Conflict Coaching

Helping People Prepare To Address Conflict Constructively

September 23 & 24, 2010

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day

Fees: $125 (no CLE)

$175 for attorneys seeking 14 substantive PA CLE credits

at Good Shepherd Mediation Program

5356 Chew Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19138

215-843-5413

To register, go to www.phillymediators.org or call Cynthia, 215-843-5413.

Objective

To prepare mediators and conflict managers to use conflict resolution skills to "coach" people experiencing conflict when mediation or litigation is not the answer or as an adjunct to mediation.

Course Description

The workshop was originally developed as an advanced training for the Good Shepherd Mediation Program's volunteer mediators so that we could offer initiating parties conflict resolution services when the responding party declines the invitation to mediate. The workshop has recently been expanded to include a more comprehensive application of coaching.

Conflict coaching is a conflict assessment and planning process involving a neutral "coach" and a person experiencing conflict. Conflict coaches can help disputants prepare mentally and emotionally to approach the other person involved in the conflict and develop a plan for how to address the conflict situation constructively.

The "coach" is a third-party who is not involved in the conflict and who is trained to help people involved in a conflict assess the situation and use communication, perspective-taking, and problem-solving skills to address conflict in a constructive manner.

Conflict Coaching can be used when the responding party declines the invitation to mediate or when a person experiencing interpersonal conflict is unsure how to approach someone with whom they are experiencing conflict.

This workshop is ideal for mediators, attorneys, human resources managers, social workers and others in helping professions.

Trainers:

Randy Duque, the Managing Director at Good Shepherd Mediation Program, coordinates the Summary Offender Diversion Program, Impact of Auto Theft Program, and Youth Aid Panel workshops. He holds and undergraduate degree in Biological Anthropology and a Master's Degree in Applied Communication and Conflict Processes, both from Temple University. Randy gained conflict resolution experience and training skills from his work as a university instructor and as a graduate peer educator for Temple's Conflict Resolution Resource Team. Additionally, he has been associated with Good Shepherd since 2003 through his employment as the Dispute Resolution Skills Training Coordinator, volunteering as mediator, and through facilitating, Pre-Hearing Conferences at Philadelphia Family Court.

Cheryl Cutrona is the Executive Director of Good Shepherd Mediation Program. She is a mediator, trainer, facilitator, conflict coach, writer, and editor. She mediates for Good Shepherd Mediation Program, the PA Dept. of Education Office of Dispute Resolution, the U.S. Postal Service REDRESS, and the Philadelphia Bar Association Lawyer Fee Dispute program. Cutrona holds a B.A. from Michigan State University and has received her JD from Beasley School of Law at Temple University. Cutrona was named the 2010 Most Valuable Peacemaker by the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators and received the 2008 Sir Francis Bacon Dispute Resolution Award from the PA Bar Association ADR Committee.