What is transformative mediation? What does this school of mediation stand for?

In the transformative mediation approach, conflict is a crisis in human interactions, which can be best dealt with if we have the autonomy and capacity ("empowerment") to deal with it and can also come to a recognition of the other's point of view ("recognition"). The third party supporting the parties in conflict, the mediator, according to this school, works to help the parties in the dialogue to move towards a constructive dynamic by making small shifts in the here and now - by following (not leading), being present (not dominating), listening (not giving ideas, not proposing solutions, not aiming at agreement), holding up a mirror.

What does the transformative mediation workshop give to the participants?

Mirroring is one of the most important tools of the transformative mediation model. It is a supportive technique that aims to help the parties both to hear themselves and to choose how they want to communicate with each other.

In the transformative approach to mediation, mirroring is not a corrective tool (unlike 'reframing', which is often used to tell or suggest to the parties what tone of voice they should use or what they should focus on). In mirroring, the mediator experiences himself as a listening and observing mirror - therein lies the art of mirroring. Mirroring is most effective when it captures both what is said and what is not necessarily expressed in words.

During the workshop we will review what you need to know about the transformative school of mediation in general, and then we will focus on the technique of mirroring. There will also be opportunities for small group practice, and we plan to have a joint discussion and exchange of experiences.

Date of the workshop:

26.03.2025, 15:30-18:00, online (on Zoom)

The workshop will be facilitated by:

Zsuzsa V. Karsai, mediator, trainer, lawyer.

Zsuzsa completed her first mediator training at Partners in 2015, and later participated in mediator training herself. She is based in Luxembourg, where she is an active contract mediator for the two largest mediation centres (Centre de Médiation and Centre de Médiation Civile et Commerciale) and is also in charge of the mediation and restorative justice dossier at the Luxembourg Ministry of Justice.