Choosing the right mediation training is essential, because mediation trainings vary significantly in both content and quality of instruction. Some mediation courses teach divorce mediation, others teach civil mediation, and some, like ours, teach both. Before deciding on which mediation training to take, you should ask several questions.

Will the training cover divorce mediation, civil mediation, or both?

How many trainers will you get, and how long have the trainers been mediating? How experienced are they in training other mediators?

What is the class size? What is the ratio of participants to trainers?

What percentage of class time is spent practicing mediation skills in role plays?

Will you be able to observe the trainers demonstrating their own mediation skills?

Which mediation model do the trainers follow? A model designed mainly for attorneys that resembles a settlement conference (the "muscle mediators"), or a model based on the parties' needs, rather than the law (the "purists"), or a model which incorporates the law in conjunction with the parties' needs (the "centrists").

Is videotaping available, if you want to utilize that technology for getting feedback on your progress at the end of the course?

Will you receive a mediation manual that covers all of the essential mediation skills and each of the steps in the mediation process?

Will you learn about setting up a practice and about marketing?

Will you receive a mediation certificate?

Will you receive at least 36 hours of continuing education credit?

The Coast To Coast divorce mediation training is designed as an interactive mediation workshop, not a lecture course. We ensure that there are enough trainers to provide you with a low student-trainer ratio. The two of us who own Coast To Coast are the lead trainers at every workshop. When enrollment in a workshop exceeds 25 participants, we bring in one or more of our associate trainers, each of whom has mediated for decades and assisted us with training since 1992.

At Coast To Coast, we approach learning in five ways: 1) you listen to an explanation, 2) you read a page in your mediation manual, 3) you write an answer in your mediation manual, 4) you observe a demonstration in which we play the mediators, and 5) you participate in a role play, as both a mediator and a client.

Before selecting a mediation training, ask whether or not it has been pre-approved by the Association for Conflict Resolution. The ACR has approved our mediation training. The ACR is the only national organization that approves mediation trainings.

We believe that you should get a well-rounded mediation training that will prepare you for a successful and rewarding mediation practice. The Coast To Coast training includes:

A focus on divorce, but the opportunity to experience both divorce and civil mediation role plays.

A minimum of two trainers, including the owners of Coast To Coast, who are an attorney and a family counselor. We have over 35 years of combined mediation experience. We have given 148 family and civil mediation trainings throughout the U.S., as well as in Canada, Argentina, and Kuwait.

Role plays which constitute more than half of the class time.

Role plays in which we demonstrate each skill, followed by role plays in which you practice each skill yourself.

The centrist model, a balanced approach which we believe best serves most mediators and most clients.

An opportunity for you to be videotaped, if you wish.

A mediation manual that covers the A-Z of essential mediation skills and all of the steps in a mediation, in addition to many valuable hand-outs, a CD or an email attachment with all of our mediation forms, as well as a sample Memorandum of Understanding.

A segment on how to set up your practice and how to promote your services.

A mediation certificate.

Continuing education credit which has been granted by professional associations in all 50 states.