An ADR Program Development Company
The Divorce Mediation Certificate Program will teach you everything you need to know to begin work as a Divorce Mediator immediately upon Certification. More than just the basics of divorce mediation, this comprehensive, post graduate level program will teach you everything about handling a divorce mediation case from the time your clients call to schedule an appointment to the time they leave your office with a complete agreement on all of the terms of their divorce.
Linear, step-by-step instruction from top tier faculty, and all of the tools you will need to be an effective mediator, will leave you feeling confident about helping divorcing spouses resolve conflict and end their marriage in a positive, healthy manner, avoiding the acrimony that accompanies divorce court proceedings.
Hear from our graduates!
Not ready to commit to a comprehensive 35 hour program? Come to our Introduction to Divorce Mediation Program to find out if working with divorcing spouses is a path you'd like to pursue!
Learn about the Introduction to
Divorce Mediation Program.
This Divorce Mediation Certificate Program is an accredited, intensive post-graduate level program that is approved for 35 Continuing Education Credits.
As a CRT-Certified Divorce Mediator, you will join a select group of mediators who are able to mediate divorce cases in any state within the United States. No other training program offers this advantage.
No additional certifications or supervisory sessions are required. Simply complete your course, earn your certificate, and begin mediating with confidence.
Course Structure
This is 35 credit hour course, including 32 hours of class time and a minimum of 3 hours spent completing assignments outside of class.
All of our training is live, whether taken online or in person, so you will benefit from interaction with your instructors and fellow participants each time you come to class.
Online classes are held over weekly 4-hour sessions on the same day and at the same time each week. See upcoming online dates and enroll in an online class to become a Certified Divorce Mediator from the comfort of your own home.
In-person classes are held over four full (often consecutive) days of training. We hold trainings all across the country, and on different days of the week, to make it easier for you to find nearby classes that work with your schedule. See upcoming in-person classes and become a Certified Divorce Mediator in as little as 4 days.
Course Curriculum
Day 1 [Sessions 1 & 2]
Foundations & Process
Starting with an understanding of what Mediation is and isn't, participants learn every step of the Mediation Process and how to guide Divorce Mediation clients toward fair and equitable agreements.
Day 2 [Sessions 3 & 4]
Essential Skills & Issues
Participants learn the essential skills and fundamental principles of highly effective mediators, and how to address every issue that clients must come to agreements on to be granted an uncontested divorce.
Day 3 [Sessions 5 & 6]
Agreements & Application
Participants learn, step by step, how to take agreements reached in mediation and write Memoranda of Understanding for their clients, applying all they've learned in exercises and assignments.
Day 4 [Sessions 7 & 8]
Psychology & Planning
Participants finish the course by learning more about the psychology, ethics, and legal aspects of Mediation and how to prepare for and plan to add mediation to an existing practice or to start a mediation business.
Want to know more about the DMCP? Click here to download the full curriculum.
Included with Tuition
The tax-deductible tuition for this program is $975 and includes all of the necessary materials for classwork as well as resources for working with couples after course completion, including:
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A Professional Divorce Mediator Certificate
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Resources and tools for handling mediation cases
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Forms, templates, and a business model for either incorporating mediation services into an existing mental health practice or establishing a new and separate divorce mediation practice
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this program participants will be able to:
Describe what divorce mediation is and define the role of divorce mediator.
Distinguish mediation from other forms of conflict resolution.
Determine when divorce mediation is, and is not, appropriate for divorcing couples.
List the three principles that guide successful mediators in helping clients reach agreement on the issues that need to be resolved in divorce.
Guide divorcing spouses in the creation of a parenting plan with a view toward the best interest of the children of the family.
Provide guidance to divorcing spouses on the calculation of child support obligations.
Utilize techniques for minimizing, avoiding, and breaking impasse.
Write Memoranda of Understanding on behalf of divorce mediation clients.
Assist clients in resolving deadlocks and disagreements through conciliation, empathy and cooperation.
Describe best practices to guard against legal liability and how to avoid conflicts of interest and thereby professional malfeasance.
Plan when and how to introduce legal, financial, mental health and other professionals to divorce mediation clients when such expertise is needed.
Provide divorce mediation services as part of a mental health practice or as a separate divorce mediation practice.
Mediate all aspects of a divorce case from beginning to end, using experts as resources when necessary.
Teach divorcing spouses about the issues the family court requires them to address once they have decided to divorce.
Assist divorcing spouses in reaching fair and amicable resolution of all of the issues the family court requires them to address, considering options available to them when doing so.
Continuing Education Credits
This program has been approved for 35 Continuing Education Credits for Psychologists and other mental health professionals.
In order to receive credit you must attend all sessions in their entirety, save approximately 15 minutes. In some cases of emergencies, make up assignments may be completed to satisfy attendance requirements.
This program is co-sponsored by the Advanced Education Institute (AEI) and Conflict Resolution Training. AEI is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. AEI maintains responsibility for this program and its contents
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Why become a Mediator?We live in an era of escalating conflict. Consequently, there is a rapidly growing need for more conflict resolution specialists throughout our country. Mediators are on the forefront of resolving conflict. Mediators are needed more than ever to assist families and individuals in matters of divorce, education and workplace conflict throughout the United States. Mediation is a less stressful and less expensive alternative to litigious hearings and court proceedings. It is also an excellent new source of business income for legal and mental health professionals. Congress has supported mediation in lieu of litigious hearings in IEP dispute cases. School districts and parents of special education children need mediators to assist in resolving these disputes. Families going through the painful divorce process are in need of mediators. Workers and businesses are in need of mediators to reduce workplace conflict, engage employees and increase productivity to our American economy. A certificate from our Mediation Training Programs will enhance your professional credentials, increase your income and let you help more of the increasing number of individuals, families, workers, schools and businesses seeking help from mediators today. We believe that live, interactive education is far more effective than self-paced learning. Our online seminars provide you with live, interactive programs in which participants and instructors are able to see, hear and engage with one another in a live format, just like on-site classes, but without the need to travel. You get all of the practical tools and information necessary for you to immediately begin work as a mediator on either a part-time or full-time basis. You can also take Advanced Mediation Training classes to further expand your knowledge base and credentials. All classes are taught by top-tier experts in legal, financial and education fields.
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Will I receive Continuing Education Credits for the Course?Our Certificate Programs are approved for CE credits for mental health professionals and CLE credits for attorneys. Our programs are co-sponsored by the Advanced Education Institute (AEI) and Conflict Resolution Training. AEI is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists and other mental health professionals. In order to receive CE Credits participants must have paid their tuition, signed in, attended the entire seminar, completed an evaluation, and signed out in order to receive a certificate. Failure to sign in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Continuing Education Certificates will be awarded upon satisfactory course completion for a fee of $40 through the Advanced Education Institute.
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Can Mediation be incorporated into a new or existing practice?You can incorporate mediation services into an existing professional office or as a completely separate business entity. A single case is likely to cover the entire cost of your training with Conflict Resolution Training.
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Do you have to be an Attorney to become a Mediator?No. Mental Health, Paralegal Professionals, and Legal Assistants are ideally suited to working as divorce, IEP and workplace mediators based upon their education and training and experience. Regardless of your background, upon successful completion of your Mediation Training Program, you will be ready to immediately start taking cases.
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Do I need a college degree to take this course? Or to use the certification to mediate after the course?No, you do not need any degree to take our Divorce Mediation Certificate Program. We describe the course as a "post-graduate level" program because it was designed for practicing mental health professionals who already have advanced degrees, and who need post-graduate level continuing education courses. That said, we've had many students attend who have done very well, both in the class and after, who do not have any college degrees. So we know that if you put in the effort, you will do well in the class, and be ready to mediate divorces by the end of the last day of class, regardless of education or professional background. You also don't need any degree to use your certification to mediate divorces in any state. All you need to do is to complete the course.
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Do I have to go to court with my mediation clients?No. The clients may go by themselves once the mediation is completed or go with an attorney of their choosing. The mechanics of what the clients need to do once they leave your office is covered thoroughly in class so that you can explain it to your mediation clients.
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How much do Mediators make?Mediators usually charge between $250 - $500 per hour and the average divorce mediation takes between 4 - 6 sessions. In addition, Divorce Mediators also charge to write up the final agreement between the divorcing spouses, called an MOU. That is a flat fee that you can set, but most mediators charge around $450 to write the MOU. As an example, if you charge $250 per session and mediate a case in 5 sessions, then charge $450 to write the MOU for your clients, you would make $1700 in total for that mediation case.
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How will I get clients?A portion of each Mediation Training Program is devoted to this very topic. Our graduates are ready to accept mediation cases immediately upon successful program completion. All students leave class with an individual plan for accepting as many or as few cases as they feel is appropriate for their individual, professional circumstance.
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Who teaches these courses?Our instructors are mediation, legal and financial experts, who act as resources for our graduates and their clients, even after the course is completed! Our Head Instructor and Course Developer, Susan Deveney, leads our Divorce Mediation Training Program. Susan has been a mediator with a successful private practice for over 25 years. Her education and background are in both Law and Psychology. Comments and testimonials about classes Susan teaches can be found on our testimonials page.
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Are tuition payment plans available?Yes, you can pay the tuition in installments. You just have to select "Pay with Affirm" at checkout and you'll be given the option to make monthly payments and different rates. Affirm offers most users the options to pay over 3, 6, or 12 months.
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What is your Cancelation/Refund Policy?If you enrolled using a Credit or Debit Card Registrations cancelled thirty-one (31) or more days prior to the first day of the seminar will receive a 100-percent refund of tuition paid, less a 3.5% service processing fee. Registrations cancelled between thirty (30) and eight (8) days prior to the program start date will be charged a $200.00 administrative fee in addition to a 3.5% service processing fee. Cancellations made seven (7) days or less prior to the first day of the seminar will be charged 50-percent of the tuition price in addition to a 3.5% service processing fee. Any participant who cannot attend the session for which she/he is registered, may transfer to another session of the same program, so long as there is a seat available in the future session. If you enrolled with Affirm Registrations cancelled thirty-one (31) or more days prior to the first day of the seminar will receive a 100-percent refund of tuition paid, less a 6% service processing fee. Registrations cancelled between thirty (30) and eight (8) days prior to the program start date will be charged a $200.00 administrative fee in addition to a 6% service processing fee. Cancellations made seven (7) days or less prior to the first day of the seminar will be charged 50-percent of the tuition price in addition to a 6% service processing fee. Regardless of when a refund is requested, once it is approved, the refunded amount will be processed through Affirm. If you have questions about their process, please visit this page. Any participant who cannot attend the session for which she/he is registered, may transfer to another session of the same program, so long as there is a seat available in the future session.