Training & Continuing Education
Upcoming Lunch & Learn
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | 12:00-1:00pm CST
TOOLS FOR EXPLORING NARRATIVES IN MEDIATION
Every conflict comes with a story. In mediation, those stories shape how people understand what happened, what matters, and what feels possible moving forward. This one hour training will explore how mediators can work skillfully with conflict narratives to promote understanding, empathy, and more constructive dialogue. Participants will learn what a conflict narrative is and why it plays such a powerful role in escalation and impasse. The session will cover practical tools for listening deeply to each person’s story, identifying key narrative components, and unpacking assumptions, perspectives, and emotional meanings. We will also explore strategies for promoting empathy and integrating divergent narratives without taking sides or directing outcomes. This training is designed for mediators who want concrete, usable tools for helping parties move beyond rigid stories and toward shared understanding and problem solving. Participants will leave with questions, frameworks, and listening strategies that can be applied immediately in joint session and caucus work.
This course provides one hour of general education CLE credits and one hour of general mediation issues or general continuing education CME credit.
About Jen Comiskey
Jen Comiskey, J.D., is a native of Powell, Tennessee and graduated from Powell High School. She attended Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas on a Hays Memorial Scholarship, and graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in Politics. After college, Jen moved back to Knoxville with her husband Clayton Leasure and attended the University of Tennessee College of Law with a Green Law Scholarship and a Tennessee Law Scholars' Fellowship. She graduated law school in 2006. She currently lives in Powell with Clayton and their young son. Prior to working at CMC, Jen worked for two years as a visitation supervisor at Parent Place. She received her family mediation training from Community Mediation Center in February, 2005 and has worked at Community Mediation Center since July, 2005. At CMC, Jen was program director of Juvenile Court programs for 18 years, and is now the Executive Director for the organization. She is a Rule 31 listed mediator and is also a trained facilitator and conflict coach.
Mediation Training
Mediation training is a seminar focused on the theory and practice of conflict resolution skills necessary for an individual to apply to become listed as a TN Rule 31 mediator. Trainings are either a 40 hour general civil mediation course or 46 hour family mediation course. The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) ensures that mediation trainings comply with Rule 31 requirements, approves listing applications, and oversees court-related mediation under Rule 31. NCRC requires that volunteers be Rule 31 trained.
AOC guidelines and resources for Rule 31 Training
Complete text of Rule 31
