Family mediation course — training in Kazakhstan

The "Family Mediation" course focuses on one of the most sensitive and sought-after areas of a mediator's work. Family disputes are rarely just about money or property: behind them lie years of shared life, grievances, fears and, most often, children whose wellbeing depends on whether the adults can reach agreement. The programme helps you master approaches that enable the parties to arrive at practical arrangements and preserve their ability to work together in the future, above all as parents.

Who the course is for

The course is designed for professionals who work with families or plan to specialise in family disputes:

mediators who wish to deepen their expertise in family matters;
psychologists and family counsellors who need to master the structure of a procedure that leads to written arrangements;
lawyers handling cases on divorce, determining a child's place of residence, maintenance and division of property;
social care and education professionals who deal with the consequences of family conflicts.

Basic training in mediation is desirable. If you have none, check with the organiser whether you can take part, or start with the general mediation course.

Learning objectives and outcomes

On completing the course, you will be able to:

assess whether a family situation is suitable for mediation and recognise circumstances in which the procedure is unsafe or inadmissible;
structure the procedure with due regard to the parties' high emotional involvement;
help parents focus on the child's interests rather than on mutual grievances;
facilitate discussion of contact arrangements, the child's place of residence and each parent's involvement in the child's upbringing;
structure negotiations on the division of property and on maintenance;
draft agreements that are clear, specific and capable of being implemented.

Course programme

The family as a system. Stages of divorce and separation, typical emotional reactions, the impact of conflict on children. The mediator's role and how it differs from that of a psychotherapist or an advocate.
The legal context of family disputes. The key issues the parties resolve on separation and the significance of agreements reached in mediation. Working with the parties' lawyers.
Assessing the admissibility of mediation and the parties' safety. Signs of violence, coercion and significant power imbalance. Preliminary individual meetings. When a mediator must decline or terminate the procedure.
The child's interests and contact arrangements. How to help parents see the situation through the child's eyes. Developing a parenting plan: contact schedule, public holidays, school holidays, trips, means of communication, procedure for changing the arrangements.
Property and maintenance. Gathering and exchanging information, discussing options for division, taking account of real financial means, agreeing the amount and schedule of payments.
Working under high emotional strain. Techniques for reducing tension, separate meetings, dealing with guilt and resentment, maintaining the boundaries of the procedure.
The wider circle of participants. Grandparents, new partners, other relatives. When and how to involve them in the discussion.
Drafting the agreement. The structure of a final settlement agreement in a family dispute, reality-testing the arrangements, the procedure for review when circumstances change.

Teaching methods

The programme combines theoretical modules with intensive practice:

lectures and discussions on the psychology of family conflicts and their legal aspects;
case analysis covering a range of family situations: separation with young children, a dispute over one parent's relocation, conflict within the extended family;
role plays in which participants experience the positions of both the parties and the mediator;
simulation of the procedure, including preparation of a parenting plan;
supervision — analysis of difficult moments and of the mediator's own reactions.

Practical component

Participants conduct training family mediations based on scenarios drawn from typical situations. Separate exercises are devoted to the preliminary conversation with each party and safety assessment, as well as to moving from an emotional conversation to discussing specific issues. In the final stage of the practical work, participants prepare in pairs a draft parenting plan and final settlement agreement, after which the group reviews the wording for clarity and enforceability.

Working with family issues may touch on participants' personal experience, so confidentiality rules and respectful treatment of group members are observed in all sessions.

Assessment and certificate of completion

The final assessment is based on the results of practical assignments and a training procedure. Participants who complete the programme receive a certificate of completion. Please check the assessment procedure and the type of document with the course organiser.

Applying your knowledge after the course

After the course you will be able to take on family cases with greater confidence. Mark family mediation in your profile in the registry of mediators on the portal and add details of the training you have completed: clients often search for a specialist by type of dispute, city and language. If you are not yet a member of a mediator organisation, joining one will give you access to a professional community, peer exchange and supervision, which is especially valuable in emotionally demanding family practice.

Frequently asked questions

Can mediation be conducted if there has been violence in the family?

Such situations call for particular caution. The course examines in detail how to identify risks and in which cases the mediator must decline the procedure so as not to expose a party to danger.

Do children take part in the procedure?

As a rule, the arrangements are made by the adults. The course discusses how to take the child's views and interests into account without putting pressure on the child or drawing them into the parents' conflict.

Is the course suitable for a psychologist without legal training?

Yes. Legal issues are covered to the extent a mediator needs. Where a question requires legal advice, the mediator helps the parties refer it to their lawyers.

How long does the course last and how much does it cost?

Please check the duration and fees in the schedule and with the course organiser.

Can the course be taken online?

The format is determined by the organiser and stated when enrolment is announced.

How to enrol

Fill in the application form on this page or contact us through the portal's contacts section. Please state your profession and whether you have any mediation training. You will be informed of the upcoming dates, format and terms of participation.