A practicum that takes you into the real divorce mediation room
Designed for mediators who already completed a basic mediation course and now want to work in real divorce mediation rooms – inside the international mediation practice Nishri Mediators, with the founder of the New Partnership method, Nadav Nishri. Understand the real pace of divorce mediation, the emotional intensity and the legal reality.
This course usually opens once a year with limited places. It is intended for participants who have already completed a basic mediation course.
At the moment, non-Hebrew speaking participants can access the content through recorded course units with subtitles or voice-over in their language. In the future, we plan to open intensive in-person courses and practical workshops outside Israel. Once dates and locations are confirmed, they will be announced on the website and by email to interested participants.
What is the Practicum in Divorce Mediation?
In a basic mediation course, we learn language, structure and fundamental principles. In the practicum in divorce mediation, we look at what really happens in the room: when two parents sit on opposite sides of the table, emotions are high, financial pressure is strong, and the children are in the middle – how does the mediator stay clear and stable?
The course is based on the New Partnership mediation method : a working model that looks simultaneously at emotions, parental cooperation, property and the legal framework. From the first consultation all the way to submitting the agreement to the court and receiving legal validity – we break down the goals, risks and decision points at each stage.
What makes this course unique?
- Focus on divorce mediation, seeing the entire process from the perspective of both parents and children – not just “signing an agreement”.
- Systematic learning of the New Partnership method: future-oriented dialogue, parental cooperation and legal structures that are realistic and implementable.
- Real cases at the center – including anonymized case analyses and, for suitable participants, observation of live divorce mediations.
- Group reflection and professional supervision: discussing anger, feelings of betrayal, mistrust and situations where children are drawn into conflict.
- Working from the mediator’s professional identity while collaborating with lawyers, therapists and the court system.
- Building a solid practical foundation for independent work in the field of family and divorce mediation.
Course structure: from theory to the real mediation room
1. Theory deepening: from “knowing” to “seeing the whole picture”
In this part we build on the basics of mediation: what does a crisis look like in the context of divorce? What typical reactions do parents go through at different stages? How do we translate the legal framework (parental responsibility, time arrangements, child support, division of property, etc.) into language that ordinary people can understand?
We connect this to our experience in family mediation, and discuss how to transform attacking communication into joint planning of the future, and how cultural and religious backgrounds can make some topics more sensitive.
2. Practice and observation: close to the real divorce mediation room
For suitable participants, the course includes opportunities to observe real divorce mediations (subject to the parties’ consent and strict confidentiality), as well as detailed analysis of these sessions. Step by step we examine:
- How to build safety and trust in the first session.
- How to work when one side wants to divorce and the other wants to stay together.
- How to talk about money, children and future partners without escalating the conflict.
- What to do when the conversation gets stuck – how to pause, reorganize the dialogue and move forward.
Who is this practicum for?
- Mediators who completed a basic mediation course and now want to move into hands-on work in divorce mediation.
- Therapists, counsellors and social workers who frequently encounter separation and divorce in their work with couples and families.
- Lawyers working in family law or cross-border family cases who want to understand divorce from a mediation perspective.
- Professionals planning to offer divorce mediation services in international or multicultural environments.
Starting dates and fees (example structure, subject to updates)
Starting dates
The practicum usually runs once a year. Exact dates are published on the Mediation School page and the contact page.
Course components and fees
To help participants plan ahead, we typically divide the practicum into two main parts:
Theory and skills deepening module: focused on the full application of the New Partnership method in divorce cases.
Practice, observation and reflection module: observation of real cases, group discussions and professional supervision.
Exact tuition and payment options are discussed during the initial conversation with the team.
Places and registration
To ensure enough personal attention and depth of discussion, the practicum is limited in size. We recommend scheduling an initial consultation in advance to confirm availability and mutual suitability.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need basic mediation training in order to join?
Yes. This practicum assumes that you already know the core concepts and tools of mediation.
Its goal is to help you use those tools in real-life divorce and family cases.
Does every participant get to observe real mediations?
Observation of live cases depends on the parties’ consent, the nature of the case and
the participant’s readiness. We do our best to offer observation opportunities to suitable
participants and supplement this with case analyses and simulations.
Is the practicum only relevant for mediators working in Israel?
Not necessarily. The practicum is based on the core principles of the New Partnership method,
combined with our experience in
international and cross-border mediation.
These principles are relevant in many legal systems and cultural contexts.
Which language is the practicum delivered in?
This page describes the English version.
Currently, most of the content is available through
recorded course units with subtitles or voice-over.
As in-person courses outside Israel open, we will gradually add live and blended-learning formats.
When contacting us, please indicate your language and location needs.
Explore more with Nishri Mediators
Learn more about our mediation practice, training programs and resources:
From “knowing a bit about mediation” to “leading real divorce mediations”
If you already studied basic mediation and want to confidently guide parents through the entire divorce process, this practicum in divorce mediation is the next step between theory and real practice.
Schedule an initial consultation with our team