Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Workshop

This multi-day workshop elevates your conflict resolution skills, equipping you with the tools to become a professional mediator. Available In-Person and Live Online.

Prerequisite: Alternative Dispute Resolution Workshop

Why Choose the Stitt Feld Handy Group

With over 30 years of experience, we know that those who connect knowledge, skill, and strategy shape the future. We’ve empowered over 60,000 professionals to excel in mediation, conflict resolution, negotiation, having difficult conversations, coaching, and customer service by equipping them with practical, real-world skills.

Our team of seasoned leaders combine real-world insight with tailored mentorship, helping you see the bigger picture and unlock your full potential. At Stitt Feld Handy Group, we don’t just teach skills, we make it possible for you to achieve meaningful impact.

Course Features

  • Smaller class sizes for personalized interaction with instructors, coaches and fellow participants
  • Gain essential skills through hands-on role plays with live, objective feedback from experienced coaches
  • Participate in six mediation role plays and one video
  • Build upon the skills you learned in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Workshop
  • Choose the learning format that works best for you: Instructor-Led Online or Live In-Person sessions
  • Apply real-world skills immediately to any situation
  • Enjoy a supportive environment at our in-person sessions with a continental breakfast, catered lunch, and refreshments throughout the day
  • Earn a Certificate of Completion from the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University
  • Take home a copy of the book Alternative Dispute Resolution For Organizations by Allan Stitt — a valuable resource for professional mediators

Why Take the Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Workshop

  • Mediate all kinds of disputes, from interpersonal conflicts to legal and financial issues
  • Identify underlying interests and promote problem solving
  • Improve the chance of success with structured mediation processes
  • Adapt the mediation model to fit the context
  • Manage challenging people effectively
  • Resolve workplace conflicts quickly to save on cost
  • Rebuild damaged relationships after conflict
  • Prevent disputes from escalating
  • Strengthen relationships between management and staff, both unionized or non-unionized
  • Save time and legal expenses by avoiding disputes, arbitrations, and court fees
  • Equip managerial staff with advanced conflict resolution skills
  • Implement a dispute resolution system that meets the needs of an organization

Upcoming Sessions

Graduates receive a certificate of completion from Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University.

 

The sessions will run from 8:30 – 4:30 (Eastern Time) daily.

Mar 4 – 7, 2025

Live Online

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Jun 10 – 13, 2025

Toronto, ON, Canada

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Oct 28 – 31, 2025

Live Online

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Very significantly reinforced the basic course and increased my level of confidence. My interest in this field has been enhanced by this training.
Gil Dares | General Manager | Mariners Centre | Yarmouth, NS, Canada
I have the same comment as I had after the ADR Workshop – I’ve never been stretched so far and I have never learned so much.
Tracy Lillie | Manager of Employee & Labour Relations | Durham Regional Police Service | Whitby, ON, Canada
I liked the opportunity to apply mediation principles and put knowledge into practice in a safe environment with constructive coaching and feedback. Role-plays and exercises allowed for practice, feedback and a greater understanding of how to apply the principles learned.
Mellissa A. Lezama | Group HR and Legal Manager | Exeqtech Limited | London, UK
I have never attended a workshop where I learned so much. This process is outstanding and the chance to practise was a very good learning tool.
Marilyn Keene | HR Manager | Samco Machinery Limited | Toronto, ON, Canada
Not attending this course would be detrimental to anyone’s career. Everyone can use this course information in any environment.
John Winsor | TD Bank Financial Group | Toronto, ON, Canada
Personal conflicts are common occurrences in my role, and helping to manage those is very helpful, even if I’m not always a mediator. The skills I learned through this virtual instructor-led workshop are hugely valuable.
Christopher Hoffman | Peel Elementary Teachers’ Local | Mississauga, ON, Canada
The chance to put the theory into practice and get feedback and learn from the performances of others is fantastic – provides a great learning environment and was effectively done through Zoom. Instructors were very effective in linking experiences to theory before and after the role plays.
Duane Schippers | Office of the Veterans Ombudsman | Ottawa, ON, Canada

Synopsis


Turn conflicts into opportunities for growth and resolution with the Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Workshop. Building on the skills developed in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Workshop, this course empowers you to take your mediation skills to the next level and mediate professionally within your organization.

Through this workshop, you’ll learn to facilitate discussions that resolve disputes, improve relationships, and encourage open communication. From handling complex cases like harassment and power imbalances to guiding positional participants toward agreement, you’ll gain the tools to plan and implement an organizational dispute resolution system that supports long-term success. These advanced facilitation skills can be applied in various contexts, from formal mediations to informal workplace discussions, giving you the versatility to lead with confidence and elevate your organization’s approach to conflict.

Syllabus


  • Address inflammatory behavior in high-stakes situations
  • Mediate harassment cases with professionalism
  • Manage emotionally-charged people
  • Balance power dynamics effectively
  • Foster positive communication in tense environments
  • Build stronger relationships

  • Transition from identifying interests to generating viable options
  • Address dishonesty in mediations
  • Ensure people adhere to their agreements
  • Mediate when people have different versions of the facts
  • Resolve distributive issues (fixed-pie situations) without ongoing relationships
  • Help parties bridge gaps and reach resolution
  • Support parties in crafting solid settlement agreements

  • Practice co-mediation for complex cases
  • Mediate legal disputes with confidence
  • Manage confidentiality concerns
  • Mediate when lawyers are present
  • Observe a professional mediator in action
  • Facilitate larger group discussions, like town halls and consultations

  • Encourage participation in ADR processes
  • Work with lawyers and difficult personalities
  • Mediate within the workplace for practical outcomes
  • Adapt the mediation model for various contexts

Lead Instructors


Elinor F. Whitmore
Vice President, B.A., LL.B., LL.M., C. Med
Jason Stitt
JD, B.A.
Justine Moritz
BSW, RSW, ECCM

Online vs. In Person


Learn your way. Whether online or in person, each option offers unique benefits. In-person provides a dynamic environment where you can interact directly with facilitators and fellow participants, while online training offers a highly engaging course from the convenience of your home.

 

Both our Online and In-person training offer:

  • Smaller class sizes for more interaction with facilitators
  • Breakout sessions for collaborative learning with peers
  • Access to videos and handouts for continued growth beyond the course
  • Live, coached feedback during role plays to refine your skills
  • Engaging, interactive sessions with real-world negotiation scenarios

Who Should Attend


The Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution workshop builds on the skills you acquired in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Workshop, and is designed for those who want to improve their dispute resolution skills, become mediators professionally or mediate within their company. Managers seeking new skills for managing their staff and stakeholders would also benefit, as would anyone leading a diverse team.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Workshop is a prerequisite for the Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Workshop.

Accreditations


This course has been pre-approved by the following organizations, among others.

Human Resource Professionals Association (HRPA)

This program has been approved for CPD hours under Section A of the CPD Log of the HRPA. Visit our accreditations page for details.

Law Society of Ontario

The Stitt Feld Handy Group has been approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the Law Society of Ontario. Visit our accreditations page for details.

HR Certification Institute

This workshop has been pre-approved toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).

SHRM Recertification Provider

This program is valid for PDCs for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. Visit our accreditations page for details.


A complete list can be found on our Accreditations page.

 

Mediating disputes

 

In-person learning

 

Live online learning

 

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