By: Estera Borcsa

Introductions Estera Borcsa, M.A., L.C.S.W

Learning Goals for the Workshop 1. Participants will understand the similarities and differences between mediation and psychotherapy how they can be bridged together. 2. Learn psychotherapy techniques and receive handouts that will be helpful in the mediation process to help client(s) resolve ambivalence and come to a healthy resolution. 3. The workshop will add some new techniques to your mediation toolbox that will prepare you to serve clients that would usually be referred strictly to a therapeutic setting.

Mediation Psychotherapy Mediation is an approach to conflict resolution whereby a neutral third party assists the conflicting parties to reach an agreement that both parties feel is fair. Psychotherapy and Counselling are professional activities that utilize an interpersonal relationship to enable people to develop self- understanding and to make changes in their lives.

Types of Mediation  Facilitative  Evaluative  Narrative  Transformative

Similarities (Mediation/Psychotherapy) Participating clients determine their own path to change that will help them feel resolved about the precipitating conflict(s). Mediation and solution focused psychotherapy encourages collaboration, mutual respect and self- efficacy. Mediation and Psychotherapy use a neutral third party. Participating clients determine their own path to change that will help them feel resolved about the precipitating conflict(s). Mediation and solution focused psychotherapy encourages collaboration, mutual respect and self- efficacy. Mediation and Psychotherapy use a neutral third party.

Review 3 relevant articles Bannik Joan Kelly

Solution Focused Psychotherapy Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is goal oriented, targeting the desired outcome of therapy as a solution, it emphasizes present/future circumstances. This form of therapy involves developing a vision of one’s future, and then determining what skills, resources, and abilities a person already possesses that can be enhanced in order to attain the desired outcome.

Bridging the Gap “Therapeutic Mediation” Protocol  Creating guidelines and giving homework assignments  Encourage Note Taking by clients to increase their understanding of the other’s point of view.  Use Motivational Interviewing skills (reflections, identify change talk, point out activation of steps etc) Protocol  Creating guidelines and giving homework assignments  Encourage Note Taking by clients to increase their understanding of the other’s point of view.  Use Motivational Interviewing skills (reflections, identify change talk, point out activation of steps etc)

Motivational Interviewing The founders of motivational interviewing are Dr’s. William R. Miller & Stephen Rollnick,1991. “Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, person- centered form of guiding to elicit and strengthen motivation for change” (page 137). Evidence Based Practice (EBP) -Models that have shown the greatest levels of effectiveness have the ability to replicate successful outcome with different populations, over time, through research and clinical trials (Miller & Rose, 2009).

IT is MI when…. The communication style and spirit involve respect and empathy (Engaging) There is an identified target for change that is the topic of conversation (Guiding) The interviewer (mediator) is calling forth or eliciting a person’s own motivations to change or resolve the conflict (Evoking)

MI SKILL to add to “TOOLKIT”: OARS Open Ended Questions Affirmations Reflections Summaries

Open Ended Questions Ex: How have you overcome obstacles/conflicts in your life in the past?

Affirmations Affirm: Affirming means to actively listen for the client’s strengths, values, aspirations and positive qualities and to reflect those to the client in an affirming manner. Example: client discusses many previous efforts to change a particular behavior or resolve a conflict from the position of feeling hopelessness. Mediator reframes (from a negative to positive perspective) and affirms. “What I am hearing is that it is very important to resolve this conflict. You have made numerous efforts over a long period of time. It seems that you have not found the way that works for you.” This reframe accomplishes both affirming the client for his or her efforts and perseverance.

Reflections  Simple Reflection: repeat or rephrase what the client says. Ex: Client statement: “I have no idea why I am here I don’t have a problem and I am not apart of the conflict” Interviewer: You don’t see anything to be concerned about right now.  Complex Reflection: goes beyond what the client said uses a metaphor and or deepens what the person said. Ex: “What I hear you saying is you are really frustrated with this conflict and want it to be over”. Double Sided Reflection: Client: But I can't quit drinking. I mean, all of my friends drink! Mediator/Counselor: You can't imagine how you could not drink with your friends, and at the same time you're worried about how it's affecting you. Client: Yes. I guess I have mixed feelings. Amplified Reflection: This is similar to a simple reflection, only the counselor amplifies or exaggerates the point to the point where the client may disavow or disagree with it. Client: But I can't quit using. I mean, all of my friends use! Counselor: Oh, I see. So you really couldn't quit using because then you'd be too different to fit in with your friends. Client: Well, that would make me different from them, although they might not really care as long as I didn't try to get them to quit.

Summaries Statements which collect material, link themes together and draw together what has happened Example: So far you expressed concern about your children, getting a job and finding a safer place to live”.

Encouragers…Elicit Change Talk  I see  Oh really  Tell me more  Reflection  Summary  Go on

DARN CAT Desire Ability Reasons Need Commitment Activation Taking Steps

Experience: “Therapeutic Mediation” Alan Gross Estera Borcsa Experience with cases Applied the “Therapeutic Mediation” with cases 3-5 sessions 80-90% successful

Refrences/Resources to expand your knowledge/skills…. Etcheson, Steven C. “Transformative Mediation: A New Current in the Mainstream.” Policy Studies Journal. 27:2, 1999, Linden, Jon. “Mediation Styles: The Purists vs. the ‘Toolkit.’” Mediate.Com website article. Zumeta, Zena D., J.D. “Styles of Mediation: Facilitative, Evaluative, and Transformative Mediation.” Sept Mediate.Com website article. References: Amrhein, P.C., Miller, W.R, Yahne, C.E., Palmer, M. & Fulcher, L. (2003) Client Commitment Language During Motivational Interviewing predicts drug use outcomes. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psych. 71,862-8 Miller,W.R. & Rollnick, S. (1991) Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People to Change Addictive Behavior. New York: The Guilford Press. Miller, W.R. & Rollnick, S. (2009) Ten things that Motivational Interviewing is Not Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 2009, 37, Miller, W.R. & Rose, G.S. (in press, 2009) Toward a Theory of Motivational Interviewing American Psychologist, In press, Rogers, C.R. (1946) Significant Aspects of Client-centered Therapy” American MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING TRAINING SEMINARS: DUAL DIAGNOSIS WEBSITE: MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING Web site:

Name one new skill, tool or concept you will take with you from this workshop……