PRACTICE SWIMMING LIKE WHALES

4⁴SRI® (4⁴ Structured Reflective Instrument) International Certificate Program

Tzofnat Peleg-Baker, PhD & Bryan Hanson, EdD

Most conflict professionals are highly skilled at working with what they can see—what the parties express explicitly. Yet conflict research consistently shows that many of the dynamics shaping conflict remain outside conscious awareness, influencing mediators' and parties' perceptions, judgments, decisions, interventions, and outcomes.

As a result, even experienced practitioners often leave mediations sensing that something important went unaddressed, without being able to identify exactly what it was or learn from the experience. There is a consistent gap between what practitioners aspire to do and what they actually do in practice.

We cannot address—or reflect on—what we do not notice.

The challenge is not simply reflecting. It is engaging in structured, systematic reflection that reveals what otherwise remains invisible.

The 4⁴SRI® (4⁴ Structured Reflective Instrument) was developed by Dr. Tzofnat Peleg-Baker to help third-party interveners bridge that gap by continuously learning from their experiences and refining their craft in pursuit of the highest levels of professional mastery.

The development of this framework is driven by an unwavering commitment to continual improvement in navigating complex, nuanced, emotionally charged conflict situations and grounded in a nontraditional approach to professionalism as a continuous journey of learning and improvement (see in On a Reflective Path for Building Professional Mastery in Third-Party Interventions,” in Michael Lang “The Guide to Reflective Practice in Conflict Resolution,” 2^nd edition 2024).

The 4⁴SRI® is a multidisciplinary, research-based, and goal-oriented reflective framework designed and adapted specifically for conflict practice. It is informed by multidisciplinary behavioral science research, including cognitive psychology, neuroscience, medicine, expertise development, learning, education, management, philosophy, and more.

Rather than relying on general reflection or traditional debriefing, the framework is built on a multi-layered reflective architecture applied systematically to intentionally engage deliberate, reflective System 2 so it can orient and strengthen ongoing automatic, intuitive System 1 processing.

The framework is grounded in the understanding that professional growth depends not simply on reflecting on experience, but on how reflective practice is designed and practiced.

The 4⁴SRI®'s multi-layered reflective architecture is built around four interconnected layers of structure:

- Four goal-oriented dimensions of conflict (SPIR): Substantive, Process, Identity, and Relational, three of which operate largely beneath conscious awareness while often drive conflict implicitly.
- Four reflective questions within each dimension.
- Four analytical questions used to examine every response.
- Reflection conducted in a Structured, Systematic, Shared, and Safe (SSSS) learning environment.

Together, this reflective architecture helps practitioners notice and address significant implicit social-psychological dynamics that often remain beneath conscious awareness, increasing the risk of circular interactions and stalemate.

By strengthening the dialogue between the two systems and better addressing implicit concerns, practitioners reduce the gap between aspiration and practice, interrupt habitual patterns, and continuously improve professional judgment and impact.

The Certificate Program

The 4⁴SRI® Certificate Program is designed for mediators, facilitators, ombuds, coaches, restorative practitioners, leaders, and other conflict professionals committed to continuous professional growth.

Dr. Tzofnat Peleg-Baker and Dr. Bryan Hanson will facilitate the program, which comprises seven monthly two-hour sessions and includes presentations, dialogic sections, selected readings, and hands-on, case-based practice

Participants will learn the principles and resources of the 4⁴SRI® and apply them to their own real cases in a supportive learning community. Through repeated practice, participants learn to systematically:

- strengthen the interplay between intuitive and reflective thinking;
- reveal and address significant implicit dynamics driving conflict;
- interrupt habitual patterns of practice;
- make more effective decisions;
- and expand their professional effectiveness and impact.

Participants learn to approach their practice differently and acquire a structured reflective methodology that they can integrate into their everyday professional work long after the program concludes.

PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE IS A PRACTICE.

It is the path to becoming the whole practitioner mediators aspire to be

The goal isn't simply to improve the next mediation—it's to continually grow toward the highest levels of professional mastery and keep becoming a better conflict professional.

Invite your colleagues. Third-party professionals driven by curiosity, humility, and an appreciation for the unknown will find the program especially valuable. The program brings theory and practice together through presentations, dialogue, selected readings, and hands-on, case-based practice. Learning is enriched through peer-shared reflection in a structured, systematic, safe, and supportive environment, using participants' own practice cases. Participants are encouraged to bring their experiences, questions, and professional dilemmas to each session.

The program is limited in the number of participants.
Participants will receive 4⁴SRI® framework and will earn a 4⁴SRI® Certificate upon successful completion of the program

Schedule (subject to holiday adjustments): We meet for two hours on the last Wednesday of each month for a total of seven months: September 30, October 28, November (TBD), December 30 (or TBD), January 27, February 24, and March 31, 9:00AM-11:00AM/12:00PM-2:00PM (Pacific Time/Eastern Time).

Tuition: $1060

Discounts:

- 25% discount for APFM members who register by August 31, 2026.
- 20% Early Bird discount through August 31, 2026.
- Participants who register with a colleague receive a 10% discount each.
- Additional discounts may be available. Please reach out.

More about the 4⁴SRI ® methodology and the program:

Book Chapter: On a Reflective Path for Building Professional Mastery in Third-Party Interventions

International Ombuds Association Blog: An introductory piece on the benefit of the SRI for Ombuds.

CRQ article: A structured reflection for improving third party interventions and mediation practice

More information: inclusiveconflictintl@gmail.com

Click here to watch an introductory video about the upcoming APFM workshop and the 4⁴SRI ® Certificate Program!

What 4⁴SRI® Certified Practitioners Say About the Certificate Program?

Andrea Braeutigam, J.D., LL.M, US
"This program helped me recognize and apply the wisdom already present in my practice, and I’ve benefited from the collective wisdom of other colleagues. It deepened not only my professional skills but my self-awareness as a practitioner. Reflective practice has changed how I approach my work—and myself. It is revived my love for the practice after all these years, as there is evermore to master in the art of mediation."

Senior Associate Ombuds, US University in Boston
"I found the program valuable in its design and in seeing others in the field on their learning process, as well. The set up of half lecture, half working through scenarios helped take the theoretical into practice. For my learning style, I might’ve done better with a more compact schedule, but the timing did allow for real life scenarios to arise in the classmates’ practices which was incredibly helpful in putting the information into practice."

Tracey O’Brien, Mediator and Dispute Resolution Specialist, Canada, Mediation & Dispute Resolution Services of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB), Labour and Human Rights Secretariat / Administrative Tribunals Support

"The Program was an excellent experience. Over the duration of the course, my ability to reflect on my own interventions within mediation improved significantly. The readings were both accessible and highly relevant to real-world practice. The instructors were exceptionally kind and incredibly knowledgeable, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment. The pace of the program was great as it allowed for practice in between sessions.

One surprising takeaway for me was realizing, through observing both the instructors and fellow participants, that my communication skills could benefit from further development—a valuable insight I might not have discovered otherwise. I would highly recommend this course to practicing mediators. It deepened my self-awareness, enhanced my skills, and ultimately helped me to reflect with purpose towards becoming a better mediator."

Amiel Nubaha, Principal Consultant & Community Mediator of the Year 2025, Brisbane, Australia

"This learning journey has strengthened my ability to apply structured reflection in my mediation ad peacebuilding work, supporting dialogue and sustainable conflict resolution practices. Thank you for your guidance and for creating such a meaningful space for growth and learning. I look forward to embedding these tools into my practice."

Larry Sternberg, Former President, Talent Plus, Inc., US

"This program was definitely a good investment of my time. I am a better mediator today as a result of what I learned in this course, and I am a better partner for my colleagues in helping them reflect on their experiences.

What I learned here will pay dividends for many years to come. I recommend this course to anyone interested in learning a tested, practical process that supports continuous improvement in one’s mediation skills.

Furthermore, it is evident to me that reflective practice can be applied to any endeavor in which a person strives for continuous improvement."

More Certified Practitioners Reported that the 4⁴SRI® Helped Them:

• Gain Clarity About Their Role: Realize they do not have to be psychotherapists to help parties explore sensitive, unspoken issues that influence conflict.

• Address Implicit Dynamics: Develop a deeper understanding of how invisible social-psychological dynamics shape conflict and of their role in addressing them.

• Strengthen Their Interventions: Become more confident and effective in helping parties pause, examine, and express difficult emotional concerns.

• Improve Professional Judgment: Better answer challenging questions such as What should I attend to—and when? leading to more effective decisions in practice.

• Uncover Dynamics: Effectively surface the underlying dynamics driving tensions and conflicts.

• Learn in a Safe Reflective Community: Examine dilemmas and uncertainties in a structured, systematic, non-judgmental learning environment with colleagues facing similar professional challenges.

FACILITATORS:

Tzofnat Peleg-Baker, PhD is a scholar and applied social psychologist specializing in personal and professional growth, continuous learning, and improving decision-making in conflict through structured, systematic reflective practice. Her work is grounded in multidisciplinary research and decades of leadership in conflict resolution, dialogue, mediation, and education.

She developed the 4⁴ Structured Reflective Instrument (4⁴SRI®), a multi-layered, research-based reflective framework designed to systematically support continuous learning and gradually align professional practice with professional aspirations. Practiced within a supportive learning community, it helps practitioners identify and address the implicit social-psychological dynamics that shape conflict and intervention.

Tzofnat's practice, teaching, and publications span communication, dialogue, conflict engagement, negotiation, mediation, inclusive leadership, and restorative justice. She has taught and trained both within and beyond academia, including in Rutgers University's MBA program. Her previous leadership roles include pioneering democratic schooling and intergroup dialogue initiatives in the Middle East, training government officials in Africa, directing the Israeli Ministry of Justice's national ADR strategy, and serving on dialogue and peace-building boards. She also collaborated with Michael Lang for many years in advancing reflective practice and co-facilitated the 4⁴SRI® International Certificate Program. Today, she coaches and trains conflict professionals internationally while serving marginalized communities in Oregon as an equity-based community and family mediator and restorative justice practitioner. ResearchGate; LinkedIn

Bryan Hanson, EdD, Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner® is an ombuds, educator, mediator, facilitator, and leader in the field of conflict engagement. He currently serves as the Ombuds for the Graduate School at Virginia Tech, where he works with members of the Graduate School community to help them engage in and manage conflict constructively. His approach centers on conversations that foster a deeper understanding of the university system and greater awareness of effective ways to communicate concerns related to the conflicts his visitors experience. As a conflict practitioner and a certified 4⁴SRI® practitioner, Bryan has found the structured reflective methodology instrumental in addressing the challenges inherent in helping others navigate conflict. He is eager to carry this learning forward to support colleagues in building confidence in their practice through systematically practicing the 4⁴SRI® ® methodology.

In service to the field, Bryan serves as the editor of The Independent Voice, the International Ombuds Association’s public-facing blog. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Conflict Resolution from 2013 to 2018 and held the position of Board President from 2016 to 2017. Additionally, he was a founding member of the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Mediation Association, serving as its inaugural President from 2010 to 2012. In 2012, he was nominated to the Advisory Council for the Supreme Court of Nebraska’s Office of Dispute Resolution, where he served until relocating to Virginia in 2017.

CANCELLATION POLICY

If participation is canceled a month or more before the start, an administrative fee of $150.00 will be charged.
If participation is canceled three weeks before the start, 50% of the full program cost will be charged unless the participant finds a replacement.
If participation is canceled two weeks before the start, 65% of the full program cost will be charged unless the participant finds a replacement.
Requests for cancellation received less than two weeks before the start will only be refunded if the participant finds a replacement.
There are no refunds/partial refunds for missed sessions.

PRACTICE SWIMMING LIKE WHALES: 4⁴SRI® (4⁴ Structured Reflective Instrument) International Certificate Program