Weber Dispute Resolution

05/13/2026

Most mediators have experienced it at some point.

You are in a session and slowly start leaning toward one side. One person seems more reasonable. Another starts frustrating you. Somebody reminds you of a former client, an ex-spouse, or a difficult person from your own life.

The shift is usually subtle, but it matters.

Mediator neutrality is not about pretending those reactions never happen. The skill is noticing them early enough to keep them from shaping the process.

I wrote a new article about mediator neutrality, internal bias, and the challenge of staying balanced when difficult conversations start pulling you sideways.

Even experienced mediators sometimes feel themselves leaning toward one side. The key is recognizing the pull before it starts shaping the process.

05/12/2026

Email from Weber Dispute Resolution Early registration ends May 15 for this live, in-person interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce training in San Diego.   Learn Collaborative Divorce from the People

05/06/2026

https://conta.cc/42RRgln

Email from Weber Dispute Resolution Early registration ends May 15 for this live, in-person interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce training in San Diego.   Learn Collaborative Divorce from the People

04/22/2026

Knowing when to interrupt in mediation can change everything. Do it wrong and you lose the process. Do it right and you move it forward.

I see a lot of mediators step in too quickly. The tension rises and they try to get control of it. That usually makes things worse. It’s the professional version of grabbing the wheel from the passenger seat.

Sometimes the better move is to sit back and let people work their way through something uncomfortable. Sometimes you need to step in and redirect before it goes sideways.

That call falls apart when it comes from reactivity. It works when it is a deliberate choice.

I wrote a short piece about when to interrupt, when to hold back, and how to do it without becoming part of the problem.

Knowing when to interrupt in mediation can change everything. Do it wrong and you lose the process. Do it right and you move it forward.

04/10/2026

I see a lot of cases where one professional is trying to carry legal issues, financial questions, and emotional dynamics all at the same time.

That is a tough way to run a case. It wears people down.

It is one of the patterns behind burnout in this work.

There is a better way to structure it.

We just sent out a newsletter with two short pieces on teamwork, role clarity, and how Collaborative Practice fits into all of this.

If your cases have been feeling harder than they should, it is worth a look.

Email from Weber Dispute Resolution And what changes when the structure is right.   Conflict is hard work! Handled poorly, it gets heavier over time. Cases drag. Emotions spike. Professionals end up c

04/09/2026

Registration is now open for our next 40-hour Divorce Mediation Training.

Our last training was a success in the ways that actually matter. The group showed up, did the work, and left with tools they could use immediately in their practices. Since then, we have had a steady flow of calls asking when we would offer it again.

We heard you. We are running it again.

There is a shift happening in this field. More professionals are looking at the level of conflict in their cases and deciding they want a different way to work. Mediation offers that path, but only if it is done with structure, discipline, and a clear understanding of process.

That is what this training is built to deliver.

We focus on how to run a mediation from start to finish. We work through real dynamics, not just clean hypotheticals. You will spend time in role play, receive direct feedback, and build a framework you can rely on when the case gets difficult.

If you are ready to move your practice toward peacemaking and want a clear way to do it, this training will give you that foundation.

Registration details are here: https://weberdisputeresolution.com/education-training/

03/22/2026

We just finished our first 40-hour divorce mediation training.

Eight full days of working through real scenarios and building skills in real time. By the end, I could see people starting to trust the process and settle into the role.

That is where things start to click.

I am really grateful for this group. They showed up and engaged fully.

I already have a list of ways to make the next one better.

This was my dining room the last two weeks:

03/09/2026

Men 34 and under face the highest risk.

03/08/2026

I’m starting to get pretty pumped about the upcoming 40-Hour Divorce Mediation Training.

The program begins this week and we have a great group forming with attorneys, therapists, and financial professionals joining us.

This training focuses on practical skill development. Participants run mock mediation sessions, work through structured exercises, and receive feedback while they are doing the work.

That kind of practice helps build the muscle memory mediators rely on when conversations become complicated.

The program is approved for MCLE and CAMFT continuing education credit, including Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias.

Robin Seigle and I will be teaching together, and we keep the group intentionally small so everyone gets meaningful time in the exercises.

Registration closes tomorrow.

Registration link in the comments.

03/06/2026

Good mediation training involves practice.

Participants in the program work through mock mediation sessions, try techniques, and receive feedback while they are actually doing the work. That experience helps build the confidence and skill mediators need in real cases.

One participant shared this after completing the training:

“Shawn knows what he’s doing and he knows how to train mediators.

The course required us to jump right in and begin participating in mediation exercises. Shawn created such a warm and non-judgmental atmosphere that everyone felt comfortable participating in the exercises and listening to helpful feedback. It was the best way to learn.

The money spent on Shawn’s wonderful course was truly money well spent. I am still using some of the skills I learned today. Don’t hesitate to book this course, you won’t regret it.”

— Lesa Christensen, JD, CLS-F

The next 40-Hour Divorce Mediation Training begins March 11 and is approved for MCLE and CAMFT credit.

Registration link in the comments.

03/05/2026

Divorce is a process, not an event.