Tell me andI
forget;
Show me and
I will remember;
Involve me and
I will understand.
Confucius 

What is Coaching for FDR Practice?

Coaching for FDR Practice is tailored to contribute to your professional growth as you redefine and refine your role from entry level to proficient FDR Practitioner. Following an initial discussion, you and I develop the objectives of your coaching program. In general terms, Coaching for FDR Practice

  • addresses the questions and issues raised by each participant
  • extends theory and practice
  • focuses on the role of the mediator
  • analyses disputes from a mediation perspective

Coaching for FDR Practice is regular, focused, personalised coaching conducted in very small groups. One-to-one coaching is available as an alternative and to supplement group coaching.

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How long does it take?

Mostly, one set of Coaching for FDR Practice takes 4 to 6 weeks. You can join a very small group or you can choose individual coaching. The very small groups meet for four sessions of Coaching for FDR Practice.

Individual sessions are arranged to suit your schedule over a time period that is convenient for you.

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Where and when is it held?

Coaching for Mediator Practice sessions are held at my Wembley mediation rooms in a relaxed setting in the joint session room with the breakout rooms used as required. The address is 32 Daglish St, Wembley. You can view a short video of the rooms here.

Coaching sessions can also be conducted by Skype.

Sessions are conducted at a time to suit you. Usually this is late afternoon or early evening. Business hours and weekend sessions can be arranged.

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What happens? Summary

There are three stages in the Coaching for FDR Practice program 

Stage 1 In a very small group or individual setting, I confirm that I can provide coaching that  is suitable for you.
Stage 2 Following discussion, I customise the coaching, including content and process for the requirements of the very small group. Stages 1 and 2 form the first part of the first session.
Stage 3 I provide the remainder of the first session and the subsequent sessions which involve practical, interactive exercises as well as short presentations and lively discussions.

Coaching for FDR Practice is a blend of consolidating the essence of FDR and exploring the complexities and refinements that contribute to FDR being a personalised approach to decision making and conflict resolution. The model of FDR, analysis of disputes and the role and functions of the FDR Practitioner together with the specialist topics including children’s needs; safety; ‘genuine effort’; S60I certificates; Child Support Payments; property settlements, form the framework of the program.

As far as is possible, your coaching sessions demonstrate FDR interventions so that you can observe and discuss a variety of FDR competencies, skills and other interventions being demonstrated and distinguish coaching pedagogy from mediation.

Over the period of your coaching you can expect to gradually come to think of yourself as a proficient FDR Practitioner. That is, over the 4 to 6 week period you can expect to see a shift from the possibly mechanistic use of FDR interventions to more tailored selection of interventions which are correspondingly more influential.

You can find out more about what happens in What happens? Description below and more about the topics covered further below

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What happens? Description

You contact me by email or phone. I answer your questions concisely. If after an initial discussion, you would like to commence Coaching for FDR Practice, I make a booking for the next convenient very small group or for individual coaching.

Stage 1: Discussion of Coaching for Mediator Practice

Whether very small group or one-to-one, I begin the first session by confirming the suitability of FDR Coaching. Your first decision is whether to proceed. If you decide that you would rather not proceed there is no cost.

Stage 2: Designing the Coaching program

Whether you have chosen very small group or individual coaching, the program is designed to meet the needs of participants on the basis that your primary objective is to redefine and refine your FDR practice from the perspective of the role of the FDR Practitioner.

Elements that contribute to the design of your program include

  • your questions and conundrums
  • defining and refining the role of the FDR Practitioner
  • integrating yourself into the role
  • rationale of the structure of FDR
  • analysis of disputes
  • analysis of conflict

Usually these elements provide sufficient direction for your program to be planned. As you progress, you, the other participants and I refine the program.

Rationale of medi​ation model(s)

The FDR model is sophisticated simplicity. Exploring its sophistication creates opportunities for identifying and developing specifically focused competencies.

During Coaching for FDR Practice you can develop proficiency and internal consistency within and between each stage of the FDR model. One outcome is that you identify indicators for moving from one stage to the next.

Proficient FD​R mediation practice

The list of FDR competencies by which you became accredited is a sample of FDR competencies. There are more! And competencies are only one facet among many facets of the role of the FDR Practitioner. And FDR Practitioner’s role is a leadership and decision making role which relies on a synthesis of knowledge, competencies and values applied to a kaleidoscope of sources of information. Each intervention is the outcome of a decision tailored to the circumstances of the moment in the context of the whole FDR mediation.

During your Coaching for FDR Practice I assist you to link your competencies to the knowledge,  concepts and values of FDR.  I explain how I analyse disputes for FDR. From the analysis come  consciously chosen interventions. One example among many is that an analysis of  participants’ conflict can contribute to agenda formation.

Skills experimentation

There is usually a gap between a good idea and its execution. Brief role-plays can craft a good idea into a useful skill.

Coaching for FDR Practice provides  you the rare opportunity to practise skills with immediate and succinct feedback. The feedback has a dual benefit. It ensures that your new skills progress toward competence as well as modelling the provision of feedback to participants during a FDR mediation.

Process

The process(es) of Coaching for FDR Practice is decided following an initial discussion and then reviewed in short ongoing discussions. For example, you may prefer to experiment with different ways of forming an agenda, then ask for feedback; you may  prefer me to explain  one way that I form agendas, then to try it.  My aims are first, to pass on what you want to know of I have learnt from my FDR experience in a way and at a time that works best for you; second to facilitate participants in the group passing on what each has learnt and what each would like to learn. I facilitate inductive and deductive approaches to the issues presented. Brief practical exercises are interspersed throughout. Longer practical exercises can be arranged by agreement with the group.

Stage 3: Coaching themes

Whatever the topic, whatever the angle you will find that in the discussion and the practical work I will continually refer to

  • integrated approach
    • connecting elements of FDR
    • developing rationale
  • the role of the FDR Practitioner
    • leadership
    • multifaceted
    • self care
  • disputes
    • analysis
    • causes
 

A FDR Practitioner’s role is a decision making role which relies on a sophisticated synthesis of knowledge, competencies and values. Each intervention is the outcome of a decision tailored to the circumstances of the moment in the context of the whole mediation.

  

Contact me by email or phone. I answer your questions concisely. If you decide to commence Coaching for FDR Practice, I will book you into the next group program or, if you prefer one- to-one, I will book your first session.

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What topics are likely to be included?

Coaching for FDR Practice includes both the process of FDR and the content specific to FDR as well as the interaction of process and content. Early in training it is often said that the FDRP manages the process and the participants manage the content. In practice it is more complex due to the interdependence of process and content.

Topics that arise are many and may include

  • What are the elements of the role of the mediator?
  • What are the functions of the mediator?
  • How can a mediator prepare for mediation?
  • How can mediators remain resilient?
  • How does the practise of competencies vary according to setting?
  • How can research be brought into the mediation?
  • How can mediators fulfil their obligations, for example regarding safety of participants, and remain even-handed?
  • How does the process for commercial mediation vary from the process for neighbourhood mediation?
  • How does a mediator terminate a mediation even-handedly?
  • What is the role of lawyers in mediation?
  • How can FDR Practitioners fulfil their obligations, for example regarding safety of participants, and remain even-handed?
  • How does the process for property settlement vary from the process for children’s matters?
  • How and when and to whom are S60I certificates issued/not issued?
  • What does a ‘genuine effort’ look like?
  • What is the role of lawyers/accountants/psychologists in FDR?

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What does it cost?

The cost of Coaching for FDR Practice group sessions is $1000 ex GST per person for up to 4 people. There are four sessions each of 2.5 hours mostly held over 4 to 6 weeks.

If you prefer individual coaching, please contact me to discuss my fee.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

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Is it confidential?

Coaching for FDR Practice is as confidential as you and others in the very small group decide. There are a number of aspects to confidentiality. I will keep your attendance and your comments at Coaching for FDR Practice confidential. Confidentiality will be clarified further at your first and if necessary, subsequent sessions.

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Is there a prerequisite?

The usual prerequisite for Coaching for FDR Practice is accreditation and registration as an FDR Practitioner, NMAS accreditation or progress toward either.

In addition, for very small groups, I consider the extent to which Coaching for FDR Practice works well when each participant has a similar amount of experience. In practice this is sometimes indicated by a similar amount of time having elapsed since becoming accredited. Other times it is indicated by participants coming from a similar work environment. The more similar the group can predict the more streamlined your experience of coaching. The benefits, however, of a diverse group can be enrichment beyond the overt coaching. I discuss these aspects with you in your initial call.

For individual Coaching for FDR Practice the prerequisites are as above.

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Where can I go for more information?

You can find more information on the website of the Mediator Standards Board.

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Artwork by Felicita Sala