The other dirty little secret of mediation training (and I say this as a mediation trainer myself) is that the 20 or 30 or 40 hours that make up most basic mediation trainings are grossly inadequate to prepare anyone to mediate competently. In what other profession are 40 hours of training deemed sufficient for producing qualified service providers - professionals who are supposed to be helping others with vexingly complex interpersonal problems and sensitive issues? Go ahead, name one.

Add to that the problem that mediation training programs, like mediators themselves, are virtually unregulated. Some are terrific; others are crap. Yet these programs continue to churn out mediators like so much sausage (and a closer inspection may cost you your appetite - although it's certainly increased mine for public regulation of the private practice of mediation).

This article from Britain states the problem baldly, but there's just no sugarcoating it. Houston - and Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and everywhere else in the U.S. - we've got a problem.

Vickie, thanks again. Another great post, as always.