Dear Chris, Not knowing much about the profession of conflict resolution, I expect that there is a lot of resonance. Yes.
I imagine that there are many mediators who see themselves as space-holders rather than fixers. Yes. I imagine that there are mediators who in some way invite those "in conflict" to consider a larger circle of viewpoints by holding space for a diversity of voices - not just the polarized "other" but a circle of those affected and those who care. Sometimes. For me, this happens most often in child custody mediations. In these mediations, I consciously hold space for the children. Sometimes I do this silently, and sometimes I verbalize it. My friend does victim-offender mediation, sometimes in the aftermath of violent crime. There is much in common about how he and I prepare for our work, but to me his space-holding requires more courage - warrior energy, tested tried & true. And an unwavering trust in & service to the transforming power of love. Im also involved in victim offender mediation, though I havent done a large number of mediations in this area. The ones Ive done have been with juvenile offenders. Our local youth court has developed a victim offender mediation program using youth and adult co-mediators to reflect the typical mediation participants: youth offender and adult victim. (Initially the program was set up with two adult co-mediators. The youth-adult co-mediation model is much better.) Interesting though...when I think of "conflict resolution" I picture two people across a table from one another, with a mediator in between, and I think, what a set-up. How could there be healing without the circle? How could healing be sustained without a circle of "the right people," who have responded to an open invitation? And what would be the theme? Two is a circle. So is three. Any more than one. Sometimes two or three is the right people. Julie
