For many people called to mediation and conflict resolution, the journey begins with a question: How can I support people in pain, confusion, or disagreement in finding a way forward that honors their humanity? It’s not about fixing others or offering quick answers. It’s about helping people move toward greater understanding – of themselves, of each other, and of the conflict they share. This kind of work asks a lot of us. It requires clarity, patience, presence, and deep listening. And it takes practice.
That’s what the Mediation Lab is designed to offer – a space for meaningful, supported practice. Held online October 3 and 4, this immersive two-day program invites trained mediators to step beyond theory and into the heart of what it means to accompany others through conflict. It’s a chance to slow down, stay with the process, and build fluency and confidence in a setting that is both structured and compassionate.
Learning Through Experience, Rooted in Values
In the Mediation Lab, we follow one case from beginning to end. Intake, exploration, negotiation, and resolution aren’t treated as isolated concepts but as part of a living arc. Participants engage with the same unfolding story over the course of two days, just as they would in real-world mediation. Along the way, they witness live demonstrations by experienced mediators, reflect together in guided conversations, and step into structured role plays with real-time feedback and coaching.
This approach honors the belief at the heart of the understanding-based model: that conflict is not just a problem to be solved, but an opportunity to engage more fully with ourselves and others. When mediators take time to understand what’s really happening – for each person, and in the space between them – they help foster connection even when things are hard. That doesn’t mean forcing agreement. It means creating the conditions for clarity, choice, and mutual respect to emerge.
From Learning to Embodiment
Many people come to conflict resolution work with a deep sense of purpose. Some are drawn to it after experiencing conflict in their own lives. Others are looking for more human-centered ways to lead, support their communities, or transform systems that too often create distance instead of connection. Whatever the path, the call is often the same – to help others find their way through struggle with dignity and care.
The Mediation Lab supports this journey by offering a place to put those intentions into motion. Participants aren’t expected to be perfect. In fact, the Lab is built on the idea that stumbling, reflecting, and trying again is how we grow. With the guidance of skilled trainers – Catherine Conner, Michelle Exline Minovi, and Melanie Rowen – participants explore not just techniques, but who they are as mediators and how they show up in the room. Each of these instructors brings years of experience grounded in practice, humility, and a commitment to justice and compassion.
Holding Space, Honoring People
Practicing mediation in this way asks us to be both brave and tender. It means sitting with discomfort, staying present when things are messy, and trusting that even when the path is unclear, something meaningful can emerge. It also means developing the inner clarity to help others do the same.
That’s what makes this program more than just a training. It’s a lab in the truest sense – a place to experiment, to learn, and to deepen our capacity to hold space for others. It’s also a community. In each session, participants build relationships with others who care about this work, who ask the same questions, and who are committed to growing together.
The Practice of Becoming
At its core, the Mediation Lab is about becoming – becoming more attuned, more grounded, more able to serve others in moments of conflict. It’s not about mastering a script. It’s about aligning your values, your presence, and your skills so that you can offer something real to the people who come to you in need.
For those ready to move from learning into lived experience, from ideas into integration, this program is a powerful next step. Whether you are just beginning to practice or returning to this work after time away, the Mediation Lab offers a meaningful and constructive way to continue becoming the practitioner you are called to be.
To learn more or register, visit understandinginconflict.org or email [email protected].