About Melissa Dancy

Philosophy: Conflict can be a gift. It is painful and unpleasant, but it is an opportunity. Navigated well, it can improve the situation of the conflict through productive agreements. It can also provide opportunities to improve relationships and to learn more connective communication skills that can carry over into all aspects of life. It is my passion to work with those in conflict, facilitating the process of listening and understanding to resolve differences.

My philosophical approach to mediation is captured by the ideas of transformative mediation. In working with you, we will focus not only on the specific conflict that brought you to mediation but also on the process of communicating and productively navigating conflict. I am a coach who is enthusiastically on the side of both parties empowering you to work together toward an agreement that is fair and supportive of both sides. I work with you through the process of mediation to learn skills you can draw on to both avoid and work through future conflicts respectfully.

I have a number of experiences that support my work as a mediator and facilitator.

Trainings, Experience, and Affiliations:

40-hour Training in Mediation Practice (CDR Associates) – This is the standard training for a mediator. CDR associates is one of the most respected mediation firms in the country, specializing in working with communities.
Community Mediation Volunteer – I was a volunteer mediator with Jefferson County Mediation Services for several years when I lived in Colorado. Now in Michigan, I volunteer with a similar community mediation program, Citizens Mediation. I have over 100 hours of service. Cases I have mediated through community mediation include small claims court, protection orders, parenting/custody, homeowner association, neighbor-neighbor, and landlord-tenant. I have also facilitated working groups.
Authentic Relating Training and Experience – Authentic Relating is a practice of developing meaningful and rewarding connections with both yourself and others. I have engaged with authentic relating communities of practice for many years including circling, t-group, and authentic relating games. I also have training in facilitating circling. Through this practice, I learned skills that help me to listen to deeply understand, as well as many skills related to effective conflict navigation.
Advanced Mediation Training – I regularly participate in professional development opportunities to improve my mediation practice. These have included: Domestic violence training, behavioral health mediation training, and parenting time and divorce issues training. I also frequently attend alternative dispute resolution conferences.
Workshop Facilitator – I have facilitated a number of workshops. These include workshops related to the exploration of race/gender/social issues, workshops for teachers, and brainstorming and vision-setting workshops.
Qualitative Researcher – I have spent over 20 years doing research related to science education. The majority of this work was qualitative. I specialize in talking to people, asking them questions, and listening to their stories in order to deeply understand them. This work has given me lots of practice in helping people get to core issues and in simply listening to see, hear and understand others. For more details on my research and evaluation work related to science education, see my research site.
Restorative Justice Facilitator Training – I completed the restorative justice facilitator training through Longmont Community Justice Partnership. Restorative justice is an alternative to the legal system in which the focus moves from punishment, to acknowledging and repairing harms.
Science Teacher – I have 20 years of experience as a college physics teacher. The many students I have interacted with over the years helped increase my understanding and sensitivity for experiences outside of my own. Teaching also provides numerous opportunities to navigate difficult relationships and situations.