Conflict Resolution Clinics @ CB

JULY 12

Prerequisite If you would like to register for this workshop, prior experience with the NVC Empathy Model is strongly recommended. If you have any questions, please email Sarah Moss, Mediation & Training Coordinator, smoss@communityboards.org.

Pre-Mediation for Adult Family Conflicts

Creating Understanding One Party at a Time

With Katharina W. Dress, MA

Wednesday, 5:30-7:30pm PDT | Live Interactive Workshop on Zoom



A big challenge in Adult Family Mediation (and other types of mediation where the potential participants have an ongoing relationship) is to enroll all parties in the process.

Extensive pre-mediation conversations are especially important, because the different generations tend to have very different experiences, perspectives, and goals. Even if older family members have cognitive or memory challenges, their voices must be heard, in order to find solutions that work for everyone involved and heal the divide tearing apart many families with aging loved ones.

Ms. Dress’ workshop introduces a pre-mediation process rooted in the consciousness and tools of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), allowing mediator and parties to understand everyone’s needs BEFORE getting together for a joint meeting and thus increasing the parties’ willingness to participate. It will include a presentation, demonstration, and opportunities for participatory exercises.

Key Learning Objectives

• Understanding the importance of thorough individual pre-mediation sessions with all mediation parties who are involved in an ongoing relationship
• Learning and practicing a pre-mediation process rooted in the needs-centered NVC Empathy Model.

Katharina W. Dress, MA

Katharina W. Dress, MA, has been a mediator since 2015 and a facilitator and trainer for 40 years. She has a Master's Degree in Communications from San Francisco State University and extensive conflict resolution skills training, including in Elder Mediation, Online Mediation, Conflict Coaching and Nonviolent Communication (NVC). She is founder and principal mediator at AGING IN HARMONY.

As a trainer, Ms. Dress offers her own conflict resolution skills and cultural competency workshops throughout the Bay Area and beyond and regularly assists other organizations during their Mediation trainings. For over 10 years she participated in the NVC-based Mediate Your Life training program offered by John Kinyon and Ike Lasater, as a learner as well as a member of the training team. Ms. Dress is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) and is actively involved in the organization’s Elder Mediation Section.