Family Mediation in a War: Lessons from Ukrainian Mediators

presented by Michael Lang, Tetiana Bilyk, Hanna Bobnieva, Svitlana Myronenko, Oksana Melnychenko, Mariia Prokopchuk, and Olha Shmyndruk

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

12:00 Noon – 1:30 PM Eastern (9:00 -10:30 AM Pacific)

Non-Member Registration

About the Webinar

Six Ukrainian family mediators will describe their work of providing a free online cross-border family mediation service for Ukrainian families whose members were affected by the war. As a result of the evacuation of a large number of Ukrainians, many families were separated, and the number of divorces and parental alienation increased. In cross-border family disputes affecting the interests of children, mediators take every possible means to encourage parents to find an agreed upon solution to the conflict.

The main difficulties faced in such crisis mediations are due to the vulnerability and sensitivity of the parties to the conflict, the rapid loss of control over anger, fearfulness and high levels of distrust, loss of concentration and a marked decrease in cognitive abilities and, as a result, increased helplessness. And, given the fact that prioritization, decision-making, and situational understanding take place in the frontal part of the brain, which turns off during stress, this makes the work of the mediator even more difficult.

To assist families during this period of war, the mediators have developed unique techniques and strategies. Their methods provide key lessons for mediators in non-war situations.

About the Presenters

Michael Lang

For over 40 years Michael has mediated family, workplace and organizational disputes. In addition to numerous published articles, Michael authored The Practitioners Guide to Reflective Practice in Conflict Resolution (2019), and a second edition published in 2024. With Susanne Terry, he founded and is co-director of The Reflective Practice Institute International. Michael was named Outstanding Professional Family Mediator for 2020 by the Academy of Professional Family Mediators.

Tetiana Bilyk

Psychologist, psychotherapist, Accredited mediator, Trainer and supervisor. Project Manager “Family Mediation in the War”, Chairman of the Board of League of Mediators of Ukraine

Hanna Bobnieva

Psychotherapist, Mediator, Supervisor, Associate Professor of the Department of Civil Law, Dnepropetrovsk National University

Svitlana Myronenko

Lawyer, mediator, psychologist, specialist in the field of intellectual property and law.

Oksana Melnychenko

Social Worker, Mediator
Expert Consultant of the OSCE, UNFPA, the Office of the Council of Europe in Ukraine, The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine

Maria Prokopchuk

Psychologist, Family Mediator, Lawyer

Olha Shmyndruk

Lawyer, Mediator, Lecturer of the department of civil law disciplines of the National University “Ostroh Academy”

Time and Place

Tuesday, May 20, 2025
12:00 Noon – 1:30 PM Eastern (9:00-10:30 AM Pacific)

Cost

Free for APFM Members, $50 for Non-Members.

More Information about the Webinar

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