New Ways for Mediation® in Ottawa
Two days in person with Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. at Saint Paul University. Learn a structured, proposal-focused method for mediating the high-conflict disputes that derail traditional mediation, with presentation, practice exercises, and discussion.
Held the same week as the 2027 CIDR Annual Symposium at Saint Paul University (May 10–11), where Bill gives the opening keynote.
US $897 $997
Early-bird rate through March 1, 2027 (payment plan available)
US $997 after March 1
Limited seats · discounts for non-profits, government, military, groups, and HCI alumni · Training details
- Dates
- Wednesday & Thursday
May 12–13, 2027 - Location
- Saint Paul University
Ottawa, Ontario - Format
- In person
12 hours over 2 days - Instructor
- Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq.
in the room both days
Traditional mediation doesn't work on high-conflict cases.
Standard interest-based mediation depends on parties who can self-regulate, hear each other, and let go of the past long enough to problem-solve. High-conflict cases break that model. Parties stay locked in extreme demands, rigid positions, venting, and re-litigation of grievances — and the mediator absorbs the stress of trying to drag them somewhere they can't go. New Ways for Mediation flips the structure: a reverse interest-based, proposal-focused method that keeps parties on problem-solving and off self-defeating behaviors, while letting you let go of feeling responsible for the outcome.
Two days. One method for your hardest cases.
Training description
High-conflict disputes are different. They often involve one or more individuals with a pattern of high-conflict behavior, characterized by all-or-nothing thinking, unmanaged emotions, extreme behavior, and a preoccupation with blaming others. In this 12-hour training, Bill Eddy provides a foundational overview of five high-conflict personality disorders and practical approaches for managing high-conflict individuals. He then presents his New Ways for Mediation® method, which includes several paradigm shifts from ordinary mediation by not relying on insight, expression of emotions, or discussions of the past.
Instead, this method focuses on teaching clients four simple skills to use within a clear structure that keeps them focused on problem-solving solutions and away from venting, reworking the past, extreme demands, rigid positions, and other self-defeating behaviors. The skills for mediators are also simple and less stressful, so mediators serve primarily as a guide and source of information throughout the process. Some or all of the tips and tools of this method can be used with any mediation. Mr. Eddy has been developing and teaching this method over the past twelve years to mediators, lawyers, and counselors throughout the United States and Canada, including a two-day training for more than one hundred Family Court Services counselors in California in 2020.
This training includes PowerPoint presentations, video clips, role-play practice exercises, and the opportunity to ask questions and discuss difficult situations throughout.
Learning objectives
- Identify the conflict dynamics of five types of high-conflict personalities.
- Apply brain science to managing high-conflict people with empathy, attention, and respect.
- Reduce resistance to positive problem-solving with a 2-step mediator method.
- Provide a structured mediation approach designed for high-conflict personalities.
- Teach parties to make their agenda with the mediator’s assistance, and to change their agenda by agreement as needed throughout the process.
- Teach parties a 3-step method for making proposals, asking questions respectfully, and thoughtfully giving a response.
- Educate high-conflict parties about choices and consequences in making their decisions.
- Assist high-conflict clients and lawyers in addressing ambivalence about final agreements.
CARS® Method
The HCI framework: Connecting with empathy, Analyzing options including proposals, Responding to misinformation, Setting limits.
EAR Statements™
Three-second verbal moves that calm an upset party — Empathy, Attention, Respect.
4-3-4 Structure
4 client skills, 3 mediator skills, and 4 clear stages.
4 Big Skills™
The core skills parties learn during the mediation: Flexible Thinking, Managed Emotions, Moderate Behaviors, Checking Yourself.
Learn it in the room, practice it together.
Bill teaches the full New Ways for Mediation® method over two days, about six hours each day. Expect a mix of presentation, live practice exercises with real high-conflict scenarios, and open discussion of the cases you bring with you.
- 12-hour training taught in person by Bill Eddy over two days, May 12 and 13, 2027 (including scheduled breaks)
- Electronic version of the training materials, sent to you in advance by email
- Coffee and pastries included
- Practice exercises with real high-conflict mediation scenarios
- Provider Network membership and a listing in the HCI Provider Directory
- Certificate of Completion issued by High Conflict Institute, plus email support
- Bonus on-demand access to a 3-hour New Ways for Mediation demonstration video and the 1-hour New Ways for Families® Pre-Mediation Coaching training
- Book signing and a participant discount on Bill's books at the training
- Guigues Hall, Saint Paul University, 223 Main Street, Ottawa. Lunch on your own, with plenty of options nearby
All mediators.
Workplace, family, civil, and community mediators, new or experienced, and the professionals who work alongside them.
Mediators
Advanced mediator training for family, civil, workplace, and community mediators handling high-conflict cases that drain you most.
Attorneys
Family law, civil litigation, and dispute resolution attorneys moving clients toward settlement.
Judges
Trial judges and judicial officers presiding over high-conflict matters.
Counselors & Therapists
Clinicians supporting clients in mediation and settlement processes.
Tribunal Members
Administrative tribunals, ombuds, and dispute panels in high-conflict environments.
Dispute Resolvers
Anyone helping parties reach agreement in legally or emotionally complex situations.
Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq.
Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. is a globally recognized expert on high-conflict behavior and the co-founder and Director of Innovation of the High Conflict Institute. With more than 40 years of experience as a family law attorney, licensed clinical social worker, and mediator — including 15 years as Senior Family Mediator at the National Conflict Resolution Center in San Diego — he has spent his career resolving the cases that ordinary mediation often cannot.
Drawing on that extensive hands-on experience, Bill created the New Ways for Mediation® method specifically for high-conflict cases. The structured, proposal-focused approach helps mediators keep sessions on track and reach better outcomes when traditional techniques fail.
He is a pioneer of High Conflict Personality Theory and has trained mediators, lawyers, judges, and mental health professionals in 35 states and 13 countries. Bill has served on the faculty of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law and held an academic appointment at the University of Newcastle Law School in Australia.
He is the author of more than 25 books, including Mediating High-Conflict Disputes (co-authored with Michael Lomax, JD), SWYP: So, What’s Your Proposal? Turn Conflicts Into Agreements in 3 Steps, BIFF Series, Calming Upset People with EAR, and 5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life. He co-hosts the podcast It’s All Your Fault with Megan Hunter and writes a widely read Psychology Today blog with millions of views.
What mediators say about New Ways for Mediation.
New Ways for Mediation made a lasting impression on me. I've found myself reflecting on it frequently since — particularly the underlying tone of delivery of the training and the compassion for high conflict people were things that really inspired me. It makes me want to delve even more deeply into the many resources the High Conflict Institute has available.
I found the New Ways for Mediation training extremely valuable in my work as an external workplace mediator, investigator, coach and conflict trainer. The self-directed portion was a convenient way to receive the foundational material while having time to digest and process information ahead of time. The livestream classes brought the foundational concepts together with the opportunity to practice them through role plays and interacting with Bill Eddy and other course participants.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same training as the online New Ways for Mediation?
Yes. It teaches the same New Ways for Mediation® method and leads to the same Certificate of Completion. The difference is the format: two full days in the room with Bill Eddy and your fellow participants, with presentation, practice exercises, and discussion.
Where can I see the description and learning objectives?
Both are on this page. Open the training description or jump to the learning objectives.
How much does it cost?
US $897 early-bird rate through March 1, 2027 (payment plan available). The regular rate is US $997 after March 1. Seats are limited, so register early. Discounts are available for non-profit, government, and military organizations, for groups, and for HCI alumni (anyone who has taken an HCI training). Email newways@highconflictinstitute.com to ask.
What time does each day start and end?
Each day is six hours of training, including scheduled breaks. Exact start and end times (Eastern Time) will be confirmed with registrants by email before the training.
Is lunch provided?
Coffee and pastries are included. Lunch is on your own, and there are plenty of restaurants and quick options close to campus.
Are there required materials?
An electronic version of the training materials is emailed to you in advance. We also highly recommend the accompanying book, Mediating High-Conflict Disputes: A Breakthrough Approach by Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. and Michael Lomax, JD. Bill will have copies at the training at a participant discount, and it is available on Amazon in Canada, the U.S., and other countries.
Is there a book signing?
Yes. Bill will sign copies of his new book, SWYP: So, What's Your Proposal? Turn Conflicts Into Agreements in 3 Steps. He will also have Mediating High-Conflict Disputes and a few of his other top books on hand, and training participants receive a discount.
Can't make it to Ottawa?
The online New Ways for Mediation® training runs twice a year on Zoom. See the online training and upcoming dates.
What happens after I register?
You get immediate access to an online library with the training information and practical details for the in-person days, plus bonus on-demand access to a 3-hour New Ways for Mediation demonstration video and the 1-hour New Ways for Families® Pre-Mediation Coaching training. Your Certificate of Completion is emailed after the training.
Can my organization send a group?
Yes. Email newways@highconflictinstitute.com about group registration. If you want a private training just for your team, request a custom proposal.
Join Bill Eddy in Ottawa.
Seats are limited for this one-time in-person training. Reserve yours at the early-bird rate of US $897 through March 1, 2027 (payment plan available). US $997 after March 1.