A Conflict Coach is someone experienced and trained in helping others to resolve a conflict.   A conflict coach serves as a sort of counselor to one party in a conflict, helping them sort through issues to determine what they need to do to reconcile with the other party.  Conflict coaches do not engage in professional counseling.

Conflict coaches can become mediators if they are asked by one party to take a more active role in reconciling both parties. 

A Mediator is anyone who has been asked to assist two or more unreconciled parties.  A mediator meets together with both parties, guiding them through the process of reconciliation.   The mediation process follows the universally recognized guidelines  established by Peacemaker Ministries International, including the Guidelines for Christian Conciliation and Standard of Conduct. In many cases, successful mediation can help avert costly legal action.

Dennis Bills trained as both a Conflict Coach and a Mediator through Peacemaker Ministries International .  In his work as a school administrator he has worked for ever a decade with  dozens of families to bring peace to damaged relationships.  He has helped people through accusations of child abuse, marriage conflict, parent-child alienation, and many other types of interpersonal conflict.  He has a reputation for being very effective in getting to the heart of conflict problems and helping people see issues that need to be resolved.

Due to his experience and ability, Dennis has been invited by Peacemaker Ministries to pursue Peacemaker Ministries certification as a Certified Christian Conciliator.  This is an intense training program involving dozens of hours of training and case work.  He expects to complete this process by 2010.  

If you would need either conflict coaching or mediation, do not hesitate to consult with Dennis by phone or email.  During the certification process, Dennis will be looking for opportunities to meet his certification requirements.  This means that his fees will be lower until he has achieved certification.  Like all candidates, Dennis will be under the guidance of a certification coach during this time.

Dennis charges fees that are consistent with standards in the field.  Fees are an investment that help people take the conciliation process  seriously.  See the last entry of the FAQ for more details. 

If Dennis perceives that your problem is beyond his range of experience and training, he will tell you straightforwardly and will help you connect with someone who can help. 

An Important Clarification: Peacemaker Ministries does not endorse any Certified Christian Conciliator's, candidate's or trainee's qualifications, proficiencies, or suitability to provide conciliation services in a particular case. Peacemaker Ministries does not have any control over services provided by Certified Christian Conciliators or candidates not directly administered by the Institute for Christian Conciliation, a division of Peacemaker Ministries.