Intervening in Difficult Conversations

At the heart of our work as dispute resolution practitioners is a “Difficult” or “Crucial” conversation. We provide a range of interventions designed to improve peoples’ effectiveness during these critical encounters in hopes of improving outcomes for children. This session will explore essential dynamics of “Crucial” and “Difficult” Conversations and identify strategies for improving our effectiveness as interveners. During this sessions we will: explore the dynamics of difficult conversations; introduce frameworks for understanding and designing appropriate interventions in stuck conversations; and review processes and skills for inviting healthy and productive conversations. (Repeated from the morning session)