Trainings

Vermont Mediation and Facilitation offers training for employers, families, schools and case managers around intentional communication, deescalation and conflict resolution. Training is focused on helping attendees reflect on and improve their communication skills to successfully move through conflict and create connections. All trainings are developed based on your needs and follow a four part process. 

• Needs Assessment - An initial meeting to determine the purpose and goals of the group. This may look like a conversation with a supervisor or other representative or a larger facilitated conversation with attendees.

• Education and Skill Sharing - Participants will discuss current challenges, provide potential solutions, generate ideas, and share or learn about concrete practices that can be applied to individual and group needs.

• Practice - This phase allows participants to put ideas and plans into practice, ideally through role playing, during a training session. In some cases this will include direct application with coworkers, clients, family members etc…

• Reflection - In some cases this process will begin during the training session but in other cases participants will practice skills and techniques in real situations and reconvene to reflect on success and ongoing needs. This may lead to a new needs assessment and a second iteration of the learning cycle. 

If you’re interested in discussing training options and opportunities, please be in touch for a free consultation that will begin your needs assessment and determine how Vermont Mediation and Facilitation can help! (See below

Examples of past trainings:

1. Working with teachers to define harmful language in schools and develop and practice acute intervention techniques to address language and behavior both in the moment and with students moving forward. 

2. Coaching, supervising and supporting crisis workers to intervene and work with youth and caregivers in crisis situations. Participants discussed scenarios, personal concerns/barriers to intervention, practiced interventions and reflected on perceived successes and failures.

3. Communications training for behavior interventionists around best practices for communicating with caregivers. Training focused on both defining successful communication and how to accomplish and document communication goals.

4. Training with school employees around the root causes of student behavior and how to use restorative practices and collaborative communication to discover and address student needs.

5. How to use body language and verbal interventions to deescalate conflict and create collaborative communication with others. Training is based on practical skill building and gaining confidence in being a participant in conflict.

6. Training youth leaders on how to communicate as a leader in their community, reflecting on power imbalances, assertive communication and being vulnerable and open as a leader.