"Bridging Troubled Waters opens the door to an incredible array of conflict transforming resources. This book will truly enrich its readers' capacities for positive and meaningful change. Moreover, it provides the keys to understanding the mysterious forces that divide but also unite us." --Mark McCrea, mediator, Minnesota Department of Labor

  "At last, here is a book for conflict resolution practitioners that goes to the heart of what being a practitioner really means. Michelle LeBaron gets right to it, decisively cutting through to the place where, in truth, our practice resides--our intuition, creativity, and relationships with ourselves and others. She writes about difficult ideas--the inner voice that guides us, the power of congruence, the impact of our authenticity and courage--and expresses them with grace and clarity. She reminds us that, in the end, the most important thing we bring to the table is ourselves. This book will take conflict resolution practitioners to a whole new level in the practice of our craft." --Susan Collin Marks, executive vice president, Search for Common Ground and author, Watching the Wind: Conflict Resolution During South Africa's Transition to Democracy 

"Run, do not walk, to buy a copy of Bridging Troubled Waters! Just reading it will make you a better mediator, no matter what level you are currently practicing at. Michele LeBaron has identified techniques we have been barely conscious of that give us a whole new depth to our mediation. She has gone far, far from the old box of techniques we have been working with. Bravo!" --Zena Zumeta, mediator and trainer, Mediation Training and Consultation Institute/The Collaborative Workplace

"Every culture, every community, and every organization has conflict. To be alive is to be involved in conflict. Yet there is a paradox. Too much of it for too long becomes destructive. Too little, and we lose the critical tensions that make us creative and vibrant. LeBaron charts the middle path. She gives us the concepts, tools, and insights from narrative experiences we need to analyze and navigate the rapids. Whatever boat you find yourself in, from ocean liner to canoe, keep Bridging Troubled Waters close at hand. It will guide you to safety...and beyond." --Peter Adler, partner, The Accord Group, Honolulu, Hawaii

Michelle LeBaron is professor of conflict analysis and resolution at George Mason University in Virginia,. She teaches about conflict as it relates to culture, personal and organizational change, spirituality, and creativity. She consults and lectures in many countries around the world.

Foreword by Mary Margaret Golten. Preface. Acknowledgements. PART ONE: Creative Ways to Bridge Conflict. 1. From the Heart: A Creative, Relational Approach to Conflict 3 PART TWO: Creative Ways of Knowing as Resources for Bridging Conflict. 2. Emotional Ways of Knowing: Negotiating the Labyrinth. 3. Somatic Ways of Knowing: Enacting Change. 4. Imaginative and Intuitive Ways of Knowing: Seeing with Both Eyes. 5. Connected Ways of Knowing: Energizing Change, Emphasizing Relationship. PART THREE: Tools for Bridging Meanings and Identities. 6. Symbolic Tools: Metaphors as Windows into Other Worlds. 7. Narrative Tools: Stories as Paths to Transformation. 8. Commemorating Tools: Using Ritual. PART FOUR: Third Party Roles and Practices. 9. Revisiting the Mountains: Third Party Creativity. Practice Tips: Integrating Multiple Ways of Knowing. Notes. About the Author. Index.