Inquiring Professionals want to know :

How do people do mediation training if they already have full time jobs? Is there another route? Does masters education count for any credit?

Thanks.

Ronald

Kris Responds:

Hello Ronald,

Thank you for even considering our training program. Like any other specialized education or training program in a given field, a working adult has to make very difficult–sometimes seemingly impossible decisions relating to their priorities. It ‘s the state statute that requires the
Forty Hours of Classroom instruction, and the market that determines when and where these take place. While alternative schedules have been attempted (i.e. consecutive weekends and night classes), the overwhelming majority of participants have preferred to take time off from their jobs and use the work week when resources and structure are available for their children and other responsibilities. We try to make this palatable by splitting the training between two work weeks to allow for professionals to tend to their office demands during the training. Since most workplaces benefit from employees who have received this training, enlightened supervisors have supported such priorities and, in many cases, pay for all or part of the training.

You ask about graduate degree credit. There are now graduate degrees in Conflict Resolution and several programs that now incorporate the equivalent of a Forty Hour Basic Mediation Course. If the outline of such a course meets the statutory requirement, then credit is often granted to a candidate who is applying for volunteer credentials through the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association (TMCA).
More often, however, we mediators hail from fields that are related or familiar with conflicts
such as the social sciences, law, the clergy, public policy and/or service, but are trained as advocates within those fields. This course re-orients a specialist from a particular field to a more generalized and coached practice as a neutral. Those that can struggle the most with this subtle but powerful shift are often the best and brightest from their respective fields. This is why the additional training is required, and why it is considered a completely separate set of skills and philosophy.

In spite of the logistical challenges, overwhelmingly, participants claim that it was the BEST training they have ever received, and the financial and time investment were well worth the experience. I regret we can’t make it easier those with difficult work demands, but I very much hope to see you in a future class.