Mind-Body Skills Group
Mind-Body Skills Group (MBSC): Resilience, Focus, and Presence for High-Stakes Conversations (8-Week Live Series) This live, virtual Mind-Body Skills Group is an experiential, research-informed program that teaches practical mind-body techniques to strengthen focus, emotional balance, and resilience. Participants learn skills to manage stress, navigate life transitions, and respond more thoughtfully under pressure—in both personal and professional settings. For mediators, attorneys, and other conflict-facing professionals, these skills directly support the core competencies that improve mediation quality: steadier presence, reduced reactivity, clearer thinking in difficult moments, and a stronger ability to keep sessions constructive when emotions rise. For participants outside legal and conflict work, the same tools apply to everyday stress, relationships, caregiving, leadership, and health-related challenges. Format and structure: - Live on Zoom, small group: 8–10 participants (max 10); - Schedule: 8 sessions, 2 hours each, on a set day/time; - Approach: didactic experiential learning practice group support; - Techniques may include: meditation, autogenic training, breath work, guided imagery, self-expression, movement, and related practices; - Confidentiality: required; no recording/screengrabs; participate from a private space (standard safety exception if someone expresses intent to harm self/others); - Attendance: punctual attendance and participation in all sessions is expected (limited exceptions for illness/emergency); - Required pre-group interview: brief Zoom interview with the facilitator to confirm fit, answer questions, and test technology; - CLE: CLE credit will be pursued for eligible participants;
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- English
$295.00
This course includes
- Duration 16.0 hr
- Language English
- Next Start Date March 2nd 2026
Course Description
Mind-Body Skills Group (MBSC) is a structured, supportive small-group learning experience designed to build practical self-regulation skills for real life: stress, illness, uncertainty, demanding relationships, and high-pressure work. Using a research-informed model of mind-body skill-building, participants practice techniques that strengthen the ability to remain focused, fair, and thoughtful—especially in moments that would normally trigger reactivity or shutdown.This is a participatory course. Each session integrates teaching, guided practice, and opportunities for reflection and connection in a warm, confidential online group environment. Sharing is encouraged but unforced; the emphasis is on learning skills you can apply immediately in your personal life and work life.
How this helps mediators, attorneys, and conflict professionals (without excluding others):
If your work involves difficult conversations—mediation, negotiation, client counseling, leadership, education, healthcare, human services, or community work—your nervous system is part of the process. When you can regulate yourself, you tend to regulate the room.
MBSC supports stronger performance in conflict settings by helping you:
- Stay grounded under emotional heat so you can slow escalation and keep parties engaged.
- Improve listening accuracy and neutrality by reducing internal “noise” and stress-driven bias.
- Choose interventions more intentionally (pacing, silence, reframing, agenda resets, caucus decisions) because you have more internal bandwidth.
- Manage difficult interactions more skillfully by noticing activation early and returning to calm more quickly.
- Recover faster after intense sessions which supports sustainability and reduces burnout.
At the same time, participants who are not in mediation or legal work benefit in highly practical ways: improved stress management, more consistent emotional steadiness, better focus, and a clearer ability to respond thoughtfully to everyday challenges at home and at work.
Participation requirements (important):
- Small group, confidential format: 8–10 participants; respect and confidentiality are required;
- Privacy and no recording: participate from a private space; no photos, recordings, or screengrabs;
- Commitment: attendance and punctual participation across all eight sessions is expected (limited exceptions for illness/emergency);
- Zoom video participation is required;
- Required pre-group Zoom interview: used to confirm fit, test technology, and answer questions before final acceptance;
- CLE credit will be pursued for eligible participants (details provided prior to or during enrollment);
About Instructor
Tobin Lay, JD, MBA, is the Executive Director and COO of Mediation Center, a facilitator, a qualified neutral (civil and family mediator) under Rule 114 of the MN General Rules of Practice, and occasionally works as an Adjunct Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, teaching Negotiation, Theories of Conflict, and Organizational Conflict Management. Mr. Lay also volunteers with Community Mediation Minnesota as a member of its Board of Directors. Until recently, Mr. Lay has worked professionally as a public administrator, where he served as City Administrator and/or other roles for the Minnesota Cities of Landfall Village, Birchwood Village, and North St. Paul. Mr. Lay received a B.S. from University of Phoenix, with a major in Business Management, an M.B.A. from Hamline University, with a concentration in International Management, and a J.D. and Certificates in International Business Negotiations and Advocacy and Problem Solving from Hamline University School of Law.
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