Advanced Mediation Skills - Working with High Emotion and Conflicting Perspectives of Reality

This three hour interactive workshop will focus on practical techniques in dealing with high emotion - specifically frustration, anger and fear. We will also explore how people can have such different perspectives of reality and what to do if they hold on to their positions in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. We will discuss four possible reactions people may have to conflicting realities (self-justification, rationalization,the power of irrevocability, and inconsequential decision-making) and learn specific, practical techniques in dealing with each one. This workshop assumes participants will have experience in mediation - as a mediator, advocate, attorney, or party.