Better Prep, Better Sessions: The Power and Pitfalls of Pre-Session Work

The mediation process doesn’t begin when the session starts — it begins when a party first engages with the process. This interactive workshop explores the critical but often overlooked pre-session phase and equips mediators with actionable tools to better serve parties while maintaining neutrality and ethical boundaries. Participants will examine how to prepare parties for mediation in a way that builds clarity, trust, and readiness. We’ll focus on how to identify and address barriers to participation, including emotional overwhelm, disability, and power imbalances without overstepping the mediator's role. 

The session will also address how to avoid common pitfalls, like inadvertently coaching parties or creating the perception of bias. Through real-case examples, facilitated discussion, and shared tools, this session will help mediators build their own pre-session approach that is structured, inclusive, and ethically sound.

About Amber Russell

Amber Russell is the Statewide Director of the New York State Agricultural Mediation Program (NYSAMP), where she leads a team committed to bringing conflict resolution services to New York’s producers and agri-businesses. With more than 15 years of experience in the field of alternative dispute resolution, she is an experienced mediator, trainer, and program administrator. Amber has led statewide training efforts and co-developed inclusive training frameworks for ADR professionals, with a focus on accessibility and equity. She has collaborated with the New York State Office of Court Administration on initiatives related to mediation access, program design, and professional development. She brings expertise in program implementation, policy development, and cross-sector coordination. Her work centers on building effective, sustainable conflict resolution systems that are practical, inclusive, and responsive to the communities they serve.