Mediation & Conflict Transformation
Transforming Conflict into Connection
How does MY approach to mediation and conflict transformation work?
I specialize in mediating organizational workplace conflicts and with families experiencing conflict with issues such as financial matters, family businesses, family and in-laws relationships, care for parents, and community relations.
(Learn more about my mediation and training work in organizations.)
I facilitate a mediation process in which parties in conflict first hear and understand each other empathically, and then move into cooperative problem-solving and agreements. The process starts with a joint Orientation session with all parties involved, then an individual preparation session with each party, followed by a joint Mutual Understanding phase and Problem-Solving phase. The process generally ranges from 8-16 hours over 3-4 weeks, and can be shorter or longer depending on the situation.
My approach is based in a form of empathic communication called Nonviolent Communication (NVC), an international body of work proven over decades around the world to be powerfully effective and transformational. I have been doing conflict transformation and reconciliation work for over 20 years.
The mediation process focuses on first developing empathic understanding and connection, and then supporting people to work together towards creative possibilities to meet everyone's needs.
The approach also includes a restorative Reconciliation & Healing Process for unresolved emotional hurt and pain – broken trust and connection, ruptured relationship, perceived harm or damage – when this is the source of the conflict or an aspect of it.
Charles P
I highly recommend John Kinyon. In my session with him I had a wonderful healing and gained great relief. John gave me unconditional kindness and empathy. I gained compassion for my former spouse and the pain she suffered since childhood. I also gained compassion for myself, and I was able to become aware of my triggers and my part in the problems in our relationship. After the session, I felt like there had been chains holding me down, and now they were cut and I was free. That shift inside me led me to email my former spouse. She responded to me and we connected for the first time in 45 years! We had some resolution of our issues around our divorce many years ago. That resolution has affected our children and has brought relief and peace to the whole family.
Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D., creator of Nonviolent Communication
John Kinyon is one of our trainers of Nonviolent Communication and someone in whom I have a great deal of trust and confidence. John in my experience has a special gift for facilitating empathic understanding and communication between people. I highly endorse John's skills and abilities with Nonviolent Communication, and I strongly recommend him to anyone needing help resolving a conflict situation.
In addition to Mediation services,
I hold training programs that teach you how to navigate conflicts and difficult conversations in life.