The 40 Hour Mediation Certification Course for Everyone
Since 2002 The Neighborhood Mediation Center has offered the go to, week-long intensive, in-person class that so many people are talking about. Dawn Rafferty, Monica Kales, and their cadre of seasoned coaches will be delivering this class in collaboration with the University of Nevada, Reno, Extended Studies annualy. In March 2024 Dawn and Monica trained a new class of Mediators.
‘Mediation and Conflict Resolution Training’ for 2025 TBD
Mediation and Conflict Resolution Training: For Workplace, Home and Community Disputes
A 40 Hour Mediation Certification Course for Everyone
2025 course TBD, Reno Nevada
This course teaches you how to handle disagreements and conflicts in various situations. It’s helpful for work, home, and community interactions. Created by Extended Studies and the Neighborhood Mediation Center, this course is in-person, engaging, and practical, offering skills for resolving conflicts and managing difficult conversations.
People from all backgrounds can benefit from this course. It’s great for professionals and non-professionals alike. You'll learn how to conduct a mediation to help others work through tough conversations, manage disagreements, and solve problems.
This course satisfies the minimum requirements for entry into many mediation programs and rosters across the US, and includes CEUs from a variety of organizations.
The courses cover these topics:
• The steps of mediation
• How conflicts and negotiations work
• Understanding and controlling your own feelings
• Different ways to help in conflicts
• Mediation theories and how to use them
• Best ways to talk and listen
• How to be fair and follow ethical rules
"Very interactive and engaging, no death by power point."
"The interactions with the instructors and classmates, it was an unusually productive and close knit group."
"I thoroughly enjoyed the connection that was built among all participants during the course. The instructors were amazing and so skilled in their craft."
"I liked the interaction between the instructors and the class."
"Great content and instructors, and very interactive."
"The instructors knowledge, storytelling and structured approach to the subject matter. The talented and interesting participants enhanced the experience."
“Excellent instructors and useful content.”
“I would definitely recommend this course to everyone!!”
“I enjoyed the course I received valuable information and training. I was nervous at first but the instructors were so awesome they brought me right out of my shell.”
“We drove 1200 miles (16hrs) one way for this amazing training and with the content and the structure of the program I would gladly do it all over again! Great experience and very appreciative, was very sad to have to leave!”
"Very interactive and engaging, no death by power point." "The interactions with the instructors and classmates, it was an unusually productive and close knit group." "I thoroughly enjoyed the connection that was built among all participants during the course. The instructors were amazing and so skilled in their craft." "I liked the interaction between the instructors and the class." "Great content and instructors, and very interactive." "The instructors knowledge, storytelling and structured approach to the subject matter. The talented and interesting participants enhanced the experience." “Excellent instructors and useful content.” “I would definitely recommend this course to everyone!!” “I enjoyed the course I received valuable information and training. I was nervous at first but the instructors were so awesome they brought me right out of my shell.” “We drove 1200 miles (16hrs) one way for this amazing training and with the content and the structure of the program I would gladly do it all over again! Great experience and very appreciative, was very sad to have to leave!”
Approved CEUs:
• HRCI- 35 HR General
• SHRM- 35 PDCs
Submitted CEUs:
• State of NV Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists- 40 hours
• Judicial Council of CA- 35.5 hours toward initial 40-hour child custody mediator, recommending counselor, & directors training, 8 hours annual continuing education, and 24 hours additional directors training
• Board of Examiners for Social Workers-35.00 hours with 4.0 Ethics
• NV Board of CLE- 32.5 general credits, 3.5 ethics credits
About the Instructors
Monica L. Kales is a mediator and the former executive director of the nonproft Neighborhood Mediation Center (NMC) in Reno. She began as a NMC volunteer in 2009 and serving as program director from 2011 until becoming executive director in June 2017. She left the director position in June 2021 and continues as a volunteer mediator. She has completed advanced mediation, negotiation and facilitation trainings at Pepperdine’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution; Harvard Program on Negotiation; Center for Dispute Resolution, Santa Monica, California; The Center for Understanding in Confict, Mill Valley, California; American Management Association; UC Davis Extension; and the University of Nevada, Reno Extended Studies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business with a major in accounting from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Dawn Rafferty owns Rafferty Consulting LLC. She provides confict management coaching, mediation and facilitation services. Rafferty began mediating for the NMC in February 2016 and is currently the Court Mediation Program Director for NMC. She retired from the Nevada Department of Agriculture as a division administrator in 2015, and she is a certifed public manager. Rafferty completed her coaching training with the Co-Active Training Institute in San Rafael, California, and her mediation training at The New York Peace Institute in Brooklyn, New York. She is a certifed HeartMath™ coach and mentor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in conservation biology and a master’s degree in natural resources and environmental sciences, both from the University of Nevada, Reno.