winter/spring 2026

ADVANCED MINI-COURSES

This series of Advanced Mini Courses is for experienced mediators. The mini - courses are held on Mondays (excluding public holidays) from 4 - 5:30pm via Zoom. Each course is 4 sessions.

Instructor, Sara Barnes, is the Executive Director of MV Mediation and has taught, facilitated, mediated and coached for over forty years. She has significant higher education teaching experience and has facilitated a wide array of diverse groups through many dilemmas and challenges.

 Here's what we have planned, check back for additional mini course offerings: 

IMPROV FOR MEDIATORS, FACILITATORS, TEACHERS AND COACHES
January 26, Feb 2, 9, 16		 The competencies required to be a good improviser can be learned! Once you become improv -competent there’s little that life can throw at you that will knock you off your feet. Come play some improv games and think along with others about how to utilize this simple and profound framework so you can use it to better assist others to work to resolve conflicts. Do you have trouble being flexible and ‘rolling with it,’ improvisation can help
SUMMARIZING IS YOUR SUPERPOWER
February 23, March 2, 9, 16		 ‘When in doubt, summarize,’ is the advice for mediators, coaches and facilitators. But how do you do it on your feet? Practice taking long-winded, detailed and emotional narratives and concisely turning them into helpful summaries for participants involved in conflict resolution services. Stay out of the weeds and solidly confident in your conflict resolution role. Listening to be able to summarize is a talent useful throughout life.
EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS ARE WELCOME HERE
March 23, 30, April 6, 13		 As facilitative and interest-based mediators, caring coaches and collaborative facilitators, we know that emotional reactions must be handled with care. How do you do this well while structuring a productive mediation, meeting, coaching session or conversation? How can the concepts taught by Emotional Intelligences and Internal Family Systems programs help us to know what to do?

Cost is $100 for each 4 session mini - course.  

REGISTER NOW!
Testimonials

“I was terrified when I came into the court. It seemed like the end of the world. Thanks to my compassionate and understanding mediators, I was able to have a productive conversation with someone I considered an adversary. I couldn’t believe we were able to work it out without going in front of a judge. Thank you MVMP.”

– Small Claims Client

“I was really not looking forward to mediation. But it turned turned out to be relatively pleasant. I really enjoyed working with the two of you. I plan to recommend mediation to others.”

– Divorce Client

“You brought us all together. It was awesome. I am so relieved. All our people felt uplifted, more united and part of a team. In particular one Board member said she felt she was taken care of with kindness and wisdom. We all know each other much better, have defined our work together and are in such better shape than we were when we started. Thank you MVMP.”

– Facilitation Client

“If you have the chance to do Conflict Coaching, DO IT! It was eye opening for me. My coach was kind, insightful and such a great listener. Most importantly, I learned so much about myself and about how I handle conflict. I now have a good, solid conflict management plan for the future.”

– Conflict Coaching Client

“It was valuable to help me handle a current conflict in my workplace. Putting a positive spin on conflict was an eye-opener for me. It gives me a structure to address problems. We had a very serious conflict at work recently so this is very important and relevant to me right now.”

– Workplace Conflict Management Services