TESTIMONIALS
See what people we’ve helped have to say
When families face conflicts regarding their elders’ care or finances, we provide mediation services to help them find common ground. For those unsure how to plan for their loved ones’ future, our professional facilitation ensures productive family meetings. When relatives are unwilling to come together and talk, our conflict coaching helps family caregivers learn to navigate difficult conversations.
Click the tabs below to read inspiring family caregiver testimonials from those who have benefited from our conflict resolution services.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY
ABOUT OUR TRAININGS
Judy, Richmond, CA
I knew after my first courtesy consultation with Katharina that she had a wealth of knowledge and tools to help my family. Her patient and understanding demeanor inspire trust. I also found her workshop on compassionate communication to be valuable. She gave practical tips and exercises to practice within a framework that was both well developed and easy to understand–quite a feat when dealing with complex emotions!
Lori Rubenstein, Las Vegas, NV:
Katharina teaches people how to deal with people who are difficult to deal with. After a 2 hour workshop, I felt some “hope” that I can better handle dealing with the difficult person in my life. She actually teaches that it’s not about “them” being difficult, it’s just that our skills are not up to the point where we can get our needs met.
A Private Fiduciary from Contra Costa County, CA:
I wanted to let you know that I have been thinking about many of the concepts you presented at your workshop. I appreciate the tools/perspectives you offered to help us create space for more empathetic conversations. I think the approach to problem solving which helps us listen more empathically is quite often the difference between conflict and low or no conflict. So I am sure the (workshop) experience will re-present itself in many future scenarios.
B. Kipling Williams, President, Williams & Associates:
I recently attended the workshop, “Conflict Resolution Skills for Aging and Community” conducted by Katharina Dress. The workshop was well organized in terms of relevant content and efficient timing and presentation. During the day-and-a half we were together, we participants willinglingly shared our experiences in an environment conducive to learning. For some, practicing non-violent communication (NVC) was new and enlightening. I highly recommend this workshop.
Nina “Anin” Utigaard, MFT, REAT
Clinical Director, Pacific Institute, San Francisco, CA:
Katharina Dress’ offering to our clinical interns at Pacific Institute was invaluable. Her years of experience in dealing with families challenged by their aging loved ones was evident. We need more professionals like her guiding us through the dark that can accompany leadership.
A Workshop Participant:
The workshop called “Conflict Resolution Skills for Aging and Community” was a great opportunity to see that so many of the issues I am having with my mother are really common in families with aging parents. It was also pretty amazing to do a pretend mediation and see two other women play both me and my mother– to be able literally to see for the first time that it might be possible to have a productive, constructive conversation about senior housing, finances, etc. I can’t say that everything has been resolved, but this was a great introduction to what is proving to be a steep learning curve. I got to do more feeling and healing than I expected from a mediation workshop. I had planned to come for the first night only, but the next morning I found myself wanting more. There were lots of opportunities to pause, take a deep breath, and look at problems I “know” to be immoveable/unsolvable with new eyes and actually sense inside: what do I need? what do I want? and then express something that has a chance of being heard and taken in.
Alice Lai-Bitker, Alameda County Supervisor:
I enjoyed the workshop very much. The trainers were skillful and covered very relevant topics. The most valuable thing for me was to get to know the other participants. They are wonderful people doing great work and we gave each other feedback and support.
Raines Cohen, Community Organizer with Cohousing Coaches, Berkeley, CA:
I came to Katharina’s Elder Mediation workshop with no prior formal training in the field, although I had been a disputant using mediation services. I left with hands-on experience in simulated disputes, inspired and equipped with tools to guide my intuition on serving an aging population, in cohousing neighborhoods and beyond.
