PreConference Institutes
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Each Institute runs from 10AM-1PM Eastern (7-10AM Pacific). Each will be recorded.
Get Three Workshops for the Price of One!
When you register for a single workshop, you’ll gain access to recordings of the other two workshops at no additional cost. Workshop recordings will be made available to registrants after the conference at a date to be determined.
Pricing
APFM Members: $170
Non Members: $220
Early Bird 20% Discount through September 5!
PreConference Institutes
How To Handle Written Communication & Conflict in Mediation – Practical Skills for Mediators and Their Clients
Facilitated by Kristyn Carmichael
Much of our focus over the last few years has been the transition of mediation into the virtual world, from Zoom mediation to virtual disclosures. But, an element of our businesses that has always been present and continues to expand, is written communication, via emails, texts, chat, or other. While we spend a great amount of thought and effort into educating ourselves as to how we can help our clients when we are mediating, we often take for granted our abilities to communicate effectively in writing. This interactive training will help you to sharpen your skills as a mediator outside of the mediation room, from handling high-conflict emails and parsing out their relevant meaning to mediating via email. This training will primarily focus on developing these skills for you as a mediator, but we will also explore how these skills can be taught directly to your clients, for more effective communication.
This Pre-Conference Workshop includes substantial Skill Building:
- Understand the difference between conflict in written communication and conflict in person.
- Develop strategies for addressing an influx of communication from clients, particularly from those who are high-conflict.
- Learn how to resolve conflict via email.
- Practice dissecting written communication to better understand their parts and purposes, in moving communication forward.
- Include your own values into your written communication process.
- Learn how to set boundaries within your communication style and your communication systems for clients.
- Learn techniques for assisting clients in reaching agreements solely through written communication.
- Develop skills as a mediator, and for clients alike, to lower the conflict in the mediation process.
About Kristyn
Kristyn Carmichael is a licensed Arizona attorney, professional mediator, and certified divorce financial analyst. She assists couples in reaching mutual agreements through premarital and divorce mediation at her firm, Couples Solutions Center – based in Phoenix, Arizona. Outside of working with clients, Kristyn is the Training Director for the Lodestar Dispute Resolution Center at Arizona State University College of Law, where she trains alternative dispute resolution topics including negotiation, mediation, listening/communication skills, de-escalating conflict, and more. She additionally acts as an adjunct teaching Family Law.
Special Education Dispute Resolution: Implications for Family Mediators, Clients and School Age Children with Disabilities
Facilitated by Richard Erhard
Richard Erhard has extensive background in the provision of services to children with disabilities. This PreConference Institute presentation will discuss key elements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the institutionalized dispute resolution process currently utilized under the IDEA, an alternative Early Dispute Resolution (EDR) mediation model, and the implications of both in family mediation. Topics to be addressed include:
- The IDEA and its dispute resolution process: Checking for Understanding
- Early Dispute Resolution (EDR) Mediation of special education disputes: Breaking the Waiting to Fail Model!
- Co-facilitation of IEP Meetings, Resolution Meetings, Mediation, and the application of the co-facilitation model in family mediation: Coaching and Training
About Richard
Richard Erhard is Principal | Founder of the consulting firm, Richard Erhard and Associates, LLC, providing mediation and consultation services focusing on educational disputes. Mr. Erhard’s clients include public school agencies, private parties and non-profit agencies in California and New Mexico. He is currently an Associate member of the American Bar Association and San Diego County Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections. Mr. Erhard serves on the board of directors of the Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA) and has done so since 2017. In 2022, Mr. Erhard assumed the Presidency of the SCMA and is currently the SCMA’s Immediate Past President. In addition to his private dispute resolution practice and membership, past and present, on multiple non-profit Boards, Mr. Erhard is a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California (USC) Gould School of Law, Center for Conflict Resolution. Here, Mr. Erhard has taught the following courses: Special Education Dispute Resolution; Directed Research; and Mediation Theory and Practice. In January, 2023, Mr. Erhard was inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN).
Family Mediator Ethics in an Increasingly Diverse World
Facilitated by Victoria Dinger
What are the emerging ethical issues confronting practitioners using ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) in an increasingly diverse world? Focusing on ethics within alternative dispute resolutions in divorce and family law, and civil trials, this presentation will explore ethical decisions and effective resolution techniques, in an increasingly diverse world. With these perspectives and skills, professional family mediators can utilize these highly effective ethical, legal, and psychological strategies in the resolution of civil cases, along with methods for dealing with biases and consensus skills that will be explored.
About Victoria
Dr. Victoria Dinger is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator for Family, Dependency, County, Circuit Civil and Appellate Courts and a Florida Qualified Arbitrator. She has been appointed to the Florida Supreme Court Mediator Qualifications & Discipline Review Board, responsible for complaints submitted under the Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators. With a doctoral degree from the University of Southern California, she focuses on cognitive psychology and clinical experience for family mediation in an increasingly diverse world. Dr. Dinger implements a conflict resolution style which contributes to her effectiveness with complex cases. She has ability to manage high-conflict personalities, psychological and legal issues, while assisting participants in achieving mutually beneficial consensus. Dr. Dinger lectures on topics such as analyzing and resolving interpersonal conflicts, ethics, diversity, relationships, disputes and family conflict resolution. Dr. Dinger founded the Institute of Mediation and Arbitration for training mediators and arbitrators in helping families throughout the circle of life to manage conflict and find peaceful solutions to life’s challenges. On the belief that everyone has the ability to take control of their own destiny with skilled assistance, families can be empowered to craft their own conflict resolution. Conflicts are inevitable, and facilitating skillful solutions is an art. Victoria Dinger has been doing online mediation for years and is very effective in person. She is a Court-Appointed Mediator for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in Broward County. Dr. Dinger has authored, lectured and contributed to numerous publications and presentations for mediators, families and children.
