Certificate in Family Mediation

Participants will learn about the nature of conflict and conflict management, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes, negotiation with a focus on the interest-based negotiation model developed by the Harvard Program on Negotiation, and Mediation with an emphasis on facilitative mediation as applied in a family mediation context.

8 Classes

40 Hours

Schedule

January 16 to March 07, 2027

Classes Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (16 Jan 2027 to 17 Jan 2027); Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (30 Jan 2027 to 31 Jan 2027); Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (20 Feb 2027 to 21 Feb 2027); Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (06 Mar 2027 to 07 Mar 2027)

Participants will learn about the law-making systems in place in Canada, the legislative jurisdiction over family law, and the family justice system in Ontario. They will learn of the law pertaining to custody of and access to children, child support, spousal support, and property equalization and division. Participants learn how to search online for legislation, regulations, and reported decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada and the Ontario Court of Appeal. They will review statutory and case law. The instructor will demonstrate the use of computer software to determine potential financial support and property outcomes.

4 Classes

21 Hours

Schedule

March 20 to April 04, 2027

Classes Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (20 Mar 2027 to 21 Mar 2027); Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (03 Apr 2027 to 04 Apr 2027)

Participants will learn how a family mediation is commenced in an initial meeting with the parties. The instructor will inform them about the necessity to screen for domestic violence and power imbalance. The participants will review a precedent Family Mediation Agreement. They will learn how to plan and prepare for a family mediation. Through practice exercises, the participants will learn how to open a mediation, to facilitate the storytelling of the parties, to develop an agenda, and to prepare a Progress Report. In role-plays, they will practice mediating the negotiation and resolution of parenting, child support, spousal support, and property issues. They will learn how to overcome impasse and the use of caucus for this purpose. Participants will review settlement documents and prepare a Memorandum of Understanding. The course concludes with information about the principal family mediation organizations, the services they offer, the benefits of membership including the opportunity to acquire a professional designation, and the codes of ethics and standards of practice they developed and maintain. A variety of learning modalities is used including lecture, demonstrations, interactive experiential activities, and role-play.

4 Classes

21 Hours

Schedule

April 17 to May 02, 2027

Classes Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (17 Apr 2027 to 18 Apr 2027); Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (01 May 2027 to 02 May 2027)

The course in Screening for Domestic Violence and Power Imbalance informs participants of an essential element of the family mediation process required by all of the principal family mediation organizations. The instructor will inform the participants about domestic violence and power imbalance as phenomena that are characteristic of many families. The instructor will provide them with a screening instrument and they will role-play its application. The instructor will review the impact of what participants learn through screening, in particular, whether mediation is appropriate, and if so, those measures a mediator can take to ensure that he or she provides a safe environment. A variety of learning modalities are used including lecture, demonstrations interactive experiential activities, and role-play.

4 Classes

21 Hours

Schedule

May 15 to May 30, 2027

Classes Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (15 May 2027 to 16 May 2027); Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (29 May 2027 to 30 May 2027)

This course is an experiential application of the skills learned throughout the Family Mediation Certificate program. The trainer will combine lecture along with interactive learning activities including role-play to cover topics such as mobility, intergenerational issues, dealing with impasse, conflict analysis, unconscious and implicit bias, culture fluency, working with high-conflict behaviours, management of multiparty situations, drafting, and process design to address power imbalance. The course will include an overall comprehensive look at the mediation process and deepening of the mediator experience will be explored through reflective practice. 

4 Classes

21 Hours

Schedule

June 12 to June 27, 2027

Classes Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (12 Jun 2027 to 13 Jun 2027); Sat,Sun 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (26 Jun 2027 to 27 Jun 2027)

Participants will learn about the nature of conflict and conflict management, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes, negotiation with a focus on the interest-based negotiation model developed by the Harvard Program on Negotiation, and Mediation with an emphasis on facilitative mediation as applied in a family mediation context.

8 Classes

40 Hours

Schedule

May 17 to May 28, 2027

Classes Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (17 May 2027 to 28 May 2027)

Participants will learn about the law-making systems in place in Canada, the legislative jurisdiction over family law, and the family justice system in Ontario. They will learn of the law pertaining to custody of and access to children, child support, spousal support, and property equalization and division. Participants learn how to search online for legislation, regulations, and reported decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada and the Ontario Court of Appeal. They will review statutory and case law. The instructor will demonstrate the use of computer software to determine potential financial support and property outcomes.

4 Classes

21 Hours

Schedule

June 07 to June 10, 2027

Classes Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (07 Jun 2027 to 10 Jun 2027)

Participants will learn how a family mediation is commenced in an initial meeting with the parties. The instructor will inform them about the necessity to screen for domestic violence and power imbalance. The participants will review a precedent Family Mediation Agreement. They will learn how to plan and prepare for a family mediation. Through practice exercises, the participants will learn how to open a mediation, to facilitate the storytelling of the parties, to develop an agenda, and to prepare a Progress Report. In role-plays, they will practice mediating the negotiation and resolution of parenting, child support, spousal support, and property issues. They will learn how to overcome impasse and the use of caucus for this purpose. Participants will review settlement documents and prepare a Memorandum of Understanding. The course concludes with information about the principal family mediation organizations, the services they offer, the benefits of membership including the opportunity to acquire a professional designation, and the codes of ethics and standards of practice they developed and maintain. A variety of learning modalities is used including lecture, demonstrations, interactive experiential activities, and role-play.

4 Classes

21 Hours

Schedule

June 21 to June 25, 2027

Classes Mon,Tue,Thu,Fri 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (21 Jun 2027 to 25 Jun 2027)

The course in Screening for Domestic Violence and Power Imbalance informs participants of an essential element of the family mediation process required by all of the principal family mediation organizations. The instructor will inform the participants about domestic violence and power imbalance as phenomena that are characteristic of many families. The instructor will provide them with a screening instrument and they will role-play its application. The instructor will review the impact of what participants learn through screening, in particular, whether mediation is appropriate, and if so, those measures a mediator can take to ensure that he or she provides a safe environment. A variety of learning modalities are used including lecture, demonstrations interactive experiential activities, and role-play.

4 Classes

21 Hours

Schedule

June 28 to July 02, 2027

Classes Mon,Tue,Wed,Fri 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (28 Jun 2027 to 02 Jul 2027)

This course is an experiential application of the skills learned throughout the Family Mediation Certificate program. The trainer will combine lecture along with interactive learning activities including role-play to cover topics such as mobility, intergenerational issues, dealing with impasse, conflict analysis, unconscious and implicit bias, culture fluency, working with high-conflict behaviours, management of multiparty situations, drafting, and process design to address power imbalance. The course will include an overall comprehensive look at the mediation process and deepening of the mediator experience will be explored through reflective practice. 

4 Classes

21 Hours

Schedule

July 12 to July 16, 2027

Classes Mon,Tue,Thu,Fri 9:00 AM-3:00 PM (12 Jul 2027 to 16 Jul 2027)