Conflict Mediation

We offer mediation services for conflicts between two people and conflicts within larger groups (e.g. a team, working group, or department). Mediation is a good fit for situations in which a dispute has begun to impact relationships and the ability to work together, and all parties want or need to find a path forward. Some examples of the types of conflicts we have mediated include:

• Broken trust between two co-workers after a failed project

• Reckoning with anti-Black patterns of behavior within a multiracial team

• Differing communication styles between three close collaborators

• Collective grief and anger in the wake of a team member being fired

• Grappling with how class dynamics manifest during team budgeting discussions

Each mediation process will be tailored to fit the needs of the participants. Below is an overview of what a mediation process with us could include:

• One-on-ones: At the outset of the process, mediators hold one-on-one conversations with all participants to outline the process, learn more about their perspective, and ensure that all parties are consenting into mediation.

• Mediated sessions: Mediators and parties meet for their first mediation session. During these sessions, parties will have a chance to share their stories of the conflict, deepen understanding of each other, and examine any underlying dynamics, structures, or systems that might contribute to the conflict. At the end of each session, everyone will collectively decide if another session is necessary. Mediated sessions usually last up to 2 hours. Being in the session is always voluntary, and anyone can end the conversation at any time.

• Ongoing support: Depending on the outcome of the mediated sessions, mediators may offer follow-up support to the parties to help them fulfill their commitments and/or tend to the relationship going forward. This type of support could include drafting a written agreement, individual coaching, sharing resources, facilitating a progress check-in, or more.

Our approach to mediation is rooted in the values of self-determination, curiosity, warmth, and clarity. While every mediation is different, we enter into all conflict conversations with the goal of deepening understanding of each other and ourselves. In our mediation practice, we incorporate wisdom and tools from a broad range of models, including equity-informed mediation, peer counseling, conflict coaching, transformative justice, and anti-oppression facilitation.

We believe mediation can unlock new possibilities around conflict and disagreement beyond our usual scripts and narratives. The outcomes of mediation are different for each situation; they might include: deeper understanding of each other, a written agreement, no change, a decision to part ways, and more. As mediators, we do not guarantee resolution or offer advice. Instead, we guide and structure a conversation to support deeper understanding and alignment.