Conflict Resolution for the Helping Professions: Negotiation, Mediation, Advocacy, Facilitation, and Restorative Justice

When people think of conflict, they often think of fights, wars, arguments, hot tempers, and hurtful consequences. Conflict Resolution for the Helping Professions provides helping professionals with the theory, strategies, and skills they need to deal with conflict in a manner that is respectful, collaborative, and constructive. This text illustrates how helping professionals can incorporate evidence-based models of conflict resolution to work more effectively and enjoyably with clients, coworkers, supervisors, and others. Practitioners will learn how to respond effectively when others use power, positions, and competition. Whereas many conflict resolution texts focus on one method or approach to practice, this textbook provides practitioners with various models that they can incorporate in their roles as negotiators, counselors, mediators, facilitators, advocates, and peacebuilders. Special features of this book include: · Case illustrations that connect theory to practice in fields such as criminal justice, family disputes, health, mental health, education, and public policy. · Role-play exercises that provide opportunities to link self-awareness. · Step-by-step guides to implementing various approaches to negotiation, mediation, and advocacy. · New and emerging forms of conflict resolution, including online dispute resolution, conflict coaching, and parenting coordination. · Preparation tools that allow practitioners to assess conflict situations and determine the best strategies and approaches for managing conflict. · Strategies for enhancing mindfulness, enabling practitioners to respond to conflict in a deliberate, kind, nonjudgmental, peaceful, assertive, and effective manner.

About the Author

Allan Edward Barsky, PhD, JD, MSW, is Professor of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Barsky currently teaches conflict resolution at the Florida Atlantic University School of Social Work. He has presented his work in conferences and trainings in the United Kingdom, Israel, Finland, Canada, Netherlands, and across the United States. Dr. Barsky served on the national board of Family Mediation Canada and has chaired the National Ethics Committee of the National Association of Social Workers. Dr. Barsky is a certified family mediator with the Supreme Court of Florida and has extensive experience advocating for many social justice issues.