Is anyone a Family Mediator ? or know anything about training as/working as one?

[NorbertDentressangle]

I've seen a post advertised (Trainee Family Mediator) that looks really interesting and wondered if anyone can tell me more, particularly about how long the training is.

Thanks

bump...in case theres a Family Mediator somewhere on MN this Saturday evening nursing a glass of winw and wanting to share their knowledge

Can't help you I'm afraid, but I will be watching the thread as it sounds like a really interesting line of work.

It does sound very interesting from what I've read on the website and ad.

I would love to find someone who does it in order to find out more (particularly as the organisation pays to train you, then you are committed to working for them for at least 2 years - would therefore like to apply knowing its what I want IYSWIM)

I don't know about family mediation specifically, but mediation training in general varies from about 2 days to 5 days.

I met one family mediator; she was desperate to get out of it...constantly dealing with people behaving in appalling and childish ways towards each other, she just wanted to bang their heads together. Not that I want to put you off or anything!

The basic techniques of mediation are fascinating, and amazingly effective. I do some mediation, not in a family context, and it is incredible to see people start to discuss their problems in a reasonable and constructive way after having been muttering and casting killer glances at each other beforehand. However the family mediator I met didn't find it happened that way!

Thats interesting that family mediation seemed to be different iheartdusty -shame you can't bang peoples heads together sometimes but I guess the training doesn't cover that!

I'm used to dealing with people who are being difficult/challenging/obstructive/destructive so maybe that won't be too much of a problem for me? (I've worked with children in care, families referred for help and support usually against their wishes etc). Do you think that would go in my favour? I've also done a Basic Counselling Skills qualification.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

your experience sounds spot on, as does the basic counselling skills. Mediation has a lot in common with counselling, eg building a rapport, providing the environment for the people concerned to find their own way to a solution, but it does require the mediator to impose a structure and be a 'referee'.

Go for it!

I think I will go for it and apply - I really hate filling in application forms though so might put that off schedule that for later this week

Thanks again for your help

Hi

Just wondering how you got on.I've been looking into this too but not sure re how much work there is and how much momey you can earn. have you managed to find anything out?