Developing the craft of mediation: Reflections on theory and practice

Roberts, M. (2007). Developing the craft of mediation: Reflections on theory and practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Reviewed by Lynne Hornyak, PhD., Washington, D.C

Qualified as a barrister and social worker, author Marian Roberts practices as a family mediator at the South East London Family Mediation Bureau, one of the first family mediation services in the United Kingdom. She teaches Alternative Dispute Resolution for the graduate programs of the London School of Economics and Political Science, as well as the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.

Roberts contributes to the substantial literature on mediation by giving voice to an under-reported perspective: that of the mediators diemselves. She interviewed 16 leading mediators across diverse fields of practice, including family, elder, and victim-offender mediation, as well as commercial, workplace and international mediation. Roberts' aim was three-fold: to provide the mediators with a unique opportunity to reflect on their experience and understanding of their work, to put forward the reflections of seasoned practitioners so that their wisdom can contribute to more informed and effective practice, and to bridge communication across the diverse areas of mediation practice.

While the subject of mediation does not directly relate to the field of hypnosis, practitioners and other readers of this Journal may find Roberts' book of interest along two lines. First, the debates and challenges addressed in the mediation arena are parallel to those encountered in the field of hypnosis, and psychotherapy. Examples include matters pertaining to: (a) the practitioner-What are the pros/cons of different professional backgrounds? (b) the field-Is mediation/hypnosis a discrete, autonomous form of intervention? When is it the preferred method of intervention? (c) the role of theory-Is theory necessary for practice? How do theory and practice relate? and (d) the nature of practice-How do various approaches compare and contrast? What are the key benefits and limitations of various working models? Second, practitioners may find mediation to be an attractive arena for practice- with requisite and appropriate training, of course. The mediators surveyed were drawn to the field by their genuine interest in and concern for people, the desire to find a better way of addressing conflict, and a commitment to helping mediation participants to take ownership of the process and their decisions. Mediation also provided an avenue for their intellectual curiosity and professional innovation.

Developing the Craft of Mediation is organized into four sections. Within each section, Roberts articulates several key questions and/or areas of debate. She briefly analyzes the responses of the interviewees on each point, and then illustrates the analysis witii lengthier quotes from the mediators. These quotes are included in the body of the text, yet highlighted by gray watermark boxes so one can scan for the summaries and/or read individual quotes.

The first section pertains to the mediator, addressing motivations for entering this field of practice, personal qualities of mediators and tiieir attitudes toward conflict. The second section addresses the intervention itself, specifically the nature and purpose of mediation, principles of mediation, and the interrelationship of theory and practice. The practice of mediation is then covered in the third section, including practice styles and models, as well as problems of practice. Finally, Roberts concludes with a section on the craft of the mediator, which this reviewer found quite interesting. Particularly, the author addresses the questions: What does it mean to mediate well? How is mediation a craft?

What is truly appealing about this book is that Roberts has crafted an approach to the subject that is both professional and personal. As she frames the issues at the beginning of each chapter, she provides historical developments and factual information as necessary for background. Then the chapter unfolds with the practitioners' voices, reflecting on their practical experiences and the major concerns of the field at this point in time. This approach provides a rich depth and diversity of thought, what one would hope to gain in dialogue with learned mentors.

The one criticism that I have is that the content can seem repetitive. As Roberts attempts to analyze nuances within the arenas of practitioner, mediation as intervention, and theory and practice, the conclusions and summations begin to sound similar. In conclusion, Developing the Craft of Mediation is an interesting read for anyone curious about an inside view on the growing practice of mediation.

Reviewed by Lynne Hornyak, PhD., Washington, D.C.

Copyright American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Apr 2008
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