Minnesota Mediation Training: Learn Transformative Mediation

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Transformative mediation addresses conflict at its most important level. Rather than imposing a settlement on the parties, the transformative mediator supports parties in their own efforts to improve their interaction as they discuss their conflict. The United States Postal Service and the Transportation Security Administration have chosen transformative mediation as their preferred method for addressing employment discrimination claims. And over 90% of employees and over 90% of management officials report being satisfied with the process. I’ve used this approach in hundreds of family cases, as well as many business partnership, inheritance, family business, and employment disputes.

All of my trainings are interactive, fun, and pre-approved for continuing education credits.

Instructor

I’m Dan Simon, MA, J.D. – the first certified transformative mediator in Minnesota. I have trained mediators nationally for the U.S. Postal Service, for the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation and as an Adjunct Professor at the Hofstra University School of Law. I provide transformative mediation of all types of disputes, including family, employment, and business. I received my B.A. with Honors, from UC: Berkeley; my J.D. cum laude, from the University of Minnesota School of Law; and my M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. I have been licensed to practice law in Minnesota since 1992, but have practiced and taught only mediation since 1998.

Guest Instructors & Guest Coaches

Past guest instructors have included: Jim Coben, Director of Hamline University School of Laws Dispute Resolution Institute; Honorable Sue Cochrane of the District Court in Hennepin County; Ken Fox, Professor of Law and Conflict Studies at Hamline University; Aimee Gourlay, former executive director of The Mediation Center for Dispute Resolution; Jessica Kuchta-Miller, a leader of the Twin Cities mediation community, Dave Decker, Licensed Psychologist; Leslie Sinner McEvoy, arbitrator, mediator, and adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law. Past coaches have included Rabbi Shosh Dworsky, Attorney Änna Hagstrom, and Mediator Carey HeartBorne, Director of HeartBorne Mediation.

What Past Training Participants Have said:

 

Awesome.  Exciting.  Englightening. 10 out of 10. I felt re-charged and inspired. Heather Martin, Mediator, South Pasadena, CA.

Loved the course. Excellent, interesting, educational and informative. Sue Gramacy, Mediator, Granada Hills, CA.

Enlightening, challenging, liberating. 10 out of 10. Your style and the content of the class are right on. I will definitely recommend your course to colleagues. Carl Lehmann, Attorney, Gray Plant Mooty, Minneapolis, MN.

Eye-opening, perspective-changing, invigorating. Jim Mayer, Attorney, Fredrikson & Byron, Minneapolis, MN.

Fun, insightful, transformative. 10 out of 10. Mark Delehanty, Attorney, Rochester, MN.

Transformative. And definitely valuable for all fields. Diana Bird, Human Resources, Target Corporation, Minneapolis, MN.

A thorough introduction to an alternative way to mediate that acknowledges the human conflict aspect of disputes. 10 out of 10. Julie Sprau, Attorney, Chanhassen, MN.

Helpful, fun, interesting, memorable, influential. Get this in law schools! 10 out of 10. Kate Norris, law student, University of St. Thomas.

Great experience. Very helpful in practice and life. 10 out of 10. - Jim Michels, Attorney, Minneapolis, MN.

This is a progressive, ground breaking movement that is overdue. This should and will shift the stigma of mediation away from being similar to arbitration. - Steve Wickelgren, MA, LMFT, Police Sargent, Minneapolis, MN.

Transformative! 10 out of 10. Excellent instructor and co-instructors. Dawn Buttera, Yoga Instructor, Rochester, MN.

I would not trade this experience for anything. I believe I have found the mediation I truly want to get myself involved in. - Tim Mulligan, Cambridge, MN.

Dan, thanks for delivering all you promised – and so much more. Each of the five days was enlightening, productive and fun. This seminar definitely was a week well spent. 11+ out of 10. - Larry Green, Attorney, Stillwater, MN.

Fascinating. It opened me up to a new way of thinking. - Mark Pryor, Attorney, Brown & Carlson, PA, Minneapolis, MN.

10 out of 10. Practical, experiential, balanced. - Nicole Concordia, Attorney, Minneapolis, MN.

10 out of 10. Informative, fun. - Andrea Warda, Law Student, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN.

Engaging, dynamic – a change in perception, an example of a paradigm shift that works for all. 10 out of 10. - Bob Speeter, Attorney, Minneapolis, MN. 

Best CLE credits I’ve ever earned! Great job!  Thoroughly engrossing! Effective, transcendent process – sophisticated – deep.  Great alternative in intractable cases. - Joan Engstrom, Deputy General Counsel, General Mills, Minnetonka, MN.

Best course I’ve attended in years! It has opened my eyes to conflict resolution that goes beyond just resolving the immediate issue but that instead can transform the underlying conflict, so that the change is longstanding. - A Minnesota Judicial Officer.

Extremely interesting!  Super instructors! Transformative – really! Not only on a purely personal level but also in the value I see in it on a legal and court level. - Christine Umhoefer, White Bear Lake, MN

Transformational!  Excellent!  Life changing! You provide hope and vision and real tools for a better way.  - Laura LaBlanc, Professional Facilitator and Consultant, Saint Paul, MN.

10 out of 10, seriously. More people should be exposed to this methodology. - Todd Wadsworth, Professor and Philosopher, St. Paul, MN.

Best CLE credits I’ve ever earned! Great, educational, insightful, valuable. - Dianna Cusick, Director of Legal Affairs, Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

Optimum setting for learning! This was a terrific course that challenged me to become a better listener. Dan is a WONDERFUL teacher who models transformative mediation techniques throughout the course. 10 out of 10. - Nancy Leba, Educator, Minneapolis, MN.

A great combination of practical skills and introduction to a new way to view conflict. Very useful! - Anna Hagstrom, Attorney, St. Paul, MN.

This course was a challenge, a joy, and a privilege! - Nan Thompson, Musician, Minneapolis, MN.

Dan is a skilled, comfortable teacher.  I was very happy with the instructor and the course. 10 out of 10. - Tom Larson, Attorney, Briggs and Morgan, Minneapolis, MN.

My favorite aspect of the course was the variety of teaching methods – including simulations. The course was fun, informative, challenging and supportive. - Andrea Warda, law student, Saint Paul, MN.

Fun, interesting, helpful, useful, philosophical, deep, theoretical, honest, meaningful.  I looked forward to coming every day! - Molly Dworsky, University of Minnesota Family Social Sciences student.

Enlightening! - Renée Zirbes, Attorney, Eden Prairie, MN.

Inspiring!  Useful in my job and throughout my life. – Lianne Guenther, Attorney, Apple Valley, MN.

Great training – everything from the daily agenda to the role plays, to the facilities and lunch were wonderful. - Leigh Campbell, Attorney, St. Charles, MN.

Enlightening. Challenging. Innovative. -Eddie Glenn, University of Minnesota Law Student.

Innovative!  Interesting! - Jim Hanvik, Attorney, St. Louis Park, MN.

Because of my position, you can’t use my name, but you can quote me anonymously.  I will recommend this training to my colleagues on the bench.  I rate it a 10 out of 10.  I’d describe it as enlightening, insightful, and terrific.  – a Minnesota Disctrict Court Judge.

Truly transformative. . . such an inspiring instructor!  I learned a valuable skill and I feel as though I learned from the best. - Jeannie Zaikaner, Attorney, Saint Paul, MN

I learned more about human nature in this seminar than in any course I have ever attended. - Jeffery Mintz, Attorney, Rochester, MN.

You are enjoyable and non-threatening as a teacher.  Your candor is refreshing; I like your objectivity and flexibility. - Richard DeBeau, LMFT, Shakopee, MN.

Kept my rapt attention from early morning to evening five consecutive days.- Melvin Ogurak, Ogurak Family Law & Mediation, P.A., Minneapolis, MN.

Very enlightening. I’m excited to use these skills in my practice.- Kathleen Flynn Peterson, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, LLP., Minnapolis, MN.

This was fabulous!  10 out of 10! I think this model is the key to more effective communication in our culture. The interactive nature of the course was excellent. - Susan Shehata, Healer of Home, Body and Spirit, Minneapolis, MN.

Remarkable. . . I really value the skills I learned from Dan. - A Minneapolis Family Lawyer.

10 out of 10! Thought provoking, informative and fun!  A great experience! - Pat Beety, Attorney, Saint Paul, MN.

Enlightening.  I know I’ve grown so much with this way of thinking. - Linda Morrison, Attorney, North Saint Paul, MN.

Dan Simon’s tailor-made mediation approach is where collaborative, mediated conflict resolution will be twenty years from now if we’re lucky. . . most highly recommended!!! - John G.E. Thompson, Attorney, St. Cloud, MN.

10 out of 10! - Tou Lee, Business Owner, Woodbury, MN.

Interesting! Informative! Fun!  - Lisa Porthan, Caregiver Consultant, Ely, MN.

Energizing!  Thought-provoking!  – Eric Johnson, Attorney, Bloomington, MN.

Interesting!  Innovative mediation approach! Very useful in dealing with conflicts! - Bruce Johnson, Attorney, Minneapolis, MN.

Dan’s ability to teach in a transformative way is amazing. -  Tamerin Horstman, M.A., Mediator/Consultant, Minneapolis, MN.

Dan teaches not from the top down, but from the inside out. - Janet Collins, Mediation Unlimited, Minneapolis, MN.

I enjoyed this course as much as any CLE I’ve ever attended. - Kris Svingen, Attorney, Fergus Falls, MN.

Dan is energetic and engaging. I found the course very informative and thought provoking. I will use Dan’s techniques in my practice. - Jim Killian, Maslon, Edelman, Borman and Brand, LLP., Minneapolis, MN.

Informative and unique. New way of resolving conflict. Learned new skills to apply to my practice. - Leah Loomis, Attorney, Chaska, MN.

The skills I learned will affect every aspect of my family law practice. - Dana McKenzie, Saint Paul, MN, Family Law Attorney.

Revolutionary, insightful, useful, impactful, inspiring, fun, comfortable and welcoming. - Katie Clower, University of Minnesota Ph.D student in Conservation Biology.

This course exceeded my expecations. - Jamie Johnson, Attorney, Lommen Abdo Law Firm.