The Day I Realized Neutrality Wasn’t Enough: A Mediator’s Journey to Trauma-Informed Practice

I believe mediation is at an inflection point. We know so much more now about how human beings actually function under stress, how trauma affects our capacity for dialogue, and how nervous systems regulate and dysregulate.

We can ignore this knowledge and keep practicing the way we were trained. Or we can integrate it and deepen our practice.

Trauma-informed mediation isn’t about abandoning facilitative principles. It’s about honoring them more fully. It’s recognizing that party self-determination requires parties that can access self-determination , which means nervous systems regulated enough to think clearly, communicate effectively, and make good decisions.

It’s understanding that neutrality doesn’t mean treating all emotional states as equivalent. It means ensuring both parties can meaningfully participate.

It’s creating safety not as politeness but as essential infrastructure for resolution.