Becoming a Mediator
Being a mediator is stimulating and rewarding. Mediation allows for a deeper understanding of people and their needs. Mediators enjoy helping people resolve their disputes and improve the future of their relationships. Most people find that mediation skills enhance their careers, abilities to parent, leadership skills and overall communication effectiveness.
The first step to becoming a mediator is to take an Introduction to Mediation course. These are offered around the country and range from 20-40 hours and around $1000-1500. Mediation courses are offered on a regular basis by IMA. After the Introduction to Mediation course there are additional training courses you may choose, such as a course in family/divorce mediation, school peer mediation, advanced mediation courses and so on. We also offer workshops on such topics as dealing with impasse in mediation, dealing with difficult people, and other mediator techniques.
Currently, there is no required certification to practice as a private mediator in Arizona. You do not need to be a lawyer to mediate, however if you are going to mediate in the private sector and receive income from it, there are certain requirements you must meet. (See Rule 31 of the Arizona Supreme Court.)
To mediate cases from the courts, however, one must meet the requirements of those courts. Other rules for mediators are found on the Arizona Supreme Court website (Arizona Supreme Court Rule 31) or, if you are outside of Arizona, check with your state. You may also want to become a mediator on the family court roster in your county superior court. Placement on the lists does not ensure that any cases will necessarily be referred to you. Contact your state, county and/or municipal courts for more information. IMA is committed to supporting the Justice Court Mediation Program of Maricopa County Superior Court. We occasionally offer special discounts for mediators who are willing to share their time and talents with the community through the courts.
Developing a mediation practice, however, requires a substantial time-commitment. You must be willing to take training, research the mediation "market" for your niche, network with people in your field and do plenty of pro bono mediation to enhance your experience and understanding of the field. We advise people that they are more likely to be satisfied and successful if they are motivated by an initial interest in the process, rather than in the hope of achieving an immediate income through mediation.
Becoming a skilled mediator requires more than training; it requires experience and feedback. You must understand the value of guiding participants through a process vs. giving them advice (legal, technical, personal, or otherwise). Many find this last point to be the single most challenging and rewarding element of mediation. Courts and legal/bar associations around the globe debate this challenge as well. We maintain that mediators, by their very definition, are not and should not be dabbling in the law or in giving advice to clients. Mediators are simply experts in communication, listening and facilitating dialogues.
After you have taken training, the next best step is observation and co-mediation with experienced mediators. Some private mediators charge for this service and some courts provide it without charge, and may also include co-mediation and mentoring as part of their program.
Mediation is both an art and a science. The process is deceptively simple and straightforward. However, good mediators are highly trained, experienced and skilled. We advise interested people to have patience and to take a long-term view of developing their mediation practice.
Examples of Professions Which Benefit from Mediation Training
LEGAL PROFESSIONALS: Attorneys, judges, paralegals and others in the legal profession benefit from mediation for several reasons. Today, most courts are backlogged. Courts are encouraging settlement outside the confines of the judicial system. For this reason alone, many former judges are pursuing mediation as a second career -- to help mitigate the backlog and needless conflicts that occur in our judicial system. Attorneys, even if they do not wish to mediate disputes, often find it useful to understand the concepts of mediation and alternative dispute resolution, as they increasingly find themselves advocating for their clients in mediation. Paraprofessionals in the field of law, in many firms, find themselves already "playing the mediator" with clients, and desire the professional training, dialogue, support and networking that occurs in mediation courses. In many instances IMA's mediation courses may be eligible for continuing legal education credits through the Arizona State Bar Association.
COUNSELING: Many people in the field of counseling, psychology or therapy become mediators so that they may assist individuals, couples and families solve emotional and relationship difficulties. Quite often these trained mediators maintain their therapy or counseling practices while also offering a separate mediation option. Others become quite passionate about mediation and delve into the field full-time, connecting with other therapist-mediators.
CRISIS PREVENTION: Crisis prevention or intervention professionals often find mediation skills help them successfully achieve the desired outcomes. Dixon (1996, 656) defines successful crisis management as “any written or unwritten mutually agreeable arrangements between parties that at least temporarily resolve or remove from contention one or more, but not necessarily all, of the issues underlying the dispute”
are secured. Often, parties in mediation express feelings of heightened fear and tension as they begin the process. The definition of mediation, according to to Bercovitch, Anagnoson, and Wille (1991), is a process of conflict management where disputants seek the assistance of, or accept an offer of help from, an individual, group, state, or organization to settle their conflict or resolve their differences without resorting to physical force or invoking the authority of the law. Mediators, whether they are working with on-the-spot crises or if they are managing conflicts over a given period of time, aim to minimize the volatility of the crisis at hand.
EDUCATION: Educators often enroll in IMA mediation courses to help them not only manage their classrooms better, but also to become better skilled at negotiating agreements between administration, staff, faculty and parents. Many of our trained teachers, counselors and administrators have risen to top positions within the mediation field around the country. Increasingly, schools are seeing the benefits of well-trained mediators. Furthermore, many of these individuals build their own internal peer mediation and conflict management programs.
MANAGEMENT: Managers take mediation courses to improve employee relations, minimize conflicts in the workplace, enhance understanding of cultural diversity and improve communication. Human Resources officers tell us that they find themselves in the mediator role, but until they receive training, they have difficulties understanding the limitations and boundaries between their responsibilities and a sense of neutrality. IMA courses often explore these boundaries. Many managers desire mediation training to learn how to better handle interpersonal crises that arise between employees or with clients. Mediation skills are ideal for excellent customer service. Furthermore, we train many ombudsmen from organizations throughout Arizona. These individuals help clients and constituents minimize the angers, fears or conflicts they experience in their communities or as customers.
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS: IMA frequently trains managers, board members and members at-large of homeowners' associations. These individuals are often sent to our courses as a result of past conflicts, many of which began as seemingly minor disputes but had the potential volatility for long-term damage to relationships between neighbors. With mediation skills, we receive reports that these individuals are better prepared to listen to and validate the individual needs of neighbors in respectful, productive ways.
COURT/COMMUNITY MEDIATION: One of the best ways for anyone, from any profession, to put their mediation skills to good use is through a court or community mediation program. Most programs will provide free on-the-job supervision alongside seasoned mediators. IMA maintains a positive relationship with many Arizona courts and guides mediators who wish to not only serve their communities but also practice their skills in "live" cases.
(Adapted from Maryland Judiciary)
"The session gave tools for everyday use in an environment that was almost one on one. A totally relaxed, yet focused session. I would recommend it and will take others from this instructor!"
Michael Rosario Isabella, CEO,
Common Interests
"The hands-on activities and role plays were very creative...a great learning experience. I would highly recommend IMA for mediation/dispute resolution training!"
Anna Lopez, Mediation Program Coordinator
City of Glendale, Arizona
"You truly have a gift for guiding others to the answer that may not be visible to them from where they currently stand."
Estevan, Peer Mediator
Bourgade Catholic High School
"The skills I learned in this course can be applied to many aspects of HR administration, not limited to mediation."
Pat Soria, Human Resources Administrator
Maricopa County, Arizona
“The most beneficial aspect is the open atmosphere...to interact with instructor and others."
Robin Cook, CEO
Marketing With a Flair
"Outstanding presentation. Very useful material."
Roger Feld
MCSO MASH-II
"Your Introduction to Mediation Workshop was a fantastic experience. As an ASU student and prospective diplomat I found the mix of theory and practice to be intriguing and enlightening. The hands-on experience was also a great confidence builder for the work ahead of me. Kate's insight and patience are a credit to her field!"
Trace Main, student
ASU Hugh Downs School of Human Communication
"The students were enlightened with a new perspective of not only being good communicators, but also becoming more open-minded as individuals. This foundation has endless possibilities for the students to utilize not only professionally but personally as well." Robert R. Northrop, Principal, Northrop Investments
Mediation
Conflict Management
Chandler
