- This event has passed.
2026 40-Hour Basic Family & Divorce Mediation Training
40-Hour Basic Family
& Divorce Mediation Training
8 half-days via Zoom
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Friday , January 30, 2026
Saturday , January 31, 2026
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Friday, February 6, 2026
8:30 am – 1:30 pm each day
Presented By Program Trainers:
Louise Zito, Esq.
Eva DeFranco, JD
(with guests: Beth Karassik, PhD; Elizabeth Thayer, PhD; and Lisa Gresham, CDFA)
This comprehensive training is designed to give each participant the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to mediate family matters. The training utilizes role plays (don’t be shy) & exercises in breakout rooms, lectures, demonstrations, videos, games (fun) and discussions in small and full group settings. Our multifaceted and practical training approach is designed to immerse you in every aspect of divorce or custody mediation. You will gain practical experience, through immersive role plays, from conducting the initial meeting through the steps of negotiation and finalizing agreements, as well as through drafting your own Mediation Participation Agreement. You will be provided with tools, forms, techniques, and practical advice to enable you to participate in divorce mediations with competence. We also thoroughly discuss the limits of our respective professions in a divorce mediation.
Among the topics covered are:
- Mediation theory and technique
- Process values
- Ethics and best practices
- Suitability for mediation and red flags
- Managing power imbalances
- Procedural road map for mediation
- Mediation toolbox and mindfulness
- Neuroscience
- Mediating in the presence of psychopathology, addiction and domestic violence
- Negotiation
- Co-mediation and working with other professionals
- Use of Family Law Software
- Impasse
Special Registration Notices
- Early Bird until: 10/28/25
Member: $1450
Non-Member: $1550
Reviewer $800 - Standard 10/29 – 1/14/2026
Member: $1650
Non-Member: $1750
Reviewer $1000 - Closing date: January 14, 2026 at 5 pm. No cancellation or refunds after 1/14/2026
Please note that all CCND events are subject to change or cancellation. CCND reserves the right to cancel the Training if there are fewer than 11 registrants by 1/14/2026. In the event of cancellation, registered participants will receive a full refund of any payments made. We will make every effort to notify attendees as soon as possible in the event of any changes or cancellations. Refund requests for any other reason will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be subject to administrative fees, however after 1/14/2026 no refunds will be issued for any reason. No late registrations after 1/14/2026 will be accepted.
Our Trainers
Eva M. DeFranco, Esq.
Partner – Collins Hannafin, P.C.
Eva DeFranco, JD, is a divorce mediator and collaborative divorce practitioner. She has practiced divorce law since 1986 and was trained in mediation and collaborative practice in 2005 and 2007. She is a partner at Collins, Hannafin, P.C. Eva is committed to helping her clients reduce the toll and turmoil inherent in the adversarial divorce process and guiding them to achieve their most important goals. Eva is co-founder of the CT Mediation Training Group and conducts the 40-hour basic mediation training in CT for lawyers, mental health professionals and divorce financial planners. Eva is past president and a current board member of the CT Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce. She is an APFM-certified advanced practitioner and has been recognized with the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating as well as Super Lawyers. Eva is an avid vegetable gardener, potter, hiker and golfer and lives with her husband and golden retriever in Sherman, CT.
Louise Zito, Esq.
Admitted to CT and NY BARS: 1986, US District Court: 1986
Graduate of New York Law School, 1985
Louise Zito has mediated family and related matters for over 35 years and draws heavily on her Mediation experience in her Collaborative work. She takes great delight in training new mediators and learning from them and her partner, Eva DeFranco, who never fails to challenge and energize. Louise also trains Attorneys, Family Specialists and Financial Specialists in Advanced Family Mediation and Collaborative topics.
Louise is a Senior Fellow to the Quinnipiac School of Law Center on Dispute Resolution. She is an APFM Certified Advanced Practitioner and is a current Board member and Past President of CCND.
She co-founded the Divorce Solutions of CT and the Ct Family Mediation Training Group. She is a member of the Connecticut Summit of Collaborative Professionals, APFM and IACP. Louise is also on the Steering Committee for The Taskforce on Reimagining Family Dispute Resolution, a joint project of CCND and The Center on Dispute Resolution. She is also a principal in Center for Family Mediation and Collaborative Divorce and partner in the Calma Collective which offers advanced trainings for family professionals in retreat settings.
Louise happily joined Dolan Divorce Lawyers in 2021 after many inspired and joyful years as a partner in Biller, Sachs, Raio and Zito. She now serves as Of Counsel to Dolan Family Law which allows her to continue Consultations, offer Second Opinions and engage in Impasse Resolution and Termination Consultations. She is proud to work with the many talented attorneys in this firm, and grateful for the opportunities afforded her in this position.
She has received numerous awards in recognition of her work in law, the community and family dispute resolution, and is most grateful and honored to be the recipient of the Howard Krieger Beacon Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021.
www.dolanfamilylaw.com
calma-collective-retreats.com
Contact Louise at [email protected] or 203-397-6171.
Continuing Education Notice
We do not approve CLE, CE, or CEU credits for our programs. Each professional is responsible for determining whether participation may qualify for continuing education credit within their own profession and jurisdiction and for self-reporting as appropriate.
Certificates are not issued for CCND trainings except for the 40-Hour Basic Family & Divorce Mediation Training and the Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training. For all other programs, no certificate of attendance will be provided.
Cancellations / Refunds
Please note that all events are subject to change or cancellation. In the event of cancellation, registered participants will receive a full refund of any payments made. We will make every effort to notify attendees as soon as possible in the event of any changes or cancellations. Refund requests for any other reason will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be subject to administrative fees. Please see specific event for date after which no refunds will be issued for any reason and after which registration closes.