Expert St. Petersburg Divorce Mediation
St. Petersburg Divorce Mediation
St. Petersburg Divorce Mediation
Mediate Virtually, Online, or In-Person with Dr. Ben Earwicker, J.D., Ph.D.
Conflict Resolution with an Expert Divorce Mediator
St. Petersburg divorce mediation with Dr. Earwicker can save you time and money.
Divorces can be some of the most contentious and painful conflicts many of us will ever experience. Child custody arrangements, division of assets, and other difficult decisions make divorce especially frustrating. You may be dealing with the stress of a long-standing conflict. Or you might face the frustration of impasse and deadlock. Perhaps you and a partner can’t agree on a way forward.
Regardless of the extent of your conflict, divorce mediation can provide a way forward.
First, it’s important to work with a skilled facilitator. Expert mediator Dr. Ben Earwicker can guide you through your conflict to resolution. Second, how effectively you deal with conflict depends on the tools you apply. Divorce mediation services with our experienced mediator can help break through impasse. Dr. Earwicker can help you resolve your divorce disputes and write a new chapter.
Don’t let conflict take up any more of your time and resources.
Contact Dr. Earwicker today to discuss virtual, online, remote, and in-person St. Petersburg divorce mediation services.
St. Petersburg Divorce Mediation Basics
St. Petersburg divorce mediation with Dr. Earwicker can be an alternative to lengthy, public court battles. A divorce mediator can assist with a settlement agreement on issues like property division, alimony, child support, child custody, and more. In St. Petersburg, couples can then file the marital settlement agreement with the court as an uncontested divorce, simplifying the procedures and costs associated with filing for divorce. This is also called a “divorce settlement” under Florida law.
You can save time and money by first working with a mediator to resolve your disputes and then file an uncontested divorce in St. Petersburg. Depending on your circumstances, you might also qualify for a Simplified Dissolution of Marriage. Fla. Stat. §61.052. And mediation can also help with other, ongoing disputes, even after the divorce is final.
For more information on St. Petersburg divorce mediation, visit DivorceNet’s page on divorce in Florida.
Divorce mediation offers a number of advantages, including:
- lower cost,
- freedom to make informed decisions,
- control, and
- communication.
You and your spouse control the outcome of divorce mediation, not the courts.
For divorce mediation to be successful, it’s important that both spouses engage in good faith. Mediation will likely not be successful if one spouse is more interested in harming the other spouse than resolving disputes over property or child custody arrangements. If both spouses engage in good faith, though, mediation can save significant time and money for both spouses.
Dr. Earwicker's Mediation Services
Meet the Experts
Dr. Ben Earwicker, M.Int.St., J.D., Ph.D. & Joshua Bruce Holmstead, Esq. provide expert mediation & consulting to individuals, couples, businesses & organizations, drawing on their decades of experience with conflict resolution, mediation, employment law, education, and more. They have successfully mediated and adjudicated thousands of disputes through VirNet Virtual Mediation’s national private practice and administration of a state-wide mediation and law enforcement agency, the Idaho Human Rights Commission.
Why Mediate with Dr. Earwicker & Attorney Holmstead?
Ben & Josh’s empathetic approach to conflict resolution ensures the best potential for reaching agreement and discovering a way through conflict. They know how to navigate complex, technical, and emotionally-charged disputes in almost any context, from employment and labor disputes to family and divorce conflicts to contracts and corporate negotiations. Ben & Josh have helped many parties reach mutually-acceptable outcomes through his expert mediation and dispute resolution services.
Contact Dr. Earwicker & Attorney Holmstead today, and lean on their expertise to help resolve your conflict.
Virtual, Online, and In-Person St. Petersburg Divorce Mediation.
Child Custody Battles. Division of Property. Asset ownership and control. Divorce mediation services can be used to resolve each of these conflicts, and more. Using virtual or in-person mediation, Dr. Earwicker guides the parties through a process of negotiation that can result in a solution created by and for the parties themselves. Divorce mediation requires a willingness to engage and an openness to whatever solutions emerge. And as mediation.com notes, “The mediator acts as a third party, with the aim of improving communication between the disagreeing parties in order to find a suitable means of settling the dispute.” In this way, Dr. Earwicker brings a fresh perspective and the tools to make that happen. Whether you prefer virtual or in-person mediation, Dr. Earwicker can provide you with the expert divorce mediation services you need to resolve your dispute. Conflict resolution is just a click or call away.
The Goal of St. Petersburg Divorce Mediation
You’ve already made the difficult and painful decision to pursue a divorce. You want to avoid a nasty, public court battle. You also know you need a skilled facilitator to help guide you through the conflict resolution process. The issue, then, is figuring out exactly how to work through the conflict and come out better on the other side. Just like visiting a physician for physical ailments, it’s best to seek out a professional online mediator to help resolve your divorce disputes. The end goal? Resolution. Peace of mind. A fresh start. Putting all this behind you and moving on. Dr. Earwicker has the skills and experience you need for a mediated solution to your divorce disputes.
How Much Will Mediation Cost?
Prices include all mediation services, from pre-convening consultation through post-mediation settlement work.
Initial Consultation
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30 Minutes
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Consultation covers the Nature and Extent of Conflict and Goals for all Parties Involved
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No Obligation to Continue with VirNet Mediation
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Discuss your Situation in Depth
Hourly Rate
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Competitive Rates
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Total Hours Depend on Nature and Extent of Conflict
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Billing can be Divided
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Convenient Scheduling
Frequently Asked Questions - St. Petersburg Divorce Mediation
What Does Mediation Look Like?
Mediation is a structured conversation and negotiation. The parties first meet separately with Dr. Earwicker. He explores each person's goals, ideals, and interests in detail. This helps structure mediation conversations. In some divorce mediations, parties opt to provide written position statements prior to the mediation, but that is not required. After meeting with the parties, Dr. Earwicker will schedule the mediation. Typically, the mediation occurs in separate rooms. In some cases (or upon request), Dr. Earwicker will bring the parties together in the same room, either virtually or in-person. In other cases, the parties will not meet face-to-face. Either way, Dr. Earwicker facilitates the discussion and structures the mediation to move the parties toward a negotiated solution. If the parties agree on one or more issues, Dr. Earwicker provides a written settlement agreement for the parties to review and sign. Any mediation agreement is completely voluntary and between the parties to the dispute.
Do I Have to See the Other Party Face-to-Face?
In any mediation, face-to-face contact is not required for a successful mediation. Sometimes it may be beneficial to convene a joint session with the parties all in one room (either virtually or in-person). At other times, depending on the nature of the conflict, face-to-face interaction may not be desirable or warranted. Ultimately, it is up to the parties to decide whether or not to meet face-to-face. This is true whether the mediation services are provided virtually or in-person.
Is Mediation Binding?
Unlike arbitration (where an arbitrator issues a binding decision on the facts of the case), mediation does not result in a binding decision by the mediator. The parties in a mediation are the ones who decide whether to agree on one or more issues. Only they can "bind" the other party through mutual agreement. In this way, a mediation settlement agreement between the parties can be binding as a contract between them. But the mediator's job is not to make a decision. Rather, the mediator facilitates discussions between the parties and helps them arrive at an agreed-upon solution.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Mediate?
Hiring an attorney is not a pre-requisite to mediation. At the same time, you are always welcome to hire an attorney who represents you and your interests in mediation. Keep in mind that the mediator is a neutral party and does not represent either party in the dispute. Thus, you may elect to seek out legal representation if you want someone who can represent you and your interests. Ultimately, though, the success of mediation depends on the parties' willingness to engage in good faith and work toward solutions. Hiring an attorney may or may not further those goals.
How Long Does Mediation Take?
The length of mediation depends on the number and complexity of issues mediated. Some mediations with fairly straightforward issues can be conducted in just a few hours. Most divorce mediations take between 10-15 hours to complete, including pre-mediation work with the parties, the mediation itself, and post-mediation settlement work. Some mediations with more complex issues, more than two parties, or other pending legal matters may take longer. On average, though, planning for 10 hours of mediation is a reasonable estimate.
Should I Just Mediate My Own Dispute to Save Time and Money?
Mediations are like any other professional service: it is in your best interest to contract with a trained and experienced mediator like Dr. Earwicker in order to navigate the complexities of negotiations and conflict resolution. There is great value in hiring a third-party neutral - the mediator - to assist with the process of conflict resolution. A trained, experienced mediator can skillfully navigate complex interpersonal, psychological, and transactional dynamics. A skilled neutral brings a fresh perspective and a dispassionate evaluation of the situation. This third-party view, especially when coupled with expertise and skill, is an invaluable part of the mediation process.
Is Virtual Mediation as Good as In-Person Mediation?
Advances in technology have made it possible to replicate the effectiveness of in-person mediation services in remote, online, and virtual formats. Some people prefer the in-person format because of the ability to be in the same room with the other party or parties to a dispute. This can be true for any type of dispute, from divorce mediations to contract negotiations and employment disputes. However, all of the dynamics of an effective mediation (including separate "caucuses" and joint "conferences") are easily replicated in virtual platforms. Virtual mediation can also save time and money, because there are no transportation costs, and parties in different locations do not have to negotiate the location of an in-person mediation. In short, virtual mediation can be just as effective as in-person mediation services. Live video streaming and other online technologies make virtual mediation just as effective as in-person counterparts.
Florida 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training
Florida 40-Hour Mediation Training. Build skills. Understand the Florida pathway.
Learn to manage difficult conversations through VirNet's flexible, on-demand 40-hour curriculum. Explore the mediation process, negotiation, neutrality, ethics and practical role-play across ten progressive modules.
Florida has a distinctive Supreme Court mediator certification system. VirNet provides self-paced foundational education, not a Florida Supreme Court-certified initial mediator training program. Court certification requires additional category-specific steps.
If you intend to become a Florida Supreme Court certified mediator, verify your intended certification area and approved training provider before paying for any course.
What does 40-hour mediation training mean in Florida?
A general mediation course and a Florida Supreme Court certified initial training program are not interchangeable. Start by choosing the kind of work you hope to do.
Learn mediation and conflict resolution
Professionals in business, law, education, human resources and community work may value training in neutrality, listening, reframing, facilitated problem-solving and interest-based negotiation.
Choose an approved Florida training program
For Florida Supreme Court mediator certification, the governing rules require a category-specific Florida Supreme Court certified training program, along with education, mentorship and other qualifications.
Distinguish initial training from CME
Continuing mediator education (CME) is for maintaining an existing Florida certification. Rules allowing recorded presentations for certain CME activities do not convert a self-paced introductory course into approved initial certification training.
VirNet's completion certificate documents completion of its own educational program. It is not a Florida Supreme Court mediator certification, approval of a training program, or a guarantee of professional or court acceptance.
One course. Three levels of support.
Every option includes the same 40-hour foundational curriculum. Select the amount of personal feedback and mentoring that aligns with your learning style and goals.
Self-Directed
Full course access with independent study
$775
Complete the 10-module program on your schedule with lessons, assessments, practical simulations, and downloadable course resources. Individualized instructor grading or coaching is not included.
View course & enroll →Instructor-Guided
Personal feedback throughout the course
$1,475
Everything in Self-Directed, plus individualized review and feedback from Dr. Earwicker on two assignments in each of the 10 modules.
View course & enroll →Private Coaching
Instructor feedback plus five private sessions
$3,275
Everything in Instructor-Guided, plus five one-on-one sessions with Dr. Earwicker to discuss your technique, professional goals, and growth as a mediator.
View course & enroll →Select a training option to review the full course details, current tuition, and enrollment instructions. Any applicable promotion will be displayed on the course enrollment page.
The flexibility of online learning, with opportunities to actually mediate.
Moving through this course is more than watching videos. Structured instruction, knowledge checks, realistic simulations, and reflection activities help connect mediation concepts to concrete decisions and conversations.
You can work through the self-paced curriculum wherever you have reliable internet access. If you select guided instruction or coaching, the program also incorporates individualized feedback and mentorship as described in your enrollment tier.
Inside the course
- Video lessons explaining mediation principles and practical techniques
- Readings, downloadable outlines, and supplemental learning resources
- Quizzes and exercises to reinforce each topic
- Interactive, AI-assisted practice conversations
- Reflection and application assignments
- A final evaluation and certificate process after completing required coursework
What you will learn to do.
Good mediation is both a thoughtful process and a set of skills that improve with practice. The curriculum develops these capabilities together.
Listen beyond positions
Identify emotions, interests, assumptions, and information gaps without prematurely choosing sides.
Guide a clear process
Practice introductions, issue identification, negotiation, impasse management, and appropriate closure.
Respond to challenging dynamics
Work thoughtfully with frustration, power differences, difficult conversations, and cultural context.
Develop practical options
Support brainstorming, evaluation of proposals, and careful agreement development.
Build professional habits
Explore ethics, neutrality, preparation, boundaries, and pathways for continuing mediator development.
A comprehensive introduction to the practice of mediation.
The course progresses from foundational ideas to more complex simulations and professional applications. These five learning areas summarize the content across the ten course modules; they are not separate enrollment products.
Foundations and the mediator role
The purposes, principles, ethics, and major approaches of mediation.
Communication and negotiation
Listening, reframing, empathy, interest-based bargaining, and productive questioning.
Difficult situations and power
Impasse, strong emotions, de-escalation, cultural responsiveness, and participant safeguards.
Structure, agreements, and practice
Stages of a mediation, option development, drafting, and realistic simulations.
Professional pathways
Online dispute resolution, professional boundaries, practice planning, and ongoing development.
Want to inspect the actual lessons? Each course page includes a curriculum view and course details before enrollment.
View the existing course curriculum →Five certification areas. Different preparation pathways.
Florida's Dispute Resolution Center administers five areas of Supreme Court mediator certification. Rule 10.100 requires different foundations for each. The initial training must be certified for the specific area sought; VirNet's general course is not a substitute.
County court mediation
Often associated with smaller civil disputes. A first-time applicant generally needs a high school diploma or GED and 100 points, including points for Florida Supreme Court certified county training, education and mentorship. Separate routes exist for certain mediators already certified in other Florida categories.
The approved county training-program standard specifies at least 24 instructional hours; course length alone does not establish certification eligibility.
Circuit court mediation
For general circuit-court civil disputes outside the family category. Initial applicants generally need at least a bachelor's degree, 100 qualification points, a Florida Supreme Court certified circuit training program and the required mentorship.
The circuit training-program standard specifies at least 40 instructional hours in a category-approved program, not simply any 40-hour online curriculum.
Family mediation
Florida has a specific certification category for family and dissolution-of-marriage matters. Applicants generally need a bachelor's degree, 100 points, completion of a certified family mediation training program and required mentorship.
General mediation training should not be described as Florida Supreme Court-approved family mediation training without actual provider/program approval.
Dependency mediation
Dependency cases involve distinct legal, child-welfare and participant considerations. Certification generally requires a bachelor's degree, 100 points, an approved dependency mediation training program and mentorship satisfying the current rules.
Foundational skills can be useful, but they do not replace Florida's specific dependency requirements.
Appellate mediation
Initial appellate certification requires existing Florida Supreme Court certification in circuit, family or dependency mediation, plus successful completion of a Florida Supreme Court certified appellate training program.
A standalone basic 40-hour course does not meet the prior-certification requirement for this advanced category.
Initial certification takes more than a completion certificate.
Florida evaluates the approved training program, the candidate's qualifications and the steps completed after training. That is why students pursuing court-connected certification should confirm the entire pathway before enrolling.
Verify the provider and category
Florida's Dispute Resolution Center maintains information about Supreme Court certified mediation training providers. A general course offered nationally does not qualify as a certified Florida program simply because it is 40 hours long.
See certified providersMeet the separate eligibility rules
Rules 10.100 and 10.105 specify education, training and mentorship points. Initial county certification generally uses 100 points with 60 mentorship points; family, circuit and dependency routes require 100 points with at least 40 mentorship points, alongside other category-specific minimums.
Review qualification materialsDo not confuse renewal education with initial training
Florida permits several formats for continuing mediator education under its renewal procedures, potentially including recorded presentations. Initial certification requires a category-approved training program. VirNet does not promise that its course earns Florida CME credit either; eligibility should be checked in advance.
See CME guidanceUnder the operating procedures effective May 15, 2026, applicants generally must submit their mediator certification application within two years of completing the requisite Florida-certified training program. Check all current rules and dates with the Dispute Resolution Center.
Let's discuss your training goals.
Whether you are comparing the three course pathways or exploring how the training fits a particular role, we can explain the program and point you toward the questions to ask your local court or credentialing authority.
For a useful response, share your state, intended practice setting, and any specific training requirements you've been given.
General VirNet contact page →Ask about the 40-hour course
Have a question about learning format, guidance options, or state-specific needs? Our training inquiry form is available directly below this section.
For enrollment questions, include your city/state, intended mediation role, and the option you are considering.
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Practice difficult conversations before mediating real ones.
Interactive role-play is a distinctive part of the training. Through realistic, AI-assisted scenarios, you take the mediator's role, practice responding in real time, and reflect on the choices you made.
Scenarios increase in complexity as you advance, including workplace, interpersonal, and multifaceted disputes. They give you opportunities to experiment with questions, reframing, neutrality, and ways of moving a conversation forward.
The technology is a learning tool; it is not a substitute for supervised practice or any state-required live training component.
From understanding a technique to trying it.
- Study the skills and frameworks.
- Apply them in an interactive scenario.
- Reflect on what happened and what you would adjust.
- Receive additional instructor feedback if your tier includes it.
National mediation skills still require Florida-specific legal knowledge.
VirNet teaches general mediation competencies: neutrality, self-determination, communication, negotiation, ethics, and structured practice. Those skills have wide professional value, but someone mediating in Florida must also understand the requirements that govern the actual setting in which they work.
Florida Statutes Chapter 44 addresses court-connected mediation and the state's Mediation Confidentiality and Privilege Act. Section 44.405 establishes confidentiality and privilege rules subject to important exceptions. Florida Supreme Court-certified and court-appointed mediators are also subject to the Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators, including standards of impartiality, disclosure and professional conduct.
These are Florida-specific sources. Studying a general discussion of the Uniform Mediation Act does not, by itself, explain Florida's governing rules. A course completion certificate also does not confer Florida Supreme Court certification or guaranteed court eligibility.
Learn from the mediator who built the course.
Dr. Benjamin J. Earwicker brings together hands-on mediation, civil rights and organizational dispute resolution, and years of teaching negotiation and alternative dispute resolution. All three enrollment paths share his 40-hour curriculum; the Instructor-Guided and Private Coaching options add individualized instruction.
Explore Dr. Earwicker's professional background →40-Hour Basic Mediation Certification - Instructor-Guided
40-Hour Basic Mediation Certification - Self-Directed
40-Hour Basic Mediation Certification - Private Coaching
Hear from people who completed the training.
Students describe their experiences with the self-paced format, interactive role-play simulations, curriculum progression, and personal feedback. Browse their full comments below to see which aspects of the program mattered most to them.
Testimonials reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee any particular outcome or professional credential.
Overall, this was an excellent 40-hour mediation course—informative, engaging, and filled with helpful resources. I especially appreciate having continued access to the course materials as I develop my mediation practice.
One of the most valuable aspects was the opportunity to create a concrete plan for my practice. Learning what it takes to build a successful mediation practice, then translating those lessons into practical goals and action steps, was particularly beneficial.
Thank you for putting together such a thoughtful and comprehensive course. I look forward to beginning my mediation journey and putting what I learned into practice.
I completed the self-paced course and found it to be effective at communicating large volumes of important information in an efficient manner. I feel that I am leaving the course with the skills I need to mediate complex disputes and navigate common pitfalls.
I really enjoyed this course, even when I wanted 40-hours to actually mean I only had to work for 20 hours! The role plays worked really well, and I was so impressed by the way they were designed so that I had an opportunity to practice the mediation tools that go with each module. My schedule is so hectic that I was concerned about scheduling and completing a course. However, I felt that you designed the course with your feedback to really give me the best opportunities to learn in self-directed mode.
I recently completed Dr. Ben’s 40-hour mediation course and found it to be a genuinely valuable investment in my professional development. I was particularly impressed with how the content was organized and delivered as the structure made it easy to build understanding progressively rather than feeling like a series of disconnected topics.
I completed the course with a clear sense of the recommended path and next steps, which speaks well to how the program is designed to set participants up for what comes after.
Overall, I’d recommend this course to anyone serious about building a foundation in mediation. I finished it feeling genuinely ready to move into the next phase of this process, which is exactly what I was hoping to get out of it.
This course was informative, practical, and incredibly valuable. The realistic role-playing scenarios helped me practice essential mediation skills like active listening, reframing, and identifying interests while learning to manage emotions and difficult conversations. The course strengthened my understanding of the mediation process and gave me greater confidence in helping people feel heard, respected, and empowered to work toward mutually acceptable solutions.
I highly recommend Dr. Earwicker’s 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training. The on-demand, self-paced format made it easy to complete on my own schedule, and the course gave me a strong foundation in mediation as I prepare to begin a new career after age 60. I would recommend it to lawyers, non-lawyers, therapists, or anyone interested in mediation or a new career path.
The course's use of interactive, AI-assisted role-play sessions was a particularly effective teaching
method. Practicing as mediator in realistic, back-and-forth conversations made the material feel applied
rather than abstract, and the communication throughout each session felt genuine and responsive rather
than scripted. This back-and-forth structure gave me the chance to actually practice de-escalation,
reframing, and interest based negotiation in real time, rather than simply reading about them.
Overall, this course was an enlightening and intriguing introduction to the practice of mediation. It was
clearly well put together, with a thoughtful progression that moved from foundational concepts through
increasingly complex, realistic scenarios. Starting with simpler two-party disputes and building toward
multi-party and emotionally charged situations, such as a parenting plan negotiation, gave the material a
natural sense of momentum and allowed each new skill to build on the last rather than being introduced in
isolation.
The written materials in Dr. Earwicker's course were clear and well organized. Concepts were explained in language
that was understandable without being oversimplified, and each sessions objectives were stated plainly
enough that I always knew what skill I was meant to be focusing on and why it mattered to the broader
practice of mediation.
Dr. Earwicker's course gave me valuable tools for handling impasses, teaching how to slow the conversation, identify underlying interests, and reframe rigid positions into solvable issues. The course gave me lots of techniques for reframing negative perspectives, helping transform tension into constructive dialogue.
The course was straightforward and provided the information to understand the mediation process, the dynamics of power, personality types, and cultures encountered in mediations. It provided the tools to move the parties from the opening to the agreement while de-escalating any issues, understanding the parties’ interests, and making sure everyone is properly heard. I can’t wait to get my practice started and put these tools into action. Thank you for the opportunity to obtain my certification!
Thank you for an exceptional mediation course. The course was clear and well-organized, and the materials were practical and relevant. Each assignment was evaluated within a day or two, which helped me stay engaged and motivated as I progressed through the material. The feedback I received was especially helpful—it was always constructive, specific, and thoughtful. It not only clarified key concepts but also gave me practical direction on how to strengthen my skills.
This course surpassed my expectations. Not only did I gain knowledge about all aspects of mediation but I had the opportunity to practice mediation skills as I progressed through the course. Practice was not reading case studies but actually mediating in real-time simulations. This was instrumental in building my confidence as a mediator. Another extraordinary aspect of this course was the personal developmental feedback provided by Dr. Earwicker. His feedback provided developmental actions that I could integrate to grow as a mediator and his availability and openness to questions added even more value. This intentional personal touch resulted in my feeling valued as a learner; I was not just another collected fee passing through an automated system.
The course reinforced the importance of empathy, de-escalation, and structured communication. My background in communication and conflict resolution allowed me to feel confident facilitating difficult conversations, while the simulations helped strengthen my mediation techniques and adaptability. Overall, the experience increased my confidence as a mediator and provided valuable practical experience that I can apply in future mediation practice.
What sets this course apart is that it doesn't just teach you how to run a mediation. It teaches you how to listen at a level most people never reach, to find the shared interest buried underneath a hardened position, and to hold space for two people who are hurting without losing your own footing in the process.
The skills I built here extend far beyond a mediation room. If you are serious about becoming someone who can navigate conflict with confidence, clarity, and compassion, this is exactly where you start.
The curriculum moves you from foundational theory into increasingly complex simulations that force you to apply what you've learned under real pressure. By the time I reached the final scenario, I wasn't just recalling techniques, I was actually using them in the moment, with competing emotions and entrenched positions on both sides of the table.
This course exceeded my expectations in both depth and practical application. The progression from foundational concepts to increasingly complex role-play simulations was well-designed and allowed me to build confidence incrementally rather than feeling thrown into the deep end. The pacing felt intentional, and each simulation built meaningfully on the last.
This program was exceptional! I found each of the 10 Modules more interesting than the previous one. I had no real experience in my law practice as a mediator since I spent my career advocating and litigating on behalf of my injured worker clients in the law firm I helped found.
Your program opened my mind and heart to another way to approach problem solving! I particularly appreciated the methods you used in your introductions to each module before diving into the particulars of each set of lessons. It set a framework in my brain of what to expect, which made it easier to really learn once I began the tutorials. Thank you!
I found the course thorough, well constructed and full of valuable content. I hadn't used AI for anything more than parlor tricks. It really felt like I was carrying on a conversation with other people. In fact I had to remind myself more than once I wasn't.
All-in-all, the course was a positive experience. I feel it will benefit me quite a bit in my mediation practice.
This was not a passive, checkbox course. It was self-paced, highly interactive, and designed for real learning rather than simply earning a certificate. I was able to progress through the material around a demanding schedule, with extensive reference resources available for deeper study. The strong emphasis on individualized feedback made the experience practical, engaging, and genuinely valuable.
This 40-hour mediation training exceeded my expectations in both content and delivery. The course was well-structured, practical, and thoughtfully paced, allowing me to build skills progressively while also having time to reflect and integrate what I was learning. The role-plays, scenarios, and guided reflections helped translate theory into practice and deepened my understanding of interest-based negotiation, mediator neutrality, ethical boundaries, and effective communication techniques. I also appreciated the clear explanations of the mediation process, from intake through closure, and the attention given to drafting durable, balanced agreements.
This Mediation Course was phenomenal; it covered everything. I have no questions after the end of this course; it was very detailed, very professional, and very well explained. Dr. Ben Earwicker was professional and attentive. Thank you so much.
Self-paced learning has been the most valuable part of this course for me. I am able to work through each module, review the mediation prompt, and reflect before beginning the exercise. The self-paced design continues to help me absorb the material, reflect, and apply theory in a deliberate way rather than simply enduring an extended training session.
Dr. Earwicker's certification was a fun, engaging, and highly responsive mediation course that brings real-world skills to life. Practical, interactive, and confidence-building—I’d recommend it to anyone serious about mediation. Thank you, too, for being very quick and responsive. It made the class very relaxing not having to wait long for feedback or help.
The Virtual Mediation program was a great find! The role-play simulations and practical application of mediation skills were the most valuable to me. They helped me better understand how theory translates into real conversations. The course helped me strengthen my active listening, neutrality, and confidence in managing difficult discussions. I found that this course presented a clear structure, realistic scenarios, and opportunities to practice mediator language. Thank you for all of your wonderful feedback and for the opportunity to be a part of this course.
I appreciated how quickly assignments were graded and feedback was given, which helped me build confidence in myself and helped me know what things I could easily improve upon. The videos were engaging, and the amount of work involved was very reasonable. I can tell you put a lot of thoughtful work and effort into this curriculum. Thank you!
This mediation certification course provided me with more information than I realized would even be available. It provided me with real time scenario situations to mediate using the skills I had learned from the videos. What I found most important was the feedback directly from Dr. Earwicker. It wasn’t just cut and paste feedback. It was very specific to my mediation in my reflections
What stood out most to me in your approach was the way you integrated AI into the course. I thought that was ingenious. I’ve taken other mediation courses before and, frankly, many of them felt flat—they simply didn’t translate well into practice. Your use of AI, by contrast, added an immediacy and practicality that made the lessons come alive. It allowed me to apply what you were teaching contemporaneously, which was invaluable.
Ultimately, this course has helped me evolve from a problem-solver to a solution-facilitator, which I believe will make me not only a more effective attorney, but also a better communicator overall.
In this course, I have come to appreciate that mediation is more than simply managing disputes—it is about creating a safe and constructive space where people can be heard, respected, and guided toward resolution. The role-play simulations allowed me to put theory into practice and experience the challenge of balancing neutrality, empathy, and structure while facilitating difficult conversations.
I wasn't sure how an online training would work for this, but am pleasantly surprised at how effective this training was. I appreciate the time and effort you took to create it, as I would not have been able to receive such great training otherwise - my schedule prevented anything in person. Thank you for everything!
As a licensed clinical social worker, I came into this course with a strong foundation in therapeutic communication, emotional attunement, and conflict work. What this course added for me was a more structured framework for mediation—particularly how to remain neutral and process-focused in situations where my clinical instincts might otherwise lead me toward interpretation or problem-solving.
As a recent college grad, online classes have been something that I have oftentimes disliked just because of the difficulty of teaching through online lectures. These lectures bypassed many of my fears as they were incredibly informative and helpful. I enjoyed that the modules were laid out so that the exercises that were assigned made sense with the material we had been learning. I was also very impressed by the chat bot model for the exercises as they were surprisingly realistic.
This was a fantastic course with a variety of teaching modalities and thorough content to prepare me for the world of mediation. I am far more confident in my skills after the AI role-play practices and incorporating Dr. Earwicker's feedback after each assignment. Highly recommend!
As a therapist by trade, I found this course to be exceptionally clear, well-structured, and directly applicable to my clinical and professional work. The material was presented in a way that made complex mediation concepts feel accessible without oversimplifying them, which I truly appreciated. The explanations were thoughtful, grounded, and practical, allowing me to immediately see how the skills translate into real-world situations.
Overall, I truly am impressed with the content of the course, and how it is flowing. I'm so impressed by the course :). Thank you, I look forward to what's left!
Even though I came in with no background in mediation, the course helped me feel well prepared. The ideas about interest-based communication and de-escalation really stuck with me and helped during the role-plays. I now see how these tools can apply not just in mediation, but in everyday situations too.
I like the way this course builds. You provide the information, confirm with quizzes, then allow for use of knowledge – role play. I also enjoy that each role-play has built on the material and itself. It has given me the opportunity to improve including my active listening, open ended questions, reframing, and making sure I stay neutral.
The lectures contained a great deal of depth into a wide range of material, and I appreciated the source references so that I can deepen further into the material. I would highly recommend this course to anyone seeking good mediation training.
This class really helped me understand that mediation isn’t just about following a process — it’s about helping people feel heard and safe enough to communicate honestly. The whistleblower role-play between Maya, a senior accountant, and James, the CEO, was intense but realistic, and it gave me a chance to practice staying calm, neutral, and focused when emotions ran high.
This course has become an invaluable toolbox for me—not only in the context of mediating family law disputes, but also in transforming my overall approach to conflict
To be candid, when I began the class, I wasn’t terribly enthused. I thought it might be something I could shortcut my way through. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It required real effort—but I am better for it. Revisiting the fundamentals of the mediation process was refreshing, and I plan to read Getting to Yes because of your recommendation. I see its application not only in mediation, but in negotiation and everyday life.
One of the most eye-opening aspects of this course has been the exploration of implicit and explicit bias. These concepts have challenged me to reflect on my own assumptions and behaviors, and how they may inadvertently affect my interactions with clients, colleagues, and opposing counsel.
This course has become an incredibly enjoyable and enriching experience. Each module builds upon the last, and the tools I’ve gained—especially those related to planning strategies for a successful mediation practice—are proving to be invaluable in both academic and personal contexts. The practical applications of these strategies have started to influence how I approach conflict resolution in my daily life, making me more thoughtful, intentional, and effective in my interactions.
Ultimately, this course is helping me evolve from a culturally aware attorney to a culturally responsive one. It is not enough to be familiar with different cultures; I must also be intentional in how I engage with them.
The inclusion in your program of both the tools needed to be a good mediator (such as active listening, managing emotions, bias and cultural diversity, ethical standards) and then the practical steps to build a mediation practice were invaluable. There were many suggestions that had not occurred to me before I signed up for your program when I was first asked to become a mediator by several judges in my legal community.
I give this course 5 stars out of 5. I appreciate how efficient it was to get the required 40 hour training without having to sit in a hotel conference room for a week, not get paid the whole time, and listen to someone read from slides with random Q&A for the same five participants. The on-demand format was fantastic.
As a therapist, I found this mediation course to be incredibly clear, well-organized, and immediately applicable to my work. The concepts were explained in a way that felt accessible without being simplistic, and the practical examples helped bridge theory and real-world practice. I especially appreciated how the course complemented my clinical skills while offering a distinct mediation framework. Overall, it was a thoughtful, engaging experience that I would highly recommend to other therapists and helping professionals.
Overall, this course significantly strengthened my confidence and competence as a developing mediator. I am well-prepared to apply these skills in professional and community settings, and I highly recommend this training to others seeking a comprehensive and practical mediation education.
A 40-hour training certificate is a foundation, not automatic state certification.
After successfully completing the program's requirements, students may obtain a certificate documenting completion of the 40-hour basic mediation training. What that certificate qualifies you to do depends on the court, program, employer, or jurisdiction.
Some court-connected programs require specific approved providers, live or synchronous instruction, observed exercises, subject-specific training, mentoring, supervised cases, or additional credentials. Private mediation practice and eligibility for a court roster may have different requirements.
Before enrolling for a particular credential, compare the course format with the current requirements of the relevant state, court, or roster administrator. Written confirmation from that authority is preferable when requirements are unclear.
Questions about Florida mediation training and court certification.
These answers distinguish the general skills covered by VirNet's self-paced curriculum from the requirements Florida imposes for its Supreme Court mediator certification categories.
Is VirNet a Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator training provider?
VirNet offers a self-paced 40-hour foundational education program and does not represent this course as a Florida Supreme Court-certified initial mediation training program. For Florida Supreme Court mediator certification, review the Dispute Resolution Center's current certified training-provider list and the category-specific rules before enrolling.
Does completing this course make me a Florida Supreme Court certified mediator?
No. Completing VirNet's curriculum documents educational achievement within VirNet's program. Florida Supreme Court certification requires completion of the particular Florida-certified training program and the other applicable education, qualification-point, mentorship, character and application requirements.
What categories of Florida mediator certification exist?
Florida recognizes county court, circuit court, family, dependency and appellate certification categories. The initial route and approved program are different for each; appellate certification additionally requires an existing family, dependency or circuit certification.
Does the Florida Supreme Court require every student to complete a 40-hour course?
No. Required initial certified-program hours differ by category. Florida's published certified training-program standards provide a minimum of 24 instructional hours for county programs and 40 hours for family, circuit and dependency programs; appellate training has a separate standard. Hours alone are not proof that a provider or program is approved.
Can I take self-paced mediation training for general professional development in Florida?
Yes. VirNet's on-demand curriculum can be useful for negotiation, communication, structured dialogue, neutrality and conflict-management skills in a variety of professional settings. That educational value is different from qualifying for a particular Florida court certification.
What are Florida's training and mentorship points?
Under Rule 10.100, first-time county applicants generally need 100 points with defined training, education and mentorship minimums, including 60 mentorship points. First-time circuit, family and dependency applicants generally need a bachelor's degree and 100 points, including 30 points for category-specific certified training and at least 40 mentorship points, plus other minimums. Review your individual pathway with the Dispute Resolution Center.
Is online learning ever allowed for Florida mediator certification training?
Florida has certified training providers offering online programs, but online delivery does not mean that any independently paced course is accepted. The actual program must be Florida Supreme Court certified for the category sought and comply with its approval and participation standards.
Can VirNet's course be used for Florida continuing mediator education (CME)?
Do not assume it will count. Florida has separate CME requirements for maintaining certification, and its rules permit several educational formats. Whether a particular course or activity qualifies for CME must be evaluated against the current CME criteria; VirNet does not guarantee Florida CME credit.
What Florida law should aspiring mediators study?
Florida Statutes Chapter 44 and the Mediation Confidentiality and Privilege Act, especially sections 44.401 through 44.406, are important starting points. Florida Supreme Court certified and court-appointed mediators must also comply with the Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators, including their standards on neutrality and confidentiality.
How do I decide which VirNet training tier is appropriate?
All three VirNet options share the same foundational 40-hour curriculum. Self-Directed ($775) is designed for independent study; Instructor-Guided ($1,475) adds individualized assignment feedback; Private Coaching ($3,275) adds five private coaching sessions. None of these options independently changes the course into a Florida Supreme Court certified initial training program. If that credential is your goal, choose a Florida-certified program for your category.
If your main objective is Florida Supreme Court certification, check the current certified training-provider list and contact the Florida Dispute Resolution Center before paying for an on-demand course.
Start building your mediation skills.
One 40-hour curriculum, three ways to learn, and a practical focus on the conversations mediators actually navigate. Choose your preferred level of support and review the course before enrolling.