model is grounded in four core principles:

Understanding – cultivating deep awareness of oneself, others, and the conflict itself
Responsibility – inviting parties to take ownership of the process and outcome
Working Together – choosing dialogue and direct engagement over separation or shuttle diplomacy
Going Under the Conflict – exploring what lies beneath positions to get to meaning, emotion, and deeper needs

Since the 1980s, thousands of professionals – including mediators, lawyers, coaches, therapists, managers, and community leaders – have trained with the Center. Many have incorporated the Understanding-Based model into their lives and work, transforming not just how they navigate conflict, but how they relate to others and themselves.
This training is a continuation of that legacy. It’s more than just a skills workshop – it’s an invitation to participate in a movement that honors empathy, autonomy, and connection at the center of conflict resolution.
Program Trainers
Ivan Alter is an attorney and mediator with offices in Westchester County, New York, and New York City. Practicing law since 1993, Ivan traded in an early career spent litigating complex commercial matters and high-conflict matrimonial cases in favor of a more rewarding practice using the understanding-based model.
Ivan left the courtroom for good twenty years ago and today empowers his clients to design satisfying resolutions to their conflicts through mediation and collaborative law. He is a graduate of Brandeis University (B.A.), Brooklyn Law School (J.D.), and Columbia University (M.S.). Having participated in countless training programs and symposia, Ivan currently serves on the board of directors for the Center for Understanding in Conflict and the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals.
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.
Costs
The program training fee is $1,485
A deposit of $500.00 is necessary to secure registration.
*Financial support and group discounts may be available for training fees. Please contact us at admin@understandinginconflict.org for details or for any questions regarding logistics.
Cancellation Policy

Cancel 4 or more weeks before: Refund minus $250 fee
Cancel 2 – 4 weeks before: 50% refund unless your spot is filled
Less than 2 weeks: No refund unless we find a replacement

Continuing Legal Education
California
The Center for Understanding in Conflict is an accredited provider of California Continuing Legal Education by the State Bar of California. 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.
New York
In New York, The Mediation Intensive Training will fulfill 40 NY CLE credit hours (6.5 Ethics credits; 19.5 Professional Practice credits; and 14 Skills credits). For continuing legal education purposes, the Mediation Intensive Training is appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys.
Photo and Video Notice
Photos or videos may be taken for promotional use. If you prefer not to appear in any media, just let us know – we will fully honor your request.
Additional Notes
Registrations received fewer than 72 hours before the program will be accepted at the discretion of the training team due to role-play and logistics needs.
For questions, contact us at admin@understandinginconflict.org

**Please select desired ticket and quantity using the +/- feature before clicking ‘Get Tickets.’

Introduction to Understanding Workplace Conflict Mediation (SHRM and HRCI Eligible)
2026-10-02 09:00 - 13:30 | ONLINE
Conflict at work is inevitable – but it doesn’t have to be insurmountable. This 4.5-hour live interactive training introduces the core principles and practical tools of the Understanding-based approach to resolving workplace conflict. Whether you’re an HR leader, manager, consultant, attorney, or team member, this workshop provides a meaningful starting point for navigating challenging dynamics and building stronger professional relationships.
Why This Training
Workplace conflict often stems not from what is said, but from what goes unspoken. This training helps participants move beyond surface-level fixes and into the heart of what drives conflict. You’ll learn to slow down, understand what’s really happening – for yourself and others – and engage more effectively with the people and systems around you.
What You’ll Learn

How to build trust and connection in the face of disagreement
Ways to address early-stage conflict before it escalates
Techniques to de-escalate tense situations with clarity and compassion
A deeper understanding of how personal awareness shapes professional communication
Real-world practice through role plays, reflection, and group exercises

Who Should Attend
This training is designed for professionals at all levels who are ready to engage workplace conflict in a more effective and human-centered way. Whether you’re in leadership, support, or team-based roles, this course delivers practical value you can apply immediately and build on over time.

HR professionals, managers and team leads will gain frameworks to handle complex interpersonal dynamics and leave with new tools to address tension early, reduce misunderstandings, and shift from managing conflict to facilitating resolution. Outcomes include stronger team cohesion, greater morale, and fewer disruptions to productivity.
Consultants and executive coaches will deepen their ability to support clients and colleagues in navigating high-stakes conversations. The Understanding-based model offers a durable alternative to adversarial approaches, with strong relevance for internal workplace matters.
Employees and cross-functional team members will gain confidence and clarity in how to address issues directly and constructively, even without formal authority. This empowers healthier work cultures and more resilient communication.

Why it Matters
Organizations lose time, money, and talent when conflict is mismanaged or ignored. This training delivers a strong return on investment by helping participants:

Reduce time spent on repeated, unresolved conflicts
Increase engagement and trust among coworkers
Retain high-performing staff through better communication
Build a more responsive and humane workplace culture

Participants consistently tell us this training transforms how they see and handle conflict – not just at work, but in every part of life. It is a powerful foundation for anyone seeking to make conflict less costly and more meaningful.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

Identify and apply the six core principles of the Understanding-based approach
Use specific techniques to address emerging and high-tension workplace conflicts
Recognize different conflict styles and adapt strategies for collaboration
Begin integrating personal awareness into conflict resolution practices

Format & Details
Date & Time: October 2, 2026, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM Pacific Time (includes two 15-minute breaks)
12:00PM – 4:30PM Eastern Time
Location: Live Online (Zoom)
Cost: $250
CE Credits: 4 hours SHRM & HRCI
No prerequisites required
This course is a prerequisite for the Fundamentals of Understanding Workplace Conflict (SHRM and HRCI Credit) training.
*Note: Both the 4-hour Introductory course and 14-hour course may be booked together. Select the ticket “BOTH PROGRAMS – 4 and 14-hour” ticket to register for both programs with a 15% discount.
*Financial support and group discounts may be available for training fees. Please contact us at admin@understandinginconflict.org for details or for any questions regarding logistics.
Cancellation Policy
This training is not refundable, though a credit may be applied to a future program if transferred 30 days in advance of program start.
SHRM and HRCI Certification
The Center for Understanding in Conflict is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDC) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.

This Program has been pre-approved for 4 recertification continuing education credit hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™, and SPHRi™ recertification through HRCI.
About the Center
The Center for Understanding in Conflict pioneered understanding-based 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 worldwide, including leaders from the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, Intel Corporation, Roche, SAP and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Our approach is rooted in real-world practice, human connection, and the belief that conflict can be a doorway to transformation.
Trainers
Helen Chen is a mediator, trainer, and conflict coach with deep expertise in workplace conflict. A former employment attorney at Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, she represented workers in areas ranging from retaliation to occupational safety. She later trained both employers and employees across sectors through the Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley. Today, Helen supports organizations through mediation and conflict coaching, with a focus on improving work relationships and conditions. She is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and trained in mediation by the Center for Understanding in Conflict and others.

Pat Lau served as a workplace mediator at Intel Corporation for 14 years, where he co-founded and led the company’s internal Collaborative Mediation Program. Under his guidance, this initiative helped resolve complex conflicts between coworkers, managers, and teams. Pat is a nationally recognized trainer and presenter on workplace conflict, with published work in the Corporate Mediation Journal and Managing Conflict (2nd ed.). He brings a systems-minded approach to mediation from his prior engineering career and is committed to helping professionals understand and shift conflict dynamics from the inside out.

Additional Notes
Registrations received fewer than 72 hours before the program will be accepted at the discretion of the training team due to role-play and logistics needs.
For questions, contact us at admin@understandinginconflict.org

**Please select desired ticket and quantity using the +/- feature before clicking ‘Get Tickets.’

Fundamentals of Understanding Workplace Conflict Mediation (SHRM and HRCI Eligible)
2026-10-23 09:00 - 2026-11-20 14:30 | ONLINE
This comprehensive 14-hour workshop builds upon foundational conflict resolution concepts from our 4-hour introductory course to tackle the sophisticated challenges of workplace disputes. Participants will move beyond basic techniques to develop skills in understanding multi-layered conflicts, de-escalating tensions, developing mutual understanding between employees, and maintaining resilience even in high-stakes situations.
Why This Training
Workplace conflict often stems not from what is said, but from what goes unspoken. This training helps participants move beyond surface-level fixes and into the heart of what drives conflict. You’ll learn to slow down, understand what’s really happening – for yourself and others – and engage more effectively with the people and systems around you.
What You’ll Learn
Through experiential learning, roleplays, and reflective practice, participants will explore how emotional responses, individual and organizational conflict styles, core competencies, and the situational context intersect to either fuel or resolve workplace tensions. The workshop emphasizes developing both the internal awareness and external skills necessary to bring the best of yourself for sustained effectiveness in workplace conflict.
Who Should Attend
This training is designed for professionals at all levels who are ready to engage workplace conflict in a more effective and human-centered way. Whether you’re in leadership, support, or team-based roles, this course delivers practical value you can apply immediately and build on over time.
HR professionals, managers and team leads will gain frameworks to handle complex interpersonal dynamics and leave with new tools to address tension early, reduce misunderstandings, and shift from managing conflict to facilitating resolution. Outcomes include stronger team cohesion, greater morale, and fewer disruptions to productivity.
Consultants and executive coaches will deepen their ability to support clients and colleagues in navigating high-stakes conversations. The Understanding-based model offers a durable alternative to adversarial approaches, with strong relevance for internal workplace matters.
Employees and cross-functional team members will gain confidence and clarity in how to address issues directly and constructively, even without formal authority. This empowers healthier work cultures and more resilient communication.
Why it Matters
Organizations lose time, money, and talent when conflict is mismanaged or ignored. This training delivers a strong return on investment by helping participants:

Reduce time spent on repeated, unresolved conflicts
Increase engagement and trust among coworkers
Retain high-performing staff through better communication
Build a more responsive and humane workplace culture

Participants consistently tell us this training transforms how they see and handle conflict – not just at work, but in every part of life. It is a powerful foundation for anyone seeking to make conflict less costly and more meaningful.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

Navigate Conflict-Laden Conversations: Apply the understanding-based concepts and tools to real-world conflicts in the workplace.
Analyze and De-escalate Complex Dynamics: Examine multi-layered workplace conflicts by identifying hierarchical differences, cultural dynamics, power imbalances, and team and systemic factors that contribute to escalation. Work with these layers in a way that builds trust.
Facilitate Perspective-Taking: Use a structured process to understand different viewpoints before engaging in problem-solving, even in situations with deep-seated animosity or mistrust.
Manage Personal Reactions: Recognize and regulate their own emotional responses to conflict, maintaining effectiveness even when personally challenged or activated. Allow tension in a more deliberate and confident way, whether the tension is generated by others or within themselves.
Address root causes: Use a step-by-step approach to address root causes of conflict rather than just surface symptoms.

Format & Details
Date & Time: October 23, November 6 and 20, 2026, 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM Pacific Time (includes two 15-minute breaks)
12:00 PM – 5:30 PM Eastern Time
Location: Live Online (Zoom)
Cost: $985
CE Credits: 14 hours SHRM & HRCI
4-hour Introduction to Understanding Workplace Conflict prerequisite required
*Note: Both the 4-hour Introductory course and 14-hour course may be booked together. Select the ticket “BOTH PROGRAMS – 4 and 14-hour” ticket to register for both programs with a 15% discount.
*Financial support and group discounts may be available for training fees. Please contact us at admin@understandinginconflict.org for details or for any questions regarding logistics.
SHRM and HRCI Certification
The Center for Understanding in Conflict is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDC) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.

This Program has been pre-approved for 4 recertification continuing education credit hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™, and SPHRi™ recertification through HRCI.
About the Center
The Center for Understanding in Conflict pioneered understanding-based 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 worldwide, including leaders from the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, Intel Corporation, Roche, SAP and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Our approach is rooted in real-world practice, human connection, and the belief that conflict can be a doorway to transformation.
Trainers
Helen Chen is a mediator, trainer, and conflict coach with deep expertise in workplace conflict. A former employment attorney at Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, she represented workers in areas ranging from retaliation to occupational safety. She later trained both employers and employees across sectors through the Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley. Today, Helen supports organizations through mediation and conflict coaching, with a focus on improving work relationships and conditions. She is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and trained in mediation by the Center for Understanding in Conflict and others.

Pat Lau served as a workplace mediator at Intel Corporation for 14 years, where he co-founded and led the company’s internal Collaborative Mediation Program. Under his guidance, this initiative helped resolve complex conflicts between coworkers, managers, and teams. Pat is a nationally recognized trainer and presenter on workplace conflict, with published work in the Corporate Mediation Journal and Managing Conflict (2nd ed.). He brings a systems-minded approach to mediation from his prior engineering career and is committed to helping professionals understand and shift conflict dynamics from the inside out.

Additional Notes
Registrations received fewer than 72 hours before the program will be accepted at the discretion of the training team due to role-play and logistics needs.
For questions, contact us at admin@understandinginconflict.org

**Please select desired ticket and quantity using the +/- feature before clicking ‘Get Tickets.’

40-Hour Mediation and Conflict Resolution Mediation Training (NY and CA CLE Eligible)
2026-11-04 - 2026-11-08 | Green Gulch Farm, 1601 Shoreline Highway, Muir Beach, CA, 94965, United States
November 4 – 8, 2026 | Green Gulch Farm, Muir Beach, CA
To register, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Are you the person others turn to when they are in conflict?
Whether you mediate disputes professionally or want to improve how you support meaningful conversations – in families, workplaces, or communities – this immersive, in-person training will provide you with the essential skills, structure, and confidence to navigate conflict with greater clarity and connection.
What You’ll Learn
Grounded in the Understanding-Based model from Challenging Conflict, this training focuses on:

Positive Neutrality – supporting all parties without taking sides
The Loop of Understanding – building empathy and connection through active listening
Creative Options – crafting solutions that meet deeper needs and interests
A Foundation for the Future – enabling lasting, self-determined agreements

Who Should Attend?
This training is designed for anyone whose personal or professional life involves guiding others through conflict, whether formally or informally. Our participants consistently report that this program reshapes not only how they approach conflict, but how they understand communication, decision-making, and relationship dynamics. Here’s how this training applies to different professional roles:
Mediators and Conflict Resolution Professionals
Whether you are newly exploring mediation or seeking to deepen your practice, this training offers a hands-on approach that moves beyond traditional tools and techniques. You will learn how to facilitate conversations where parties truly understand each other – often for the first time – and co-create durable, meaningful resolutions.
Lawyers, Collaborative Professionals, and Ombuds
For legal professionals, , this model shifts the focus from advocacy and positioning to understanding and informed choice. You will learn how to support clients in engaging constructively with conflict while still addressing legal realities – without relying on control, pressure, or adversarial dynamics.
Human Resources Leaders, Managers, and Nonprofit Staff
If you are responsible for managing people, teams, or organizational culture, this training provides a vital toolkit for navigating interpersonal tension, staff grievances, and sensitive conversations. The Understanding-Based model helps you foster clarity, empathy, and accountability – leading to more resilient teams and healthier workplace dynamics.
Executive Coaches, Consultants, and Educators
When your work centers on growth, transformation, and leadership, conflict is often just beneath the surface. This training equips you with a new lens and skill set for working with clients or groups who are stuck in disagreement, misalignment, or tension. You will be better prepared to support breakthroughs – whether in strategic planning, coaching conversations, or facilitation work.
Anyone Seeking a More Meaningful Way to Work with Conflict
You do not need to be a professional mediator to benefit from this training. If you are the person people come to when there is tension – in your family, workplace, or community – or if you want to better understand and navigate conflict in your own life, this training offers a practical, compassionate framework that will change how you listen, speak, and relate to others.

Program Format
This in-person training features a mix of short presentations, live demonstrations, and small group role plays in full-length practice mediations. You’ll have the chance to practice in a safe, supportive environment with real-time feedback and coaching from experienced trainers.

Schedule Overview

Wednesday, Nov 4: Check-in is 1:45 – 2:15 pm; training begins 2:30 pm and runs until 9:00 pm
Thursday – Friday, Nov 5 – 6: Full-day sessions, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm (with ample breaks)
Saturday, Nov 7: 9:00 am-6:00 pm
Sunday, Nov 8: 9:00 am-12:15 pm

Note: Lodging check-in may not be available until 3:00pm Wednesday.
Venue
Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in Muir Beach, CA, is a tranquil retreat space nestled among coastal hills. Accommodations are simple and beautiful, with Japanese-inspired guest rooms and shared bathrooms. Three nourishing vegetarian meals per day are provided, along with snacks, coffee, and tea. WIFI is available, but cell service is limited.
Participants must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at least two weeks prior to the program.

About the Center for Understanding in Conflict and Our Model
The Center for Understanding in Conflict (CUC) was founded over four decades ago by Gary Friedman and Jack Himmelstein, who pioneered a radical approach to mediation and conflict resolution. Drawing from their experiences as lawyers, educators, and people impacted by conflict themselves, they developed what is now known as the Understanding-Based model.
This approach challenges the traditional win-lose, adversarial frameworks that dominate many legal and organizational systems. Instead of seeing conflict as something to suppress, manage, or solve through external authority, the Understanding-Based model embraces it as an opportunity for deeper human connection which supports the impulse to work together towards mutually beneficial solutions. .
At its heart, the model is grounded in four core principles:

Understanding – cultivating deep awareness of oneself, others, and the conflict itself
Responsibility – inviting parties to take ownership of the process and outcome
Working Together – choosing dialogue and direct engagement over separation or shuttle diplomacy
Going Under the Conflict – exploring what lies beneath positions to get to meaning, emotion, and deeper needs

Since the 1980s, thousands of professionals – including mediators, lawyers, coaches, therapists, managers, and community leaders – have trained with the Center. Many have incorporated the Understanding-Based model into their lives and work, transforming not just how they navigate conflict, but how they relate to others and themselves.
This training is a continuation of that legacy. It’s more than just a skills workshop – it’s an invitation to participate in a movement that honors empathy, autonomy, and connection at the center of conflict resolution.

Trainers
Gary J. Friedman has been practicing law as a mediator with Mediation Law Offices in Mill Valley, California since 1976, integrating mediative principles into the practice of law and the resolution of legal disputes. Co-founder of the Center for Understanding in Conflict (formerly the Center for Mediation in Law), he has been teaching mediation since 1980. Prior to his work as a mediator, he practiced law as a trial lawyer with Friedman and Friedman in Bridgeport, Connecticut. After several years as an advocate, he sought a new approach to resolving disputes through increasing the participation of the parties in the resolution of their differences. At that time, he and his colleague, Jack Himmelstein, began to develop the Understanding-based model that is now practiced extensively in the United States and Europe. As one of the first lawyer mediators and a primary force in the current mediation movement, he has used this model to complete over one thousand mediations in the last two decades He has mediated numerous two-party and multi-party disputes in the commercial and non-profit realms, in the area of intellectual property, real estate, corporate, personnel, partnership formations and dissolutions, and family law.
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.
Costs
The program training fee is $1,485 plus a fee for the facility, lodging, and meals as follows:

Private room at Green Gulch: $825, for a total of $2,310
Shared double room at Green Gulch: $675, for a total of $2,160
Commuter for those not staying at Green Gulch: $325, for a total of $1,810

Please note that the bathrooms are shared at Green Gulch. You can find more details about accommodation at Green Gulch by clicking here.
A deposit of $500.00 is necessary to secure registration.
*Financial support and group discounts may be available for training fees. Please contact us at admin@understandinginconflict.org for details or for any questions regarding logistics.
COVID-19 Protocols
Green Gulch requires:

A negative rapid antigen test within 24 hours of arrival
A second rapid test upon arrival (bring your own)
Masks are optional

Protocols may change; participants will be notified of updates.
Cancellation Policy

Cancel 4 or more weeks before: Refund minus $250 fee
Cancel 2 – 4 weeks before: 50% refund unless your spot is filled
Less than 2 weeks: No refund unless we find a replacement

Continuing Legal Education
California
The Center for Understanding in Conflict is an accredited provider of California Continuing Legal Education by the State Bar of California. 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.
New York
In New York, The Mediation Intensive Training will fulfill 40 NY CLE credit hours (6.5 Ethics credits; 19.5 Professional Practice credits; and 14 Skills credits). For continuing legal education purposes, the Mediation Intensive Training is appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys.
Photo and Video Notice
Photos or videos may be taken for promotional use. If you prefer not to appear in any media, just let us know – we will fully honor your request.
Additional Notes
Registrations received fewer than 72 hours before the program will be accepted at the discretion of the training team due to role-play and logistics needs.
For questions, contact us at admin@understandinginconflict.org

**Please select desired ticket and quantity using the +/- feature before clicking ‘Get Tickets.’

40-Hour Mediation and Conflict Resolution Mediation Training (NY and CA CLE Eligible)
2027-09-22 12:00 - 2027-09-26 12:30 | Green Gulch Farm, 1601 Shoreline Highway, Muir Beach, CA, 94965, United States
September 22 – 26, 2027 | Green Gulch Farm, Muir Beach, CA
To register, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Are you the person others turn to when they are in conflict?
Whether you mediate disputes professionally or want to improve how you support meaningful conversations – in families, workplaces, or communities – this immersive, in-person training will provide you with the essential skills, structure, and confidence to navigate conflict with greater clarity and connection.
What You’ll Learn
Grounded in the Understanding-Based model from Challenging Conflict, this training focuses on:

Positive Neutrality – supporting all parties without taking sides
The Loop of Understanding – building empathy and connection through active listening
Creative Options – crafting solutions that meet deeper needs and interests
A Foundation for the Future – enabling lasting, self-determined agreements

Who Should Attend?
This training is designed for anyone whose personal or professional life involves guiding others through conflict, whether formally or informally. Our participants consistently report that this program reshapes not only how they approach conflict, but how they understand communication, decision-making, and relationship dynamics. Here’s how this training applies to different professional roles:
Mediators and Conflict Resolution Professionals
Whether you are newly exploring mediation or seeking to deepen your practice, this training offers a hands-on approach that moves beyond traditional tools and techniques. You will learn how to facilitate conversations where parties truly understand each other – often for the first time – and co-create durable, meaningful resolutions.
Lawyers, Collaborative Professionals, and Ombuds
For legal professionals, , this model shifts the focus from advocacy and positioning to understanding and informed choice. You will learn how to support clients in engaging constructively with conflict while still addressing legal realities – without relying on control, pressure, or adversarial dynamics.
Human Resources Leaders, Managers, and Nonprofit Staff
If you are responsible for managing people, teams, or organizational culture, this training provides a vital toolkit for navigating interpersonal tension, staff grievances, and sensitive conversations. The Understanding-Based model helps you foster clarity, empathy, and accountability – leading to more resilient teams and healthier workplace dynamics.
Executive Coaches, Consultants, and Educators
When your work centers on growth, transformation, and leadership, conflict is often just beneath the surface. This training equips you with a new lens and skill set for working with clients or groups who are stuck in disagreement, misalignment, or tension. You will be better prepared to support breakthroughs – whether in strategic planning, coaching conversations, or facilitation work.
Anyone Seeking a More Meaningful Way to Work with Conflict
You do not need to be a professional mediator to benefit from this training. If you are the person people come to when there is tension – in your family, workplace, or community – or if you want to better understand and navigate conflict in your own life, this training offers a practical, compassionate framework that will change how you listen, speak, and relate to others.
Program Format
This in-person training features a mix of short presentations, live demonstrations, and small group role plays in full-length practice mediations. You’ll have the chance to practice in a safe, supportive environment with real-time feedback and coaching from experienced trainers.
Schedule Overview

Wednesday, Sept 22: Check-in is 1:45 – 2:15 pm; training begins 2:30 pm and runs until 9:00 pm
Thursday – Friday, Sept 23 – 24: Full-day sessions, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm (with ample breaks)
Saturday, Sept 25: 9:00 am-6:00 pm
Sunday, Sept 26: 9:00 am-12:15 pm

Note: Lodging check-in may not be available until 3:00pm Wednesday.
Venue
Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in Muir Beach, CA, is a tranquil retreat space nestled among coastal hills. Accommodations are simple and beautiful, with Japanese-inspired guest rooms and shared bathrooms. Three nourishing vegetarian meals per day are provided, along with snacks, coffee, and tea. WIFI is available, but cell service is limited.
Participants must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at least two weeks prior to the program.

About the Center for Understanding in Conflict and Our Model
The Center for Understanding in Conflict (CUC) was founded over four decades ago by Gary Friedman and Jack Himmelstein, who pioneered a radical approach to mediation and conflict resolution. Drawing from their experiences as lawyers, educators, and people impacted by conflict themselves, they developed what is now known as the Understanding-Based model.
This approach challenges the traditional win-lose, adversarial frameworks that dominate many legal and organizational systems. Instead of seeing conflict as something to suppress, manage, or solve through external authority, the Understanding-Based model embraces it as an opportunity for deeper human connection which supports the impulse to work together towards mutually beneficial solutions. .
At its heart, the model is grounded in four core principles:

Understanding – cultivating deep awareness of oneself, others, and the conflict itself
Responsibility – inviting parties to take ownership of the process and outcome
Working Together – choosing dialogue and direct engagement over separation or shuttle diplomacy
Going Under the Conflict – exploring what lies beneath positions to get to meaning, emotion, and deeper needs

Since the 1980s, thousands of professionals – including mediators, lawyers, coaches, therapists, managers, and community leaders – have trained with the Center. Many have incorporated the Understanding-Based model into their lives and work, transforming not just how they navigate conflict, but how they relate to others and themselves.
This training is a continuation of that legacy. It’s more than just a skills workshop – it’s an invitation to participate in a movement that honors empathy, autonomy, and connection at the center of conflict resolution.

Costs
The program training fee is $1,485 plus a fee for the facility, lodging, and meals as follows:

Private room at Green Gulch: $825, for a total of $2,310
Shared double room at Green Gulch: $675, for a total of $2,160
Commuter for those not staying at Green Gulch: $325, for a total of $1,810

Please note that the bathrooms are shared at Green Gulch. You can find more details about accommodation at Green Gulch by clicking here.
A deposit of $500.00 is necessary to secure registration.
*Financial support and group discounts may be available for training fees. Please contact us at admin@understandinginconflict.org for details or for any questions regarding logistics.
COVID-19 Protocols
Green Gulch requires:

A negative rapid antigen test within 24 hours of arrival
A second rapid test upon arrival (bring your own)
Masks are optional

Protocols may change; participants will be notified of updates.
Cancellation Policy

Cancel 4 or more weeks before: Refund minus $250 fee
Cancel 2 – 4 weeks before: 50% refund unless your spot is filled
Less than 2 weeks: No refund unless we find a replacement

Continuing Legal Education
California
The Center for Understanding in Conflict is an accredited provider of California Continuing Legal Education by the State Bar of California. 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.
New York
In New York, The Mediation Intensive Training will fulfill 40 NY CLE credit hours (6.5 Ethics credits; 19.5 Professional Practice credits; and 14 Skills credits). For continuing legal education purposes, the Mediation Intensive Training is appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys.
Photo and Video Notice
Photos or videos may be taken for promotional use. If you prefer not to appear in any media, just let us know – we will fully honor your request.
Additional Notes
Registrations received fewer than 72 hours before the program will be accepted at the discretion of the training team due to role-play and logistics needs.
For questions, contact us at admin@understandinginconflict.org

**Please select desired ticket and quantity using the +/- feature before clicking ‘Get Tickets.’
