Fresh Start Resources
Courses & Workshops
Relationships
Course 1 - Conflict resolution techniques:for Partnerships
Conflict is healthy. Fighting, arguing, disagreeing are all healthy and natural ways to establish boundaries, grow, express oneself and be in a relationship.
How we learned to deal with conflict as children taught us valuable lessons about interacting with others. If the resolution of the conflict is about winning and losing, then seeking conflict can become a tool to gain something, and avoiding conflict is a way of not losing something. From a relationship point of view, learning these lessons in childhood influences future relationships negatively because relationships are about cooperation. A different lesson that we could learn is how to resolve conflict in a way that repairs relationships, teaches empathy and maintains dignity.
Each section of the course breaks down into three parts: helping you reflect, identifying an insight, and giving some practice suggestion for you and your partner. The good news is that only one of you needs to know how to manage conflict. Because we have a tendency to mirror each other’s behaviour, your partner will follow if you lead.
7 lessons of understanding
- Lesson 1: Avoiding destructive arguments
- Lesson 2: Managing emotions
- Lesson 3: What are needs?
- Lesson 4: Non-violent language
- Lesson 5: Listening with intent
- Lesson 6: The apology
- Lesson 7: Reconciliation
Course Options
Option 1: Self guided
This self study option allows you to work at your own pace with each lesson accessible with a guide you can download. Once you complete one lesson, you will receive the next.
Video and weekly webinar support will be available.
FREE (Normally $49/Lesson)
Option 2: Guided
This guided option will be with a trained mediator helping you along the way. You will receive the full guide with all 7 lessons, a one-on-one in-person or webinar session, followed by a private 1-hour mediation session for you and your partner to discuss the impacts.
This intensive session also includes email, text & phone support.
$249 (Normally $499)
Course 2 - Helping children resolve disputes
What do you do if there is a fight on the playground? As a father and grandfather I have witnessed my share of disagreements; and as a mediator and restorative justice counsellor, I ought to have some tools in my toolbox to manage such a situation.
Conflict is normal. Fighting, arguing, disagreeing are all healthy and normal ways to expand boundaries, grow, express oneself and learn about relationships. Instead of preventing conflict from occurring, celebrate the fact that your child is developing confidence even when the moment chosen by your child is not the best one.
How conflict is resolved teaches important lessons about interacting with others. If the resolution of the conflict is about winning and losing, then a) conflict can become a tool to get something and b) to avoid conflict is a way of avoiding losing something. From a relationship point of view, learning these lessons early as a child influences future relationships in a negative way. A different lesson that we can teach as parents is how to resolve conflict in a way that repairs relationships, teaches empathy and maintains dignity.
3 Lessons of understanding
- Lesson 1: Establishing a joint story
- Lesson 2: Exploring the impact
- Lesson 3: Repairing the relationship
Course Options
Option 1: Self guided
This self study option allows you to work at your own pace with each lesson accessible with a guide you can download. Once you complete one lesson, you will receive the next.
Video and weekly webinar support will be available.
FREE (Normally $49/Lesson)
Workplace
Leading difficult conversations
Sometimes a person, a situation, or an issue really drives you crazy. Often, the only way forward is to face the issue head on by having a conversation about it with those involved. While that may sound simple, the situations are often emotionally charged, and people tend to avoid these conversations at all costs. Generally, issues that require these conversations don’t rise to the levels of a conflict and aren’t considered performance issues, making it even harder for those involved to know how they should move forward.
Leading challenging conversations is about facing your discomfort and dedicating yourself to the conversation that needs to happen. You’ll learn to identify issues that require a conversation and to self-check whether you are the correct person to have the conversation. Once you’ve identified a conversation, you’ll follow a process that helps you create a plan, conduct the conversation, and follow up.
7 Lessons
- Lesson 1: Identify and prepare
- Lesson 2: The 'ladder of inference'
- Lesson 3: Goals and interests
- Lesson 4: Structuring your conversation
- Lesson 5: Practicing your plan
- Lesson 6: Managing reactions
- Lesson 7: Determining next steps
Course Options
Option 1: For Managers
The ‘For Managers’ option allows you to understand how to help your staff deal with conflict. By helping your team ‘mirror’ your approach, you can have a team ready and productive to meet your corporate goals!
Certification available.
$999 (Normally $1,499)
Option 2: For Staff
The ‘For Staff’ option includes a team presentation and individual one-on-one sessions providing the entire team with the necessary communication skills to be effective in conflict resolution in the workplace and at home.
Certification Available
Pricing based on # of Staff Contact us for a quote
Custom Courses
Listening to what you need is of utmost importance to us. By understanding what conflicts your business is facing we can cater a plan specifically for you that increases productivity and profitability.
We want your business to thrive, and we have the plan to give you the tools to have the confidence to manage any conflict in the future, whether it be with staff, management or client relationships.
From conflict management workshops and workplace mediations, to internal review, assessment and implementation of outcomes, our custom packages are curated to your company’s unique needs.
We also offer ongoing training and support for your entire team, with certification available for advanced training.
The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is available to help!
Customized to meet your needs
- Step 1 - Understanding your business
- Step 2 - Conflict management workshops
- Step 3 - Workplace mediations
- Step 4 - Internal review & assessments
- Step 5 - implementation & support
- Step 6 - Training & Maintenance
Course Options
All Options
Discussing and designing the right program for you and your team with our trained team of mediators, negotiators and assessors, help create the best environment for your team to flourish. Whether the issues are due to relationships, tasks or processes, we can help identify, diagnose and implement the strategies you need for success.
Certification available.
Contact us for a quote
School
Leading difficult conversations
Sometimes a person, a situation, or an issue really drives you crazy. Often, the only way forward is to face the issue head on by having a conversation about it with those involved. While that may sound simple, the situations are often emotionally charged, and people tend to avoid these conversations at all costs. Generally, issues that require these conversations don’t rise to the levels of a conflict and aren’t considered performance issues, making it even harder for those involved to know how they should move forward.
Leading challenging conversations is about facing your discomfort and dedicating yourself to the conversation that needs to happen. You’ll learn to identify issues that require a conversation and to self-check whether you are the correct person to have the conversation. Once you’ve identified a conversation, you’ll follow a process that helps you create a plan, conduct the conversation, and follow up.
7 Lessons
- Lesson 1: Identify and prepare
- Lesson 2: The 'ladder of inference'
- Lesson 3: Goals and interests
- Lesson 4: Structuring your conversation
- Lesson 5: Practicing your plan
- Lesson 6: Managing reactions
- Lesson 7: Determining next steps
Course Options
Option 1: For Students
Navigating conflict at any age is difficult, but especially so at school. Between the expectation of parents, teachers and their very own peers, students of any age can often have a difficult time navigating the complexities of mature communication skills and conflict management. We can help! We work with charitable organizations to ensure this is delivered at no cost to your students!
FREE (Always!!!)
Downloadable Guides
A fresh start guide: Parenting Guide
A Parenting Plan is a written agreement made by parents who are in the process of separating or divorcing over how to co-parent their children during and after the breakup. This guide helps you plan.
A fresh start guide: Your Family & Covid-19
We know that these sudden changes can be overwhelming. Being able to plan and prepare accordingly, will help alleviate some of the stress your family could be experiencing.
A fresh start guide: Leading Difficult Conversations
Download Guide
A fresh start Infographic: Leading Difficult Conversations
Download GuideSometimes a person, a situation, or an issue really drives you crazy. Often, the only way forward is to face the issue head on by having a conversation about it with those involved.