The latest blog entry explains why transformative mediation sessions are different from online conversations. Read it here.

Differences matter to us.  Mediators should not try to push past those differences.  Read the blog here:

Humans like to give gifts to each other.  Why is that tendency assumed to be out of the question, once conflict arises.  What if we can get back to being our normal, generous selves, even toward the person we've been fighting with?  Read the blog here.

The election of Donald Trump raises important questions.  What does transformative theory say about how we should respond?  Read the blog here.

There's a lot of ugly conflict on the internet. Wikipedia knows how to handle conflict constructively.  Read the blog about it here.

In the latest blog entry, which you can read here,  I discuss how miscommunication happens once the destructive conflict cycle has started. That's why transformative mediation is so powerful.  It can help clear up communication in the midst of conflict.

Many mediators believe it's helpful to set ground rules for their sessions.  One of the most popular rules is "no name-calling".  That's a mistake. Read the blog here.

The expression "trust the process" comes up a lot.  But what process are we talking about?  In this blog, I distinguish between the process that can be trusted, and the procedures that are used as manipulative tactics.  You can read the blog here.

Strength and compassion are universal human values. The transformative theory of conflict assumes that our capacity to live up to those values is diminished during conflict's worst moments.  The reason Prince was so beloved was his embodiment of those values. Read the blog here.

It's hard to believe, but legal culture still believes the best strategy is to defend and deny.  So apparently it's newsworthy that hospitals save money when doctors apologize for their mistakes.  Read the blog here.

I think so.  I think studying transformative mediation at least teaches you how to behave wisely.  Read the blog here. 

It's outrageous that "evaluative mediation" is still called mediation, isn't it?  Here's a blog about 5 of the fundamental problems with it.

Public awareness of mediation as an option for divorce has grown in recent years.  Unfortunately, as awareness has grown, mediation practices have become more legalistic and less about party self-determination.  Read the blog here.

The transformative theory of conflict informs not only my mediation but the way I interact with everyone.  You can read the article here.

In Atul Gawande's latest book, Being Mortal, he bemoans the over-medicalization of death.  We who help with conflict can learn something from him. Read the blog here.

Read all about the upcoming transformative mediation conference in Dayton, OH.  It's the first time since 2008 that such a conference has happened in the USA.  Read about it here.

The core concepts of the transformative theory of conflict, which are empowerment and recognition, work within people, between people and throughout large populations.  The progress of marriage equality in the USA provides an example of how empowerment and recognition can affect tens of millions of people.  Read the whole blog entry here.

The transformative theory of conflict suggests that parties are generally struggling to regain a state of strength and responsiveness.  This blog entry gives some examples of how some statements by parties might be interpreted within the transformative framework.  You can read the article here.

We transformative mediators sometimes offend other mediators.  We're so convinced that we provide a purer form of self-determination; and we complain about mediators who are manipulative or pushy.  It's understandable that those other mediators don't like that.   Read the full article here.

Janet Mueller explains the significance to her of May the Fourth.  The violence that day led to the existence of an academic program that set her on the path to becoming a mediator.  You can read her post here.