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.

As our children grow, they naturally push for more control over their own lives. Growing independence and natural curiosity may bring them to question why the family believes what we believe. They might even reach the point of changing or abandoning beliefs held dear. How do we,…

The Texas Conflict Coach® Blog Talk Radio program announces our September series focused on Courageous Conversations Parents Need to Have with Their Children...Adult Children Included.

The following episodes will air every Tuesday from 5:00-5:30 pm PST/7:00-7:30 pm CST/ 8:00-8:30 pm…

Have you ever been called a "slut"? If so, how did you feel? Whether you are sexually active or not the term can be hurtful and embarrassing. If you’re a parent of a teen,…

The Texas Conflict Coach® Blog Talk Radio program announces our "Back to School" series.

The following episodes will air every Tuesday 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…

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.

All over the world, people think about divorce and do not know what to expect from the process, what they will have to arrange and how long it will take. This anxiety comes on top of the stress of the divorce itself, worries about the costs or accessibility. And the…

Persons aged 65 and older are the fastest growing part of the population, and many families confront sometimes difficult decisions about care-giving, housing, health care, estate planning, and end of life planning for aging parents and other family members. Bob…

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.

Louise and William's new book, Being Relational, details seven ways of being in relation to others that capture the heart and soul of all that is self-help, grounded in method, and supported by relational conflict theory and brain…

Central African Republic

In the shadows of Bangui's National Forum, NGOs are doing the painstaking work of rebuilding CAR' social fabric. While at the national-level, delegates made police recommendations around such topics as peace and security, justice and reconciliation, governance, as well as social and economic development, at the community-level these problems are personal...Read…

Family businesses are the backbone of many world economies. In the US, family businesses employ nearly 63% of the workforce and contribute 57% of GDP. They are also responsible for nearly 78% of new job creation. It is highly likely that many people listening may be part of a…

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.

How long does it take to get defensive? What kind of impact does it have? Sharon Ellison will demonstrate how to defuse defensiveness, often instantly, whether you are talking to a co-worker or are a manager needing to give feedback to an employee.…

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.

Conflict in the workplace is inevitable, but Toxic, difficult workplaces are not. Mediation is a tool that can help. And sadly, most HR professionals don’t know this. They think mediation is not for them, when in fact they are effectively mediating all the time. Come learn why mediation is vital for your career and also your workplace!

John Ford is the founder of…

The Texas Conflict Coach® Blog Talk Radio program announces our Workplace Series.

The following episodes will air every Tuesday from 5:00-5:30 pm PST/7:00-7:30 pm CST/ 8:00-8:30 pm EST.

To…

Andrew Lock, being the only Australian to summit all 14 of the world’s 8000 meter peaks has met with many challenges. Tragedy, exhaustions, sacrifices and his own near death experiences are all part of his “Mountaintop Adventure”. Teamwork and leadership take on a new meaning…

I practice transformative mediation.  And I believe that would I do is essentially a different process from those who practice Facilitative mediation.  The latest blog contains a conversation that is typical of the ones I have with other mediators. You can read it here.

Minnesota is considering legislation that allows divorcing couples to come to their own agreements without judicial oversight.  You can read more about it here.