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27 Oct

Teaching PA’s Judges About Mediation

I’m pleased to be teaching PA judges about alternative dispute resolution. Retired Judge Stephanie Klein and I will be co-teaching in the Minor Judiciary Education Board Continuing Education Program over 14 weeks from September through May. All of the Commonwealth’s Magisterial District Judges attend these week-long training sessions where they are instructed on a wide variety of issues. We’ve been introducing mediation and arbitration, discussing mandatory mediation and arbitration clauses in contracts, and illustrating the benefits of mediation for conflicts when the relationship between the disputants matter.  It’s an honor to be able to share the important message of ADR with such an influential audience.

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27 Oct

We’re the TOPS! Ranked in the Top 18 Mediators Out of 300 in Philly

 

Did you know of over 300 arbitrators and mediators in the Philly area, I’m ranked one of the top 18? Yep!

Expertise.com looked at 318 arbitrators and mediators in the Philly metro area and evaluated us on reputation, credibility, building customer confidence with licensing, accreditations, and awards, experience, availability, and professionalism. I’m happy to be recognized.

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07 Jun

Graduation Season is Boomerang Season: Mediation is Perfect for Multi-generational Conflict

It’s graduation season. And that means it’s also “move back in with mom and dad” season.

“For the first time, more 18- to 34-year-olds live at home with their parents than in any other arrangement, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. They are also staying at home longer. This year, 36 percent of graduating seniors plan to live at home at least a year or more after graduation, according to a recent survey by the job site Indeed.”

This can be a tough transition for both generations. Need a little help with it? Consider mediation. It’s a great way to air concerns and reach mutual agreements.
 
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15 Mar

Speaking at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators, April 22, 2017

I’m pleased to be presenting a workshop at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators in Harrisburg. This year’s theme is practice challenges. The two-day conference will be kicked off with a full-day workshop with internationally renowned conflict resolution expert Bernie Mayer, who will present “The Conflict Paradox: The Dilemmas and Contradictions that Define our Work (and our Lives).”

On day two, I’ll sharing some of my unique approaches to mediation in “Coaching to Improve Mediation Outcomes: An Examination of Processes, Pitfalls, and Ethics.” The program description is below:

Careful and skilled application of coaching approaches can effectively support parties in making free and informed choices, deepen their understanding of the conflict, achieve greater clarity about their goals in the mediation, reach more thorough understandings about their decision-making, bolster their self-advocacy, and strengthen their commitment to and compliance with their mediated agreement. But the application of coaching techniques without care, caution, and skill, can raise questions about the mediator’s impartiality and potential for favoritism. We will examine how practices of conflict and personal coaching can be applied to support self-determination and avoid appearances of partiality.

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15 Mar

Our Birthday, Your Deal! (Expires April 30, 2017)

In honor of my BIG birthday (no actual number to be mentioned – but you can infer), I’m offering a gift to YOU. Contact me about conflict coaching before the end of April, and you’ll get the first hour for 50% off. That’s a $80 value to help you prepare for a difficult conversation, understand and improve your conflict responses, or strategize about how to better communicate with that tough person.

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15 Mar

Listening Workshop, April 29

I’m always writing about the importance of listening (like here and here) and like to share inspiring quotes about it. Now is your chance to build your listening skills in a fun and engaging one day workshop. We’ll build your listening skills for improved performance at work and to strengthen your personal relationships.

The workshop employs a combination of lecture, exercises, experiential activities, and take-away practices and is part of the Building Conflict Competence Series. The schedule includes a lunch break. Participants provide their own lunch. There are many dining options in easy walking distance.

 

Be part of the latest offering of our Listening Workshop on Saturday, April 29th, 9:30-4, 24 Veterans Square, Media, PA 19063 (look for the orange and black HeadRoom awning).

Cost of the workshop is $60 per person or $100 for two people. Register today!

Registration
Name and emails of Attendees



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20 Jan

Secrets to Civil and Productive Dialogue, Saturday, May 20th

I took the Secrets to Civil and Productive Dialogue workshop and highly recommend it. Ellen’s style for running the workshop helped me learn new skills and practice them with others. I left feeling more aware of my own communication style and emotional response, and open to listening to others. I’m more prepared for the difficult conversations that may come my way.

It’s a tough time for productive and civil dialogue. The recent elections have been divisive and often uncivil. But how to do you engage in civil dialogue when you are not in agreement? You can learn how! Join Secrets to Civil and Productive Dialogue, Saturday, May 20th, 9:30-4, 24 Veterans Square, Media, PA 19063 (look for the orange and black HeadRoom awning).
So, you ask, what does one learn in a workshop on dialogue? Well, in this one, you learn:

* A lot about listening
* A lot about effective questions usually coming from a place of curiosity
* An overview of what research has shown to change people’s minds and what does not change people’s minds
* An overview of cognitive bias
* What we can do to encourage people to listen to us
* Strategies to manage our internal challenges in dialogue (be it internal dialogues, biases, a choking lump in your throat, fear, a heart that beats so fast you don’t know how you can do it, developing courage, etc.)
* Regular practices that help built skills and capabilities
* And more

This workshop will build your dialogue skills using a combination of lecture, exercises, experiential activities, and take-away practices. The workshop is part of the Building Conflict Competence Series. The schedule includes a lunch break. Participants provide their own lunch. There are many dining options in easy walking distance.

Cost of the workshop is $60 per person or $100 for two people. Register today!


Registration for Dialogue Workshop May 20, 2017
Name and emails of attendees



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30 Dec

All Are Welcome Here: Serving with Love and Acceptance Since Day One

I’m proud to have long served diverse families and organizations. Today, I’ve signed on with the “All Are Welcome Here” anti-hate pledge.

“The member businesses of the Main Street Alliance and our fellow small business owners throughout the country are deeply disturbed by hateful rhetoric and violence aimed at our Muslim and Arab community members, at refugees fleeing violence, at immigrants, at women and at people of color in our communities. This swell of hate and fear permeating our national dialogue both during and after the most recent election is dangerous. We believe it must be met head-on with clear statements of principle from local business owners because we are leaders in our communities.

America must be a place where people from all nations, races, genders, and creeds seeking freedom and opportunity feel welcome and can build safe, prosperous lives for themselves and their families. When politicians and pundits target people in our communities for political gain, when they fan the flames of hatred and fear, when they attack our neighbors, friends, family members, fellow business owners, employees, and customers, we must stand up and make our voices and our values heard loud and clear:

We stand with our Muslim community members and we stand with refugees and immigrants in our community. We respect women and we value Black lives. We welcome everyone. There is no place for hate in our businesses, our homes, or in our country.”

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01 Oct

Mediation for Your Marriage

“A postnuptial or mediated agreement can help save a couple’s relationship — if that’s their goal.” CNN

I’ve been asked periodically to help mediate for married couples on issues like chores, aspects of communication, and how finances are managed. I always refused but was never sure why. I work with married couples to help them divorce, as well as with siblings, neighbors, business partners, and colleagues to resolve disputes and, hopefully, strengthen their connection and tools for more productive interactions. So why not married couples?

Not long ago, I was approached by a couple to help them with a prenup. I warned them that I’d not done them before. I knew their goals and that they had retained counsel. Much of their plan was effectively divorce planning. That was familiar territory, so I agreed to work with them. What surprised me was how much I loved helping this couple not just navigate “divorce planning” but aspects of how they would manage their relationship and strike that tricky balance between the interests of the individual and the couple – which can be at odds. It was a gratifying process for both me and the couple. I knew I wanted more of this work.

“Preparing a postnup may be a surprisingly cathartic experience for couples. It is an opportunity to analyze their assets, debt, and spending habits, and to look at the impact of financial stress on their emotional lives. Grievances can be aired and insecurities expressed.” Huffington Post

So, I’ve extended my practice to include marriage and pre-marriage mediation. It’s time to leverage my years of knowledge about ending marriages peacefully and strengthening other relationships to help existing love relationships – whether married or not. Pre-nups (or pre-marriage agreements) and post-nups (or agreements within marriages) are a great way to air concerns, address problems, reach agreements, and strengthen your bond.

I’m offering a limited time discount on pre-marital and marital mediation – 25% off mediation services through January 31, 2017. Get a free consultation.

“People also enter into a post nuptial agreement because their goals and priorities have shifted during the marriage. Issues such as child care, household chores, investment decisions, and the like are often made part of the post nuptial agreement, either in response to (or in anticipation of) conflicts and changes of attitude in these areas.” UnderstandEstatePlanning.com

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01 Oct

It’s Back! Listening Skills Workshop, October 10th and 17th

I’m always writing about the importance of listening (like here and here) and like to share inspiring quotes about it. Now is your chance to build your listening skills at an incredibly affordable price. I’m teaching a two-evening workshop for the Wallingford Swarthmore Community Classes program.  Classes are Monday, October 10th and 17th, 7-9 pm. Each night can be taken as a standalone, but registration is only available for the whole program. I hope you will join us.

2015-07-27-iococca 2015-08-03-tyger 2015-12-21-mayo-on-listening

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Progressive Conflict Solutions
24 Veterans Square | Media, PA, 19063 (by appointment only)
Ellen@ progressiveconflictsolutions.com | 610-312-1463

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