Open Dialogue personnel practice a transformative model of mediation and facilitation. It is a kinder, gentler form that supports parties having difficult conversations. Transformative mediation fosters empowerment and recognition shifts that can lead to resolution and in some cases, even healing of relational issues, thus allowing the parties to have a continued relationship afterward.
In-person mediation and facilitation services are available upon request. Some processes are best handled in this manner, such as community mediation, corporate facilitation or processes involving large numbers of participants. In-person services usually take place in a location where parties feel comfortable to speak such as a conference room, church, office or courthouse.
The transformational model can be as successful in resolving disputes as traditional models, and can also result in a higher rate of participants upholding the agreements afterward. Because of its ability to resolve conflicts while maintaining continued relationships, this model has been chosen exclusively for internal conflict resolution by the U.S. Postal Service in its Redress program.