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Family Mediation Certificate Courses
Learn how to effectively mediate family disputes, separations, child custody issues, and divorces. Develop practical skills in conflict resolution, facilitation, and managing complex family dynamics.
Accredited by the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM), ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC), ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) and meets requirements for Family Mediation Canada (FMC).
Family Mediation Certificate Overview
Given the high rates of separation and divorce in Canada, the practice of family mediation has become an integral resource to settle family disputes – without costly legal fees.
The Family Mediation Certificate equips students with the necessary theory and skills to mediate a wide range of family disputes.
The online format makes it easy to attend lectures and complete assignments around your schedule.
In this training, you will learn:
- The elements and stages of the family mediation process
- The fundamentals of family law related to mediation
- How to screen parties for abuse, power imbalances, or violence, and ensure they are appropriate candidates for mediation
- Practical techniques for managing emotions and facilitating discussion
- The physical, cognitive, social, and emotional impact of separation and divorce on children and parents
- How to reinforce positive reciprocal relationships through the practice of mediation
- Ethical principles and codes of conduct for family mediators
- How to draft a Memorandum of Understanding and a Separation Agreement
Role–Play and Family Mediation Simulations
The Family Mediation Certificate includes over 18 hours of mandatory role-play in accordance with OAFM requirements. All students will participate in:
- Simulations of family mediations, conducted via video conference with the instructor and fellow classmates
- Role-plays on how to screen candidates for family mediation
Become an Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM)
- The certificate is accredited by the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM)
- Training meets the five approved courses required for the Accredited Family Mediator designation (AccFM)
Please note there are additional requirements to become an Accredited Family Mediator – click for a complete list.
Achieve your Cert.FRM Certification
- The certificate fulfills meets 64.5 of the required hours needed to pursue a Cert.FRM designation through Family Mediation Canada (FMC).
Please note there are additional requirements to achieve your Cert.FRM designation – click for a complete list
Specialized Mediation Training
The Advanced Family Mediation class is accredited by ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) and ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) and fulfills 21 hours of the specialized mediation and related training education requirement for the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation (40 total are required).
Please note there are additional requirements to become a Qualified Mediator – click for a complete list.
Family Mediation Career Paths
Family mediation can be used to settle a wide variety of disputes. Areas of practice and specialization include:
- Divorce
- Separation
- Division of property
- Child custody
- Parenting and decision-making
- Support payments
- Elder mediation
Accredited family mediators can work independently or join a mediation practice.
Course Schedule and Format
Instructor-Led Format
(Synchronous Components)
Instructor-led courses follow a set class schedule with a dedicated instructor and classmates. Students can work on assignments and readings when it works best for their schedule. The instructor posts in the discussion forum and hosts live online lectures (via conference and/or video call). Students can use those opportunities to discuss assignments, industry topics, etc. with their instructor and peers.
The instructor-led format offers increased engagement and opportunity for discussions, and requires students to complete assignments and participate in live lectures on a regular basis.
Note: This instructor-led course requires mandatory (graded) participation in role-play and mock mediation scenarios.
The following courses include mandatory live lecture / role-play times via video conference call with the instructor and fellow classmates, in order to meet training requirements outlined by OAFM.
Live Session Schedule
Live sessions take place via video conference call every Tuesday from 6:30 PM EST to between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM EST (times vary depending on course subject) and Wednesday from 6:30 PM EST to between 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM EST. Please note these times and days are subject to change with notice. In the event a student misses a mandatory session, alternative arrangements may be made available. Contact admissions for the upcoming dates based on your desired start date.
Family Mediation
Week 1-4: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM EST, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (mandatory)
Advanced Family Mediation
Week 1 and 2: Tuesdays 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM EST (recommended), Wednesdays 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM EST (mandatory)
Family Law
Week 1 and 2: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM EST, Tuesdays (recommended) and Wednesdays (mandatory)
Family Relations
Week 1 and 2: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM EST , Tuesdays (recommended) and Wednesdays (mandatory)
Screening for Family Violence, Abuse & Power Balances
Week 1 and 2: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM EST, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (mandatory)
*Live session times are subject to change with notice.
(4 weeks, 40 hours)
Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), which spans facilitation, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, adjudication, and litigation. Participants in this course will explore the history and goals of mediation, and the elements of the mediation process. This course examines the role of a mediator and delivers an overview of the skills necessary to successfully mediate. This course introduces you to the concepts, skills, and techniques needed to mediate disputes: determining whether mediation is appropriate, the role of the mediator, guiding the process, managing emotions, and using communication skills as a mediator. Mediation is a practical method for helping people resolve their conflicts and attain mutually satisfactory outcomes. You will mediate simulated disputes involving parents, children, extended families, in-laws, neighbors, and step-parents. Emphasis is on skill development through simulated mediations assisted by OAFM Accredited Family Mediators.
This course is accredited for 16 hours of training required by Family Mediation Canada (FMC) for the Cert.FRM designation
(21 hours, 2 weeks)
Participants will be introduced to advanced issues encountered throughout a family mediation. By defining the roles and stages of the mediation process, participants will begin to apply mediation theory and skills to the mediation process through role-playing, discussions, and reflective journaling. Participants will be exposed to the ethical principles and codes of conduct and ethics relating the field of mediation. Finally, participants will learn the components to drafting a Memorandum of Understanding and a Separation Agreement. Advanced Family Mediation goes into detail about how problem-solving strategies can be supported to facilitate communication and to make decisions relevant to resolving a family dispute. This course includes 10.5 hours of live/synchronous sessions with the Instructor.
This course is accredited for 10.5 hours of training required by Family Mediation Canada (FMC) for the Cert.FRM designation
(21 hours, 2 weeks)
The genesis for Family Law in Ontario is England. To understand family law in the Province of Ontario, it is necessary to understand the legal system’s evolution within English speaking nations. This course will discuss and will provide a detailed overview of Family Law in the Province of Ontario. Marriage & Divorce will be discussed with specific reference to the Marriage Act, Constitution Act, 1867, the Ontario Children’s Law Reform Act, R.S.O 1990, Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 and the Family Law Act, R.S.O 1990.
This course is accredited for 15 hours of training required by Family Mediation Canada (FMC) for the Cert.FRM designation
(21 hours, 2 weeks)
Understanding the structure and dynamics of a family is important to the practice of family mediation. This course will discuss the Family Systems Theory and highlight the impact separation and divorce can have on the family unit. Specifically, the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional implications on children and the parents. Students should gain insight into the re-negotiated family unit and learn about the impact this life change can have on all relationships involved and how to reinforce positive reciprocal relationships through the practice of mediation.
This course is accredited for 9 hours of training required by Family Mediation Canada (FMC) for the Cert.FRM designation
(21 hours, 2 weeks)
Mediation requires that all parties are screened for appropriateness for mediation. All parties must be screened to be sure they are appropriate candidates. Parties must be able to negotiate safely, voluntarily, and competently, free of danger & harm from the other. All parties must enter voluntarily. The process is vital for mediation to take place for the safety of the parties and mediator. This will be discussed in exhaustive detail. This course includes 8.4 hours of live/synchronous sessions with the Instructor
This course is accredited for 14 hours of training required by Family Mediation Canada (FMC) for the Cert.FRM designation
Instructors
Meet our industry-expert Instructors.

Long, long ago (20+ years) and far, far away (Alberta, Canada) a young entrepreneur agreed to go to an ADR course with her sister. She registered and paid her fees. By the time the course happened, the sister had moved far, far away and the entrepreneur had to go to the course all by herself. She loved it! She could see how much mediation could really help people. She signed up for the rest of the training (even though she was a little bit scared of going back to school) and became a Chartered Mediator. Every year she upgraded her training and gained more and more experience in all sorts of dispute resolution areas like:
- Workplace Facilitated Conversations
- Workplace Mediation
- Workplace Investigation
- Workplace Assessments
- Family / Divorce Mediation
- Child Protection Mediation
- Civil Mediation
- Farm Debt Mediations
- Canadian Human Rights mediation
- High and Chronic Conflict Services
- …and lots of other things…
She worked for all kinds of people in the public, groups, organizations, agencies, businesses, lawyers and government departments. She really saw how much the people needed mediation skills to help build hope and peace.
Soon others began asking the entrepreneur how she did it. She loved helping others learn how to build hope and peace too. She went around the country sprinkling joy and hope wherever she went.
Now, the young entrepreneur is older and wiser and teaches others, sharing the skills that are so very needed in the world right now.
She can’t wait to meet you. Her name is Grace Baker, C.Med. Come join her class.

Click here to read an interview on our blog with Mary Joseph
Mary Joseph is a retired lawyer, United Church Minister and Certified Spiritual Director. She is also an accredited mediator and provides family mediation services in the private and public sector as well as teaching mediation at the professional certification level.
Mary practiced immigration law from 1986 until 2004 with an emphasis on refugee law and skilled and domestic workers. She was also Vice Chair of the Canadian Bar Association – Ontario in Immigration as well as the founder and Editor of their Immigration newsletter. She was one of the original pioneers of same sex immigration for Canada. Since 2002 until her retirement in 2018, Mary practiced collaborative family law exclusively. She was also Ordained by the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in 1999 and has been a part-time pastor and mission strategist for the United Church of Canada until her retirement at the end of 2018.
She has been a guest lecturer at numerous educational institutions and societies including The Canadian Bar Association, Osgoode Hall Law School, University of Toronto as well as the Learned Society and Mensa International. Prior to being called to the bar, Mary tried out a variety of professions including Police Officer, Immigration Border Examining Officer, Industrial Firefighter, Private Investigator as well as several other service sector professions before committing to a lifelong practice of law. She is also a former board member of the Elizabeth Fry Society.
Mary holds a college diploma from Niagara College, Bachelor of Arts from Brock University, a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and Masters of Divinity from Victoria University at University of Toronto.
Her published work includes: 2005: Seeking the Sacred; Leading a Spiritual Life in a Secular World ECW Press; Toronto 2006 (prolegomenon) (founder and ED of Seekers Dialogue), 1990 – 1993 Immigration and Citizenship Update, Canadian Bar Association – Ontario Immigration Newsletter Founder / Editor, 1985 Illegal Immigrants: Know Your Rights, Pamphlet for the Illegal Immigrant Support Group Toronto, Ontario, 1983 Immigration Handbook, Department of Justice Joint Author (Unpublished)

Click to read our blog interview with Hayley
Hayley is an accredited mediator with the Ontario Association of Family Mediators. As a Counselor, she has a Masters degree from U/T in the Counselling Psychology program. She specializes in post-modernist theories, such as Brief therapy, Narrative strategies and Control mastery theories as well as Cognitive theory and CBT. Her undergraduate work trained her as a Child and Youth Worker, specializing in child development and behaviour in various milieus. She has co-created over 50 parenting plans with a range of needs, issues and stages of child development as well as adult changes in executive and cognitive functioning.
Working in the children’s mental health field as an advocate and youth worker as well as with the children’s aid society as a parent support worker Hayley wished to take her skills in family relations, child development, and parenting strategies in a different direction. She chose to work with separating families. Hayley’s vision was a “one stop shop” for families to work with a team of integrated and specialized professionals. Hayley trained and worked as a Neutral with Collaborative Practise Toronto. With Marion Korn, Lawyer, Mediator and Collaborative trainer, and Eva Sachs (Financial Specialist) they set up Mutual Solutions; a hybrid practice catering to divorcing couple.
Hayley has been teaching post secondary diploma and degree courses for 25 years. She has found the mix of learning and practising very potent for professional and personal growth as well as supporting clients. A time to reflect on how we do our work. And she hopes to learn from you!
Since returning to the mediation field, she has immersed herself in working with high conflict families and believes supporting families in crisis is essential and dynamic work.
Overview
Online Dispute Resolution Workshop
This four-hour workshop is available free to those registering for the family mediation certificate.
Ready to start?
Certificates and individual classes start frequently!
Related Certificates
Accreditation and Recognition
- The Family Mediation certificate is accredited by the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM). Training meets the five approved courses required for the Accredited Family Mediator designation (AccFM).
Review a complete list of requirements to become an Accredited Family Mediator. - The Advanced Family Mediation class is accredited by ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) and ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) and fulfills 21 hours of the specialized mediation and related training education requirement for the Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designation (40 total are required).
Review a complete list of requirements to become a Qualified Mediator. - The Family Mediation certificate fulfills 64.5 of the required hours needed to pursue the Cert.FRM designation through Family Mediation Canada.
Who Should Take the Certificate?
Our mediation students come from diverse professional backgrounds. We work with:
- Mediators looking to specialize in family mediation
- Lawyers and individuals with a legal background
- Non-lawyers seeking to become professional mediators
- Business managers and HR professionals
- Educators
- Union representatives
- Government officials
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Post-secondary university degree or college diploma; OR
- Relevant professional experience