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Sessions

Below please find recordings of the October 16-17 Conference. 

Links to materials are provided when presenters made those available to APFM.

Jump to Session

Friday, October 16

• Our Family Wizard Presentation – Improving Outcomes for Families with Structured Co-Parenting Communication
• Welcoming Plenary – Engaging the New Online Family Mediation Field
• A1 – Family Mediation: Building a Successful Mediation Practice
• A2 – Implicit Bias: When Peacemakers Take Sides, the Power Shifts
• Annual Meeting & Awards
• B1 – Essential Technology for Effective Online Mediation
• B2 – New Approaches to Mediating Pre-Marital & Marital Agreements
• Keynote – Reimagining Mediation

Saturday, October 17

• Soberlink Presentation: Alcohol Monitoring and Sustainable Parenting Time
• C1 – International Perspectives on Family Mediation
• C2 – Mediating Pet Issues
• D1 – Effective Techniques for Screening Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) 
• D2 – Selling Online Mediation
• E1 – Financial Issues Mediators Can’t Afford to Miss
• E2 – High Conflict Personalities in Online Mediation
• F1 – Advanced Techniques: New Ways of Building Trust Online
• F2 – Ethical Challenges in Mediating Parenting Plans
• Closing Plenary: The Coming of Age of “Strategic Mediation”: Is it Becoming Mainstream?

Additional Recordings:

• Welcome from the Conference Committee
• Outstanding Mediator Award
• Lifetime Achievement Awards

Welcoming Plenary – Engaging the New Online Family Mediation Field

This program will explore the ideal path for the continued growth of the family mediation field in relation to online mediation services. We will assess the present state of our profession and explore the trajectory of our future. Specifically, the program will address opportunities and obstacles related to offering family mediation services online. Practical and ethical issues related to online mediation will be addressed. New technologies, marketing strategies, and maintaining an efficient and successful mediation practice will also be explored.

Presenter

Michael Aurit
7231 E. Princess Blvd. Suite 202, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-378-2686
[email protected]

With Susan Guthrie, Amanda Singer, Justin Kelsey, Robert Benjamin, Donna Petrucelli, Don Saposnek

Recorded: October 16, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/amrjvfdcwrwqf6u/AAA0Hkmsq78xDTwypYkCOkVAa?dl=0

A1: Family Mediation: Building a Successful Mediation Practice

The financial benefits, though important, pale in comparison to the joy and rejuvenation I feel towards practicing… Although I am over sixty years old, I get up in the morning ready to run to the office. I cannot imagine retiring…

This panel will explore strategies for building a successful career as a full-time peacemaker. We will explore some oft-overlooked opportunities for networking and marketing your family mediatoin practice.

Presenter

Forrest “Woody” Mosten
6516 Manana Place, La Jolla, Ca 92037-6238
310-721-4291
[email protected]

With Stacey Langenbahn, Lara Traum, and Stephen Sulmeyer

Recorded: October 16, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5k3exrakspj5uxc/AAAt3u9TealaLS1M-BJ27Pzka?dl=0

A2: Implicit Bias: When Peacemakers Take Sides, the Power Shifts

Our presentation will educate the participants about implicit bias and white privilege and how both perpetuate social constructs of racism in our society and harms all of us. Participants will learn about the different types of privilege and be absorbed and internalized by all to maintain and justify institutionalized racism.

Mediators are ethically required to be neutral, but we bring our biases and prejudices into the negotiation session. Our presenters will teach strategies to recognize your preferences, neutralize their impact when triggered in session, and how and when to engage in “critical conversations” about race, gender identity, and disability to preserve essential mediation principles of fairness and neutrality and equal bargaining power in practice.

Presenter

Darcia Tudor
5400 Carillon Point, Kirkland, WA 98033
206-547-3166
[email protected]

With Alice Shikina, Scott Miller, Mikhaila Fendor, Joanna T. Roth

Recorded: October 16, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pmsl5smffipt2tq/AADz1lQ1FSiMCBkl-UKHhrUIa?dl=0

B1: Essential Technology for Effective Online Mediation

This program will cover not only the technology that is essential to effectively and properly conduct your mediations online, but will also go beyond those fundamentals to include the additional programs, technology and more that can help you to optimize your practice in a rapidly changing and advancing virtual world. The program will include a peek at some of the exciting new technology in the pipeline as well as time for Q&A with our expert panel to help you help you create a competitive advantage for your practice and make your clients love you even more!

Presenter

Susan Guthrie
1749 N Winchester Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA
203-856-8371
[email protected]

With Colin Rule, Simon Boehme, Clare Fowler

Recorded: October 16, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/478o2dnwd66j009/AADvZ9vopdRxPpqkYEVEhSXza?dl=0

B2: New Approaches to Mediating Pre-Marital & Marital Agreements

This workshop will present important and innovative issues to include in every pre-marital and post-marital mediation. We will not only discuss the standard issues that need to be included, but also some new ways of thinking about the purpose and function of a pre-marital or post-marital agreement.

Presenter

Ken Neumann
111 W 90th Street, New York, NY 10024
917-476-9195
[email protected]

With John Fiske, Chip Rose

Recorded: October 16, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wjux4687by7zeoo/AAB5llr8_jiSqrXOH-3eNNNXa?dl=0

Keynote: Reimagining Mediation

How Online Dispute Resolution is Changing and Evolving Family Mediation:
– what ODR is
– how it works
– examples from family mediation
– new frontiers in using technology to help parties

Presenters

Colin Rule and Alyson Carrel
APFM c/o Legal for Good
5354 Parkdale Drive, Suite 103, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
802-823-2566
[email protected]

Recorded: October 16, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ctpp521m3ws0qmg/AADNxW_L7FUGxhRDPJ-O7fWXa?dl=0

C1: International Perspectives on Family Mediation

This presentation will be a panel discussion on the international perspectives, strategies and techniques used in family and divorce mediation and how we can learn from other countries and professionals.

Presenter

Amanda Singer
674 Via de la Valle, Suite 304, Solana Beach, CA 92075
858-707-5133
[email protected]

With JLN Murthh, Jacinta Gallant, Suzanne Kingston, Karen O’Leary, Galit Sneh Lurie

Recorded: October 17, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hmxt159nhk0gf6f/AAD845qJGWAJ1ikH5j0eR8oQa?dl=0

C2: Mediating Pet Issues

We will be focusing on the growing area of “pet ownership” disputes in the family law context. Pet-related disputes frequently arise between separating or divorcing partners, but there is little law on the issue and the subject has not traditionally been addressed in mediation training/education programs. It is therefor important to provide new and veteran mediators alike with a forum to consider ways to address and resolve such issues when presented

Presenter

Lawrence R. Jones
P.O. Box 343, Toms River, NJ 08754
732-818-1985
[email protected]

With Ken Neumann, Steve Menack, Karis Nafte

Recorded: October 17, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1tbypffnblu34qf/AAB-N8VOmN1Rrd14RBK49Ncna?dl=0

D1: Effective Techniques for Screening Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Covid-19 has resulted in an increase in abuse and violence towards intimate partners and their children. At the same time, access to courts has been restricted. For those who are separating and also experiencing domestic violence, family mediation can be a safe way out. But careful and informed screening to identify, assess and manage risk is critical. This panel will explore the latest tools, protocols, best practices and more in the US and in Canada.

Presenter

Hilary Linton
425 University Ave Unit 300, Toronto, ON M5G 1T6, Canada
416-593-0210
[email protected]

With Tina Zhang, Sue Bronson, Amy Holtzworth-Munroe

Recorded: October 17, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/06y3paivarxnjrs/AAAQUept_UfcNj5hc6ULwoGYa?dl=0

D2: Selling Online Mediation

We will be discussing considerations for marketing an online mediation practice. While many strategies and best practices used in marketing a conventional practice are still relevant, online mediation presents new benefits to potential clients and opportunities for professionals. This panel of marketing savvy mediators will discuss what has worked for them in this transitional time for the field.

Presenter

Max Markin
3347 12th Avenue, Apt B, Brooklyn, NY
917-397-0524
[email protected]

With Barry Davis, Jim Melamed, Rosemarie Ferrante, Natalie Armstrong-Motin, Sheila Robinson-Kiss

Recorded: October 17, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/57brww7pqr2waqk/AADKFHvIS9Rq5MmIcHVraVpia?dl=0

E1: Financial Issues Mediators Can’t Afford to Miss

This panel discussion will discuss in depth the financial issues of divorce that are often overlooked, misinterpreted, ill advised, and essential to fully informed and successful settlements. If you’re not covering these topics with your clients, you’re doing them a great disservice. Join us to explore how you can better serve your clients by knowing the financial topics to bring up.

Presenter

Nancy Hetrick
202 E Earll Dr., Suite 140, Phoenix, AZ 85012
877-552-4017
[email protected]

With Susan Miller, Bob Bordett, Kim Whelan, Suzanne Soderburg

Recorded: October 17, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lpsuu3lda2j2aue/AACzToQD7oA3Ny3JBM6Rl0yca?dl=0

E2: High Conflict Personalities in Online Mediation

This panel of three experts and a Moderator will address some background on high conflict personalities and personality disorders, including four areas of difference in how to deal with them compared to ordinary mediation: not trying to give them insight into their own behavior; not emphasizing the past but rather what they can do now and in the future; avoiding emotional confrontations; and avoiding labeling them “high conflict personalities” or having personality disorders. Instead, emphasizing that the parties think about their agenda items and think about their proposals during the mediation process.

Panelists will address adaptations to the mediation process for these personalities, as well as adaptations for online mediation, including: screening for domestic violence, use of breakout rooms for separate discussions with each party, and explaining to the parties generally how the courts might handle a case since they are backed up by many months before getting in for a hearing. Other adaptations will be discussed by the experienced mediators on the panel. 

Presenter

Bill Eddy
7701 E Indian School Rd., Ste. F, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
619-800-2070
[email protected]

With Michael Lomax, Karen Levitt, Shawn Weber

Recorded: October 17, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hoa2ohvfu25bukm/AAAJ1L_CLT_YRG8EzDl1vuOna?dl=0

F1: Advanced Techniques: New Ways of Building Trust Online

During this presentation I intend to use a Q/A format to ask the panelist to share their experiences and techniques used to build trust between themselves and their clients and to rebuild trust between the clients themselves throughout the mediation process. We will then explore if/how these techniques have changed given the move to virtual practice most of experienced rather abruptly due to COVID 19. I intend to leave some time for Q/A from the folks watching live.

Presenter

Jennifer Hawthorne
9 Main Street, Southborough, MA 01772
508-655-5980
[email protected]

With Steve Erickson, Vicki Shemin, Dina Haddad, Betsy Ross

Recorded: October 17, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/q642hpxcvqy8nof/AAB3r9cbmLWvqZFajRt9tfMma?dl=0

F2: Ethical Challenges in Mediating Parenting Plans

Description forthcoming.

Presenter

Marilyn McKnight
3600 AMERICAN BLVD WEST, SUITE 105
BLOOMINGTON, MN 55431
(952) 835-3688
[email protected]

With Kristyn Carmichael, Martin Kranitz, Bill Eddy, Karen Bonnell

Recorded: October 17, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/w9zzuz3w2l5ogiu/AAA1VCb3vwo1uxqpwKKtzIiqa?dl=0

Closing Plenary: The Coming of Age of “Strategic Mediation”: Is it Becoming Mainstream?

In this closing plenary, through a lively, expansive, and deep-diving discussion, we will explore the “Strategic” approach to mediation and will consider whether it has now become a mainstream model, along with the more traditional Facilitative, Evaluative, and Transformative models.

After first presenting a brief synopsis of the current mainstream models, the original concept of the strategic approach to mediation, first published in the early 1980s, will be detailed and followed by empirical research that goes beyond models of mediation into modes of mediation and suggests a radically new way to conceptualize our research and work in mediation . This will be followed by examples of technique enhancements and innovations to the original concept of Strategic Mediation.

Moderator: Don Saposnek

Panelists: Michael Aurit, Chip Rose

Recorded: October 17, 2020

Materials and/or Chat: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mzgb8ehiv4zdymr/AADTngqgYsXhgwDDCyOfSWkSa?dl=0

Recordings

Videos from the Conference

Introductory Remarks by APFM President Michael Aurit and the Conference Committee

Marilyn McKnight and Steve Erickson receive the 2020 APFM Family Mediation Lifetime Achievement Award. Introduction by Alex Glassmann.