Tag: mediation

SMU Dispute Resolution students win national mediation competition

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News and Events

Originally Posted: April 4, 2016

mediationcompetitionwebSMU Dispute Resolution students won every award category during the 5th Annual Graduate Program Mediation Competition hosted by SMU’s Center for Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management, April 1-2, in Plano.

Eight student teams from four schools participated in four rounds of mediations over two days, acting as mediators, clients and advocates. After the final round, student scores were combined to determine individual and team awards.

They are as follows:

First Place Team: Dana Garnett, Nate Owens, and Yanina Vashchenko
Second Place Team: Samreen Hooda, Kimberly Wise, and Anjana Vellingiri
First Place Mediator: Dana Garnett
Second Place Mediator: Anjana Vellingiri
First Place Client Advocate: David Russell
Second Place Client Advocate: Elizabeth Blake

This year, the competing schools included Champlain College, Kennesaw State University, Brandeis University and SMU.

SMU’s teams were coached by Dr. Betty Gilmore, Tom Hartsell and Angela Mitakidis.

 

 

Seven ways to defuse family conflicts – Holiday advice from a professional mediator

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SMU News

Originally Posted: December 8, 2015

angela-mitakidiswebAs a lawyer, mediator, SMU faculty member and manager of SMU-in-Plano’s Conflict Resolution Center, Angela Mitakidis has helped people resolve conflicts all over the world. She finds the techniques she uses to resolve disputes in international court referred cases are just as effective around the holiday dining table.

Here are her tips for resolving family conflicts:

Extend grace Remember the holidays are not happy for everyone. For some they are a reminder of loss or sadness. Give the benefit of the doubt and extend grace and mercy, despite an unpleasant comment or negativity.

Respond, don’t react Reacting is the knee-jerk defense to an attack. Instead, respond with a kind act like, “May I get you a refill?” The best way to disarm a caustic attack is with a kind gesture.

Focus on the good things Diverting the focus from an unpleasant discussion to the common joy, fun and gratitude that comes with the holidays can help to de-escalate heightened emotions in conflict.

Validate Validate a person’s emotions. For example, “It sounds like that situation hurt you a lot.” Whether an emotion is justified or not, that person is experiencing that emotion at that moment. By making them feel heard and not judged, the person relaxes and the escalation of conflict is curtailed.

Common Need Everyone shares the common need to feel loved, cared for, valued and wanted, even the person who seems set on upsetting everyone. Instead of alienating that person, include him or her in a lighthearted holiday activity, like handing out gifts. Make them feel included and they’ll soon forget their complaints.

Laugh It’s hard to stay angry around lighthearted people. Plan fun things in advance, like watching a funny video or playing a game that gets everyone giggling. Humor is good for the soul.

Forgive When all is said and done, and a relative still manages to inflict that verbal jab, forgive and let it go. Forgiveness has many benefits, including a sense of release, relief and freedom for the forgiver.

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