Thanksgiving brings together extended families face-to-face, perhaps for the first time in many months. Adult children see with their own eyes the effects of aging on their parents and others. Addressing those effects is a challenge that often leads to conflict. Elder Mediation provides help with difficult conversations with and about aging loved ones. As […]
Read more...Last month, the New England Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution presented a program by Dr. Donna Hicks. She presented highlights from her work and recently published book, “Dignity: The Essential Role it Plays in Resolving Conflict.” Dr. Hicks’ research and direct conflict resolution experience have convinced her that parties in conflict are often […]
Read more...Today is Conflict Resolution Day, an annual celebration sponsored by the international Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR). As ACR describes the day: “The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR)’s Board of Directors adopted a resolution designating the third Thursday in October annually as Conflict Resolution Day in order to increase public awareness about conflict resolution and […]
Read more...I was struck last week at the panel presentation on conflict by how hungry folks can be for tips on how to handle conflict on our own with techniques that mediators use. When a mediator is at work, it’s an essential part of the process that the person is neutral and not a party to […]
Read more...I will be speaking on September 20, 2011 as part of a panel discussion on “Confronting Conflict”, including practical tips on dealing with conflict in your life and work. The presentation is the latest in Xcel, Inc.’s Hartford, CT networking series. Xcel, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, provides educational and networking opportunities to female students and […]
Read more...On August 25, 2011, the Hartford Courant published my letter on Elder Mediation. The previous week, on August 17, the Courant ran a Kiplinger News Service article by Erin Peterson, “Help in arriving at what’s best: specialized mediators can work with families to settle elder care disputes.” As I stated in my letter, the Courant […]
Read more...Last week, I needed to visit a state courthouse — somewhere I rarely see now that I am engaged solely in alternative dispute resolution. As I left, I happened to walk out behind a well-dressed, middle-aged woman striding out the door. Behind me was a well-dressed, middle-aged man. As soon as we left the building, […]
Read more...Many have wondered aloud how a mediator would work with the parties to the debt ceiling negotiations. Last time, I wrote about how the Speaker of the House lacked “authority” in his negotiations with the President. That’s just one of the hurdles that we have seen in attempts to resolve the debt ceiling dispute — […]
Read more...Obviously much has been said and written about the debt ceiling negotiations, including how dysfunctional they are. More than one public commentator has wondered aloud about how a skilled mediator would deal with this mess. I won’t get into the policies or the discussion about why we are having this crisis instead some sensible agreement […]
Read more...On Sunday, July 3, 2o11, the New York Times ran an article by John Leland titled “Love and Inheritance: A Family Feud.” In it, he details the travails of 93 year old Celeste Holm, movie star of bygone days, and her family. She and her 48 year old husband are pictured in the Central Park […]
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