Several years ago I began asking friends, family members, colleagues and clients what stops them from trying different things to be able to improve how they manage conflict. Of course, their answers varied.

While situations and those involved elicit different reactions, the people I questioned typically recounted a number of things they would have done differently. Others were unable to contemplate what would have made things better. Some people said they were not sure whether they…

GSU's Office of the Ombudsperson is seeking submissions for the Third Annual CR Symposium, "Getting to Peace: Using Art as a Tool for Conflict Resolution," on Thursday, October 17, 2013. This one-day symposium will provide an opportunity for students and conflict resolution practitioners to network and showcase their current projects, as well as bring attention to their work nationally. In addition to workshop presentations, the Symposium will also feature an exhibition of art (including…

In our final episode of the series Conflict and Empathy: Where Has Empathy and Compassion Gone? Keiko Krahnke from the University of Colorado will join me and Edwin Rutsch, Center for Building a Culture of…

New Book from Dr. Craig Zelizer, Georgetown University

Integrated Peacebuilding addresses the importance of weaving peacebuilding methods into diverse sectors including development, humanitarian assistance, gender, business, media, health, and the…

The Texas Conflict Coach® Blog Talk Radio program announces the following episodes starting

in the month of  July, held every Tuesday night from 7:00-7:30 pm CST/8:00-8:30 pm EST.

During the month of July, please enjoy these previously recorded shows. We will return live every Tuesday night beginning August 6, 2013. Enjoy the summer!

July 2nd :   How to SOLVE Your Conflicts

                      …

In this 13th Episode of the Conflict Specialists Show, Dave Hilton interviews Lorraine Segal from Conflict Remedy.

Some of the topics in today’s episode:

• Forgiveness Coaching
  
  
• Teens, Brains and Hot Buttons
  
  
• Bullying at School and the Workplace
  
  
• Transforming Communication for Divorced…

I don’t recall the first time I heard the expression “telling tales out of school”. When I searched for the meaning of this expression, I discovered this specific statement is the oldest of three expressions of the same ilk (“talking out of school” and “speaking out of school”). The same source says, “The usual meaning is, don’t gossip indiscreetly or reveal private matters, secrets or confidences”, which is likely…

In our third episode of the series Conflict and Empathy: Where Has Empathy and Compassion Gone? Edwin Rutsch, Center for Building a Culture of Empathy and I will discuss how do we foster empathy in a family? Edwin will share some personal stories of how he has personally fostered empathy in his extended family and how he used…

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

Last week in Rome, over 100 mediators met to discuss how to keep self-determination central in mediation.  Read more about it here.

I got a great education at the Werner Institute. I felt on fire with knowledge throughout the program and now I go equipped with my new degree (and my old degree and experience) out into the world to search for meaningful work. This of course if no small task. I haven't written any books or articles, or won any great awards but I did graduate with a 4.0 and my professors nominated me for a prestigious national honor society into which I was inducted as a lifetime member.

In…

"...Public diplomacy is critical in extending civilian-military power. It combines soft and hard power to make the kind of “smart power” that is necessary to succeed." 

-Tara Sonenshine, U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy…

After several years of work and an extended national search, Connecticut's flagship public university has named Jim Wohl as the first University Ombuds.  The new program at UConn (which was the only "Public Ivy" without an Ombuds…

Tune in Thursday, June 27th at 2:00 pm EST for ACR's next Blog Radio show!

Be part of the community’s conversation about volunteer mediators. ACR Community Section Co-Chairs Mary Hancock and Lisa Justus interview the founders of Advancing Dispute Resolution, a research and professional resource development firm dedicated to rewarding members, supporting…

In this 12th Episode of the Conflict Specialists Show, Dave Hilton interviews Ken Cloke.

Some of the topics in today’s episode:

• Ken's Impact on the Dispute Resolution Field
  
  
• Mediation as Manipulation
  
  
• Success of Mediation Training Programs
  
  
• How People Can Be Addicted to…

You have likely heard the expression “pick your battles” and know the gist of its meaning. I have said this at times to friends and colleagues who find themselves in a number of disagreements about a number of matters – each appear to have different intensities and weights of importance to them.

Out of curiosity I looked up the meaning. According to this source,…

JAMS Foundation Awards $100,000 in Grants

June 11, 2013

Irvine, Calif. – The nonprofit JAMS Foundation approved five new grants to organizations using innovative ways to promote and advance conflict prevention and dispute resolution. The Foundation will distribute the money in the form of three Foundation Grants, which provides financial support up to $50,000 for ADR initiatives with national and international impact, and two Opportunity Grants,…

In our second episode of the series Conflict and Empathy: Where Has Empathy and Compassion Gone?, Edwin Rutsch and I will discuss how do we build empathy and compassion? Edwin will discuss a number of strategies he has implemented at the Center for Building a Culture of Empathy. One strategy has been the use of Empathy Circles…

ACR Blog Radio - Mental Illness in Mediation

Join us as we interview Dan Berstein, a mediator living with bipolar disorder.  Dan travels the country teaching mediators cultural sensitivity toward mental illness and ways to make their practices accessible to…

            The other night I happened upon an old movie starring Cheryl Ladd and the late Robert Ulrich. In the movie, Cheryl Ladd’s character played an abusive mother. The movie did a good job of highlighting the issues of abuse and neglect within families. It also showed the challenges families with little money face in trying to participate in counseling in order to work through these serious family issues. Throughout the years, I have either had a client become involved in a child…