Considering a career in mediation and think you would excel at negotiating workplace disputes? This is a very popular area of practice for mediators, particularly as an increasing number of business leaders recognize the correlation between corporate conflict, employee attrition, and productivity losses.

Updated February 2021.

Considering becoming an arbitrator, and struggling to navigate the confusing array of training programs, certificates, and professional designations available in Canada?

In this post, we survey some of the educational options available to aspiring arbitrators, and the levels of accreditation offered through Canada's leading association for dispute resolution professionals—the ADR Institute of Canada.

Read on to get a clearer sense of the training path you must follow to launch a successful career in arbitration.

Are you considering entering the fast-growing field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)? From workplace conflicts to divorce proceedings to commercial contract battles, ADR is often used as an alternative to costly, time-consuming, highly stressful litigation.

Mediation is by nature a complex, challenging process that demands a wide range of ever-evolving skills. There is no "perfect" mediator, and professionals in the field are forever striving to improve their approach and technique.

Updated June, 2021.

Does your work bring you into regular contact with seniors? Does your position in community services or health care involve supporting older people?

Out of all the seniors you see in a year, what percentage do you suspect suffer from poor mental health?

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, more than 1.8 million Canadians over 60 years of age were living with a mental health problem or illness in 2016.

The Canadian Mental Health Organization pegs the number of Canadians over 65 affected by poor mental health anywhere from 18 to 30 percent.

And as our population ages, these numbers are expected to grow. 

This post focuses on three of the biggest mental health challenges Canadians seniors are facing right now, and offers an overview of helpful facts for anyone who works with older adults in the community.

Have you heard of "power posing"?

Social psychologist and noted TED speaker, Amy Cuddy, revolutionized the world of communication by demonstrating how certain gestures can dramatically affect how we perceive ourselves, see other people—and possibly even alter body chemistry!

To prove her point, Cuddy shows how assuming "confident" poses, versus body positions that denote insecurity and anxiety, can genuinely change the way we feel and completely alter how others see us.

According to Cuddy, holding a "power pose" for just two minutes is enough to alter our communication style, outlook, and overall confidence level.

Now imagine how these ideas play out during mediation proceedings.

Updated June, 2021.

What exactly is a concurrent disorder?

The term "concurrent" means to happen at the same time. The word "disorder" refers to a problem or illness that affects a person's body and/or mind.

Put these terms together, and you have "concurrent disorder"—a term health care professionals use to describe individuals suffering from both a mental illness and a substance abuse problem, simultaneously.

Did you know that 282,000 Canadians, aged 15 to 64, suffered from a concurrent disorder in the previous year?

Awareness of the considerable overlap of mental health and addiction issues has sharpened the focus on concurrent disorders in our country.

If you work in a community-serving position, such as law enforcement, education, or health care, a deeper understanding of concurrent disorders can significantly improve the way you support and interact with those afflicted.

In this post, we take a look at common combinations of mental health and addiction disorders, typical symptoms, and other related factors that influence community mental health.

If you're considering becoming a mediator, and have begun researching mediation training options, you've probably come up against some confusing information. 

Updated June, 2021.

Wondering if community mental health training would be useful to you and worth the time and effort?

The truth is, there are very few community-serving professionals who would not benefit from developing stronger mental health awareness and intervention skills.

For example, if you work in social services, health care, law enforcement, or education, you are dealing with mental health issues on a daily  basis—even if you don't always realize it.

Community mental health training is an important first step toward improving those interactions, and delivering support where it's needed most.

Take a look at 4 key skills you will learn in a quality community mental health course. 

Learn why these skills matter and how mental health education could benefit you.

People seek out mediation certification with a number of different goals in mind. Some may be business owners or managers seeking more effective negotiation and leadership skills. Others are human resources professionals looking to strengthen their dispute resolution techniques and facilitate more positive working environments. And others may be working toward a career as a professional mediator who specializes in a particular area, such as workplace or contract conflict, family disputes, issues between landlords and tenants, etc.