Published February 20 2014
The city's Neighborhood Mediation Program, which offers conflict resolution services to the community, is offering a 40-hour Basic Mediation Training to people who live, work or go to school in Bellevue.
Classes will take place from March 12-22, on Wednesdays and Fridays, at City Hall, and on Saturdays at the Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, at 1625 118th Ave. SE. Friday and Saturday classes run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday classes are from 5 to 9 p.m. Attendance at all sessions is required.
The cost of training is $350. Class size will be limited to 24 people and the registration deadline is March 10. For more information or to register for the training, please call 425-452-4091 or email mediation_info@bellevuewa.gov.
This training is designed for people who are interested in developing mediation and conflict resolution skills. It is also one of the prerequisites for people who may be interested in volunteering with the program. Mediation is essentially a facilitated negotiation that encourages people in conflict to resolve their own disputes and shape their own agreements.
The course curriculum will include: conflict theory, communication skills, conflict styles and mediation tools. Attendees will learn about the role of the mediator, different approaches to mediation, preparing for mediation, co-mediation versus solo mediation, stages of mediation, techniques for managing emotions, the use of questions, identifying underlying interests, mediator ethics, writing agreements and closing the mediation session.