Resources

A wonderful guide to the frontline of conflict mediation. I highly recommend it. 

This book, by Bill Eddy and Michael Lomax, is an extensive and easy-to-read professional deep-dive into the most challenging situations. 

The first lesson in the book is that not everything is solvable and that managing expectations is a key part of mediation. My biggest takeaway from the book is that personality disorders are not that uncommon, and some of them would directly impact the chances of reaching an agreed solution to a given dispute. The task of mediating a conflict where one (or both) of the parties is a person with a personality disorder of being attracted to conflict - is a fascinating thing. 

Go read it.