Divorce Mediation Training Professional Development Program

Divorce Mediation has become an increasingly respected and proven means for helping couples work through difficult decisions amicably in order for them to move ahead with a divorce.

This intensive five-day course provides students with the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to assist couples who are separated or divorcing in reaching an agreement on issues such as child custody and parenting plans, asset and debt distribution and alimony and child support. Divorce mediation training prepares students to fulfill an important role in family law under the tutelage of experts in the field. Guest lecturers have included a Domestic Relations judge, a divorce Financial Planner, and a court-annexed Mediation Administrator.

This program has been approved by the Association for Conflict Resolution - Family Section and is accepted by local courts for family mediation rosters.

Program Audience

The program is designed for people interested in a professional mediation career, or for those interested in the specific skill-set of a divorce mediator.

Learning Goals

Program courses deal with the following subjects:

• Strategic mediation skills to help couples make decisions
• The court perspective on divorce, alimony, and property division
• How emotions and decisions affect the couple and children in a separation and divorce
• Effective techniques to deal with an impasse
• How to recognize and deal with power imbalances
• Ethical concerns of the mediator
• Substantive knowledge that a mediator must know in order to effectively mediate separation and divorce issues
• Divorce mediation opportunities in Illinois and how to start building a practice

Students who successfully complete this 40-hour program will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from Northwestern University's School of Continuing Studies.

This program is co-sponsored by the Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association. The IMHCA is licensed by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation to provide 40 CE's for LSWs, LCSWs, LPCs, LCPCs, and LMFTs.

This program may also be used to satisfy the State of Illinois's twenty- and thirty-hour CLE requirements and also fulfills three hours of the four-hour professionalism requirement.

Students who have acquired the basic skill set of a divorce mediator may be interested in attending The Art and Science of Advanced Family Mediation Issues. This five-day program delves more deeply into issues and situations that family mediators commonly confront, including navigating the financial aspects of divorce, negotiating parenting plans, and resolving property and maintenance issues. Students who attend all five days of the program can receive a certificate in Advanced Family Mediation Issues from Northwestern University.

For other programs at Northwestern regarding mediation, interested students can acquire a non-credit certificate in Mediation Skills, or attend the Summer Institute in Negotiation workshop.

Custom Programs

The School of Continuing Studies works with corporate partners to develop custom Divorce Mediation programs to meet their specific needs. This program can be held at your company location.

Northwestern Excellence

• Northwestern University is a preeminent university recognized internationally as a hallmark of academic excellence.
• School of Continuing Studies programs provide students with exceptional opportunities for intellectual, professional and personal growth.
• SCS instructors bring outstanding academic credentials and relevant professional experience to the classroom to create a highly interactive, collaborative, and challenging learning environment.
• SCS students study with peers who have rich, diverse backgrounds and can provide lifelong learning connections.

Course Information

Registration information and detailed course descriptions can be found on the Divorce Mediation Training course listings page. Note: Courses, prices and schedules are subject to change.

Divorce Mediation courses are offered at our convenient Loop location. Maps to all SCS campuses are available.