I just wanted to follow up on my last blog post entitled "The Touchy Subject of Religion". And by the way, a big thank you to Jeff Thompson for adding it to your blog "What's Happening in Conflict Resolution". 

If you want, go back and read it first but I wanted…

So, my Dad and Brother came for a visit last week–and, overall, it was a success. The kids love their “cool” Uncle Kai who is unattached at 42 years-old–no wife, no kids, few responsibilities–and TONS of fun (tube sock wars, music video making, hide-and-seek).

My brother probably didn’t know about my “trigger.” You know what it is–it’s that one subject no one is allowed to criticize, lest…

The Texas Conflict Coach® Blog Talk Radio program announces our Back to Basic series. The following episodes are held every Tuesday night from 5:00-5:30 pm PST/7:00-7:30 pm CST/8:00-8:30 pm EST To participate, go to the designated link for each program or call-in live at 347-324-3591.

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People of faith have an extra resource to guide them successfully through conflict, if they choose to take advantage of it. For Christians, applying biblical principles – love, forgiveness, the “Golden Rule” – can turn a frustrating conflict into a satisfying resolution, and…

"What's Happening in Conflict Resolution" is a weekly round up of the all the ADR news, jobs, events and more. Check it out each week and view past versions [HERE].…

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post about the 5 ways of handling conflict – it was entitled Turtle, Teddy Bear, Shark, Fox or Owl?

Today, I want to send a little more time talking about the Turtle a.k.a. the ‘Avoider.’…

In legal circles, mediation is still understood to include opinions from the mediator on the strengths and weaknesses of the legal case.  It's too bad.  Here's a conversation about it.

You've got your Christians, your Muslims, your Jews, your Atheists, your Agnostics, your dogmatists, your "pseudo-ists" and about everything in between. Some show great tolerance and some shout from a pedestal, leaving no room for any interpretation but their own. How important is one's religion when it comes to conflict? It feels like sides are being drawn. And we haven't even begun to figure out how to moderate the extreme influences of groups like ISIS. (Do they belong in this…

If you’re anything like me, the “money” portion of the mediation is always…well…uncomfortable. Even though my Dad worked in finance his whole life, and money was often talked about at our dinner table, I still feel “bad” bringing up money, even when it’s the final sticking point in a mediation.

This month’s Neighborhood Mediation Center newsletter hit on the issue and addressed how to get past the hurdle when both parties are stuck in the numbers game, and…

I am pleased to announce that my new book, The Conflict Paradox: Seven Dilemmas at the Core of Disputes, is now available, and I hope you will take a look at it.

The book explores how we understand the choices that…

Churches and their congregational members are not immune to conflict and the collateral damage that can be caused from unresolved "heart" issues which can grow into monsters.…

Bullying has been around a long time and it never made sense to me that some kids thought the bullies were cool. How could that be? They intimidate kids and cause them to be fearful. That’s a horrible feeling.

And now, technology offers an easy and ‘faceless’ way to harass kids – everything from spreading rumors about someone online to stealing a student’s account information and sending out hurtful messages from them.

Earlier this month, in my…

"What's Happening in Conflict Resolution" is a weekly round up of the all the ADR news, jobs, events and more. Check it out each week and view past versions [HERE].…

For more and more lawyers, disputes are getting resolved through methods that we used to consider “alternatives” to court litigation. These include private negotiation between the parties, mediation, arbitration and various other methods. Now these really aren't alternatives, they are the main method of resolving legal disputes. So this week in my first year law school Civil Procedure course we covered some of these alternatives. Obviously lawyers…

What happens when deep differences in theology, politics or identity turn into divisions in communities of faith? What initiates and fuels division? What conversations can build connection and care in the midst of profound differences? This evening we will discuss rebuilding relationships by enhancing conversation with lessons and tips from the Reflective Structured Dialogue approach…

In February of every odd year (for the last 20 years), my life changes dramatically.

This marks the beginning of the Nevada legislative session – a time when I leave my personal life behind and embark on a 120 day work journey. It is an amazing time, filled with ups and downs, that puts great demands on my energy level and tests my durability.

About three months before the session starts, I begin to think about it … probably like a runner think about…

Now, get your mind out of the gutter. It’s not what you think!

The answer actually has to do with one of my favorite parts of doing couples therapy–the moment when I get to give the couple a tidbit of seemingly-contradictory information which makes their faces go, “Wha?”I just finished a book entitled, “For Better,” in which the author takes all sorts of myths about love and researches them to see if they’re true. One particular myth is as follows: The…