Learning to balance power between participants is practiced. The training builds on skills and experiences that each participant brings to the training. Using lectures, demonstrations, role plays and interactive exercises, the trainees learn powerful communication skills. Trainees practice mediation skills after observing demonstrations by experienced mediators. They take the roles of victim, offender, and mediator in separate role plays.
Role plays are video-taped for later review and discussion by the whole group.
Trainees learn how to develop and write agreements between victims and offenders, and how to write case reports. Students must complete one of each as a final exam. The overall purpose of the training is to assist trainees to gain personal confidence as mediators. The classroom training is the first step in that process. The training is followed by an apprenticeship which includes observing certified mediators in actual cases, co-mediating with certified mediators, and finally being evaluated by a certified mediator.