What is Conflict Resolution?

Conflict Resolution at its most basic is a nonviolent process that helps resolve an ongoing conflict or dispute. The term is primarily used to describe the field of knowledge and practice, and all processes that work towards dealing with and resolving any size conflict, dispute or disagreement.  These processes include mediation, conflict coaching, conciliation, conflict management, negotiation, facilitated dialogue, and a wide variety of traditional processes, among others.

What is Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)?

Alternative Dispute Resolution (in some places: Appropriate Dispute Resolution) is a sub-type of Conflict Resolution, focusing specifically on legal disputes. The “Alternative” in ADR points to processes that are not adversarial litigation in courts.  Processes usually include arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and collaborative law.

What is Conflict Engagement?

Conflict Engagement is an alternative term for Conflict Resolution.  However, the term “Conflict Engagement” evokes a bigger perspective and goal than “Conflict Resolution,” recognizing that we all have to deal daily with conflict in our lives and that some conflict can have constructive and good outcomes. The goal is not to just resolve the conflict and make it go away, but taking action to shape it. To Engage Conflict is to take an active part in navigating through conflicts, controlling their outcomes, and preventing destructive conflict in the future.

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a process whereby two or more people, groups, and/or organizations work with an impartial mediator to resolve a specific conflict or dispute in a way that is mutually agreeable to all parties.  An additional outcome in mediation may be to provide a shared understanding of how future conflicts will be dealt with.

What training do mediators typically have?

Mediators come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including law, counseling, coaching, academia, and others. Typically, a mediator will have one or more training courses (a basic course is usually 40+ hours) and significant experience in helping people navigate through their conflicts. Many mediators will have certifications from private organizations or public jurisdictions that indicate a significant level of knowledge, experience, competence and ethical conduct.

What is Conflict Coaching?

Conflict Coaching is in many ways the combination of mediation and coaching. In Conflict Coaching, a coach works with an individual client on specified goals relating to conflicts. The client may need help in how to understand and handle an ongoing conflict or increasing the client’s own skills in engaging future conflicts.  Unlike a mediator, a conflict coach is not neutral and impartial; and is instead a supporter of the goals of the client. Much of the time, conflict coaching will involve taking honest looks at conflicts from several different perspectives, which is necessary to have a full understanding of the conflict.

What is Conflict Management Consulting?

Conflict Management refers to applying conflict resolution principles and processes to organizational systems.  The focus in conflict management consulting is on analyzing past and current conflicts within the context of the organizational client, and providing systemic solutions that emphasize active conflict engagement, cost-effectiveness, collaboration, and stable organizational change.

How do I know you can help me?

Please email or call us, and we will provide you a free consultation to determine if we can help you, and a referral to other professionals if we cannot.

What are your rates? 

We have a variety of rates for different services, some of them hourly and some flat rates.  We will give you options of both hourly and flat rates to find a projected cost that is both fair and affordable.