APPLY TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE TEXAS MEDIATION RESEARCH PROJECT CLINICAL TRIALS AS A TRP MEDIATOR/METHODOLOGIST.

• The participant shall be able to clearly distinguish between impartiality and partiality, bias and non-bias, directive behavior and non-directiveness, and between giving and not giving advice.  
• The participant shall also be able to relate the imperative purpose of the mediator in adhering to the highest standards of impartiality, non-bias, non-directiveness, and not giving advice, even with the best intentions.  
• Finally, the participant will be able to deliver mediator intervention with intention and in the moment of the dispute discussion.

• The participant shall be able to distinguish between "resolution" and "settlement".
• The participant shall be able to relate the most effective, enduring and mutually party satisfactory approach to achieving resolution and its natural secure outcome of settlement.

• The participant shall be able to relate the dynamics of communication and their impact on the mediation effort.
• The participant shall be able to identify the causes of the disconnect in party communication and reference purposeful, structured mediator intervention to treat the conflict, assisting the parties to reconnect a productive discussion effort.

• The participant shall be able to apply strategically structured mediator intervention language to anchor the parties focus on the immediate and productive "NOW" experience to maximize the potential of achieving resolution and its secure natural outcome of settlement.

• The participant shall be able to remain centered and powerfully effective in the midst of a "heated discussion" between disputing parties. Including parties talking at the same time, elevated and/or aggressive tones, and threats of genuine harm, among others.  
• The participant shall be able to identify and address manifestations of adversarial representatives and, using the strategically structured mediator intervention language, address them without being directive, giving advice or being intimidated.

• The participant shall be able to identify conflict cues in the parties contribution and relate and apply them to powerful, strategically structured intervention language to reconnect the parties disconnected communication effort.

• The participant shall be able to open the mediation session, capably answer questions about the mediation process, and the points in the Agreement to Mediate Form.
•  The participant shall be able to facilitate the parties' ground rules setting without directiveness, advice giving, or signs of partiality or bias.
• The participant shall be able to facilitate the parties' enforcement of their ground rules should they be transgressed at any point in the discussion.

• The participant shall be able to distinguish between being a 3rd party neutral and being a 3rd party contributor, and the imperative nature of maintaining neutrality and being consistent with neutral language in the mediation session.
• The participant shall be able to identify mediator intervention language that breaches neutrality.
• The participant shall be aware of and apply 3rd party neutral language to his/her mediator intervention treatment.

• The participant shall be able to identify the positive shifts in the parties' dispute discussion, highlight and harvest them using the strategically structured intervention language for the potential settlement agreement.

• The participant shall be able to clearly identify when the parties' discussion has come to a close.
• The participant shall be able, without being directive or giving advice, to facilitate the writing of the settlement agreement, ensuring the components of the agreement are employable and enforceable.

• The participant shall be able to track the advent and practices of societies to resolve conflicts throughout the ages, and the various forms of the conflict resolution efforts.
• The participant shall be able to track the advent of mediation in society and identify the various forms practiced today.  

• The participant shall be able to relate the Standards of Mediation Practice as stated in the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code, Title 7, Chapter 154.023.
• The participant shall be able to clearly identify signs of conflict of interest and know how to avoid them.
• The participant shall be able to relate to the ethical standards of confidentiality, mediator payment, disclosure of experience and other important particulars.

Topics Include:

•  Conflict of interest/appearance of impropriety
• Neutrality/impartiality  
• Confidentiality  
• Sample of standards recommended by dispute resolution professional  organizations  
• Staying in the role of mediator  
• Violence, substance abuse, child abuse & neglect, screening, reporting  and legal issues
• Power imbalances 
• Liability
• Misuse of process
• Protecting the process
• Awareness of various organizations’ ethical guidelines and grievance  processes 

• Introduction to legislation that regulates the practice of  mediation, to comply with relevant legal requirements.

•  The theory of conflict resolution to differentiate between mediation  and other forms of dispute resolution. Topics include:  
• A. Definitions, types of, sources of, and responses to conflict  
• B. Conflict resolution continuum  
• C. Interest-based, collaborative problem solving, evaluative, transformative, narrative, hybrid, and the Thought Resolution Protocol. 

 Topics include:  

• A. Definition of mediation  
• B. Role and characteristics of mediators  
• C. Theory of mediation  
• D. Benefits of the mediation process  
• E. Differences in third-party roles: mediators, arbitrators, and judge
• F. Approaches to negotiation  
• G. Range of styles, types of mediators and mediations  
• H. Impact of diversity issues  
• I. Court systems and procedures  

 A. Elements of the Mediation Process  

• Preliminary arrangements  
• Opening and structuring the mediation session  
• Introduction/orientation of disputants/attorneys  
• Gathering and exchanging information (venting/opening statements)  
• Issue and problem clarification  
• Generating options  
• Bargaining and negotiation  
• Agreement writing/enforceability  
• Closure  

B. Techniques  

• Trust building  
• Reframing  
• Keeping on track, following agenda, managing process  
• Focusing on interests vs. positions  
• Building on partial agreements  
• Caucusing  
• Reality testing  
• Working with third parties  
• Managing difficult people or strong emotions 

•  Diversity/cultural awareness (personal biases)  
• Language differences 
• Conflict style  
• How the trainee responds to conflict  
• Personality style 

• The participant shall be able to relate the Standards of Mediation Practice as stated in the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code, Title 7, Chapter 154.023.
• The participant shall be able to clearly identify signs of conflict of interest and know how to avoid them.
• The participant shall be able to relate to the ethical standards of confidentiality, mediator payment, disclosure of experience and other important particulars.

Topics include:

•  Listening  
• Note taking
• Questioning
• Nonverbal communication (i.e., eye contact, body language)
• Restating and clarifying
• Use of neutral language
• Drafting the agreement
• Recognizing feelings and emotions of parties 

 Topics include:

• Professional organizations
• Networking
• Practicum
• Continuing education
• Aspects of establishing a practice
• Community service 

Training Methods include:  

• Lecture
• Group discussion
• Mediation simulations
• Supervised role plays
• Mediation observation: 
• Other structured participatory activities  
• A minimum of 50 percent of training hours is spent in participatory  activities. Participatory activities are supervised and structured activities requiring interaction among two or more people.  

Also included:

• Reading  assignments
• Written exercises
• Video reviews

Included in the Master Class are 2 Hours of one-on-one Thought Resolution Protocol Mediation Coaching to assure the participant can apply the protocol fluently, intentionally, purposefully, and effectively.

At the end of the classwork, participants submit mock mediation Zoom videos, in which the mediator demonstrates their ability to apply what was learned.  The party may engage their friends and/or family or other class participants to serve as role players for their demonstration.  The participant shall submit their mock mediation productions to truce.media@aol.com, and a coach shall be assigned to coordinate a coaching session convenient to your respective schedules.  

The 2-hour coaching sessions are included in this Master Class learning package and are required to complete this course to be eligible for the certificates of successful completion offered for this Master Class. 

TRUCE Institute is offering additional mediation coaching sessions on the Thought Resolution Protocol, following completion of the Master Class, to any participant who requests them, at a rate of $40.00 per one-hour session.  There is a 1-hour minimum and prorated to the nearest 1/4 hour thereafter.

The Master Class participants are invited to engage certified and authorized TPR mediator trainers to tutor them at a rate of $40.00 per hour. There is a 1-hour minimum, and the rate is prorated to the nearest 1/4 hour thereafter.