If you assume that a mediator's job is to guide parties toward an agreement, it makes sense to first confirm that the parties are capable of standing up for themselves.  My latest blog entry explains why, especially in the transformative model, a mediator has no business screening someone out due to lack of capacity.

Joe Folger was the guest blogger this week!  He writes about the application of transformative conflict theory to our own conflicts.  Read the full article here.

Compared to the settlement conferencing often done in litigated cases, transformative mediation reminds people of therapy.  Read my latest blog post for a discussion of how transformative mediation isn't therapy but is therapeutic.

Many mediators say they use the "toolbox" method.  That is, they do "whatever works." At first blush, this sounds sensible.  Read the full article for a discussion of why it might not be such a good way to go.