The Mediator's Approach: Five (and a Half) Paths Through Conflict

Mediation - a world where conflict leads to honest communication, healed wounds, and win-win solutions. Or is it? That depends on what you mean by mediation! If you’re confused by the conflict resolution process known as mediation, and all its many meanings, look no further. In The Mediator’s Approach: Five (and a Half) Paths Through Conflict, winner of the 2022 Dorothy Della Noce Writing Prize, you will learn the theory, goals, and practices of five (and a half) of the main approaches practiced by mediators today:

• Evaluative (the approach and a half) • Facilitative • Transformative • Understanding-Based • Narrative

This book is essential for mediators and other professionals who serve people in conflict (e.g., lawyers, therapists, hairdressers, and bartenders). It will also prove invaluable if you are considering hiring a mediator to help you with your own dispute. By the end of the book, you will be well prepared to navigate the world of mediation, and may even learn a thing or two about resolving your own conflicts!

PRAISE FROM MEDIATION STUDENTS

Dr. Neil Katz (Nova Southeastern University, Maxwell School of Syracuse University) has been assigning The Mediator’s Approach to his graduate-level mediation students since the Spring of 2022. Here’s a sample of what his students had to say:

“This really is a fabulous little book. I really enjoyed reading it – I initially got the Kindle version, but I have subsequently ordered an actual version so I can refer to it more easily and share with others. I almost wish I had read it before taking the course, and again at the conclusion.”

“Tara West’s book puts what were to me initially intimidating topics in a very relatable and easily digestible format. It helped me to process at a high level the various techniques and strategies mediators take in the various approaches that we studied throughout the semester.”

© 2025 Tara West (Audiobook): 9798318461293

Release date

Audiobook: July 1, 2025