This workshop offers an in-depth and highly practical exploration of the psychological, biological, and relational factors that shape client behaviour in family dispute processes. Drawing from contemporary research in intergenerational trauma, epigenetics, neurodevelopment, attachment theory, and high-conflict personality dynamics, the session helps practitioners understand why clients present the way they do—and how to respond effectively.

Participants will learn how trauma and stress responses are transmitted across generations, not only through family systems but also through community and collective histories. The workshop examines how these inherited patterns influence emotional regulation, beliefs, vulnerability, and interpersonal functioning. It also discusses neurodevelopmental considerations, such as ADHD and autism-spectrum traits, and their direct implications for process design, working memory demands, session pacing, and communication strategies.

A significant portion of the workshop focuses on high-conflict behaviour and personality disorders, with clear, mediator-friendly frameworks inspired by Bill Eddy’s work. Topics include all-or-nothing thinking, emotional reactivity, fear-based responses, cluster B presentations, and how early attachment experiences shape adult conflict patterns. The session provides concrete strategies—such as the EAR model (Empathy, Attention, Respect)—for de-escalation, boundary-setting, and maintaining mediator neutrality without becoming triangulated.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be equipped with:

• A deeper understanding of the biological and psychological roots of client behaviour
  
  
• Tools for identifying and responding to high-conflict patterns
  
  
• Practical strategies for designing accessible and trauma-informed mediation processes
  
  
• Enhanced awareness of how trauma, neurobiology, and attachment shape family conflict
  

This session is ideal for mediators, parenting coordinators, arbitrators, and all professionals seeking to strengthen their capacity to manage complex relational dynamics in dispute resolution.