Becoming a family mediator is a journey, not a quick fix. We prioritise learning for the future and not for the next minute, with high quality modules that allow for time to process, practice, reflect and absorb.
Join us to start here your journey to become a Family Mediator registered with the Family Mediation Council, and discover a challenging but hugely rewarding career.
Family mediators are frequently involved in disputes which can raise complex emotional and legal issues. Over the years, practitioners, theorists and academics have refined a body of practical skills and theories which enable mediators to support the participants and help them through the confusion and conflict they often find themselves in.
Working with separating and separated couples, family mediators help them resolve questions relating to their children and financial arrangements. Family mediators also help resolve conflict between parents/ adult children, siblings or extended family, and can reduce the emotional and psychological harm that conflict can cause.
The first step in becoming a family mediator is to pass a foundation course. After this, you embark on a journey towards accreditation where, with the support of your supervisor and peer network, you compile a portfolio of evidence demonstrating your development as a family mediator.
Our foundation course is delivered in half-day sessions over three modules. It covers everyting from mediation principles to mediating child arrangements, facilitating financial disclosure, or providing information to parents about child inclusive mediation.
The course is assessed by the trainers/coaches and an independent assessor.
The trainers will be observing and assessing all participants during the training, including: their understanding and ability to absorb new concepts, skills and to demonstrate competence; their aptitude as a family mediator; their commitment to the role and tasks; their achievement of a satisfactory level of the FMC professional competencies as outlined in FMC Manual of Professional Standards and Self-regulatory Framework. They will also assess all the assignments except for the video recorded role play in Module 3, which will be sent to an external assessor.
All the assignments need to be passed in order to complete the course. There are two opportunities to resubmit the written assignments and one opportunity to resit the video assessment.
Training to become a family mediator requires a high level of commitment in terms of time and application. Having passed the course you will be able to join one of the five family mediation Membership Organisations and register with the Family Mediation Council as working towards accreditation. You will also need to obtain professional indemnity insurance and find a Professional Practice Consultant.
After completing the course, you must have a post-training review with a Professional Practice Consultant, who will be able to help you reflect on the course and identify what you need to do before you begin to practice as a family mediator.
It is important to try and find an accredited family mediator or mediation service which can offer you opportunities to observe mediation practice and perhaps allow you to work with some of their clients. Some services may charge for providing opportunities for trainees to observe mediations. At Ataraxy, we offer observations without charge.
To achieve accreditation as a family mediator you will need to achieve a high level of mediation competence through practical experience. This is evidenced by your preparation of a detailed work-based portfolio which generally takes between one and three years to complete. Your Professional Practice Consultant will support you through the accreditation process.
All family mediators must have a Professional Practice Consultant with whom they must meet for supervision for at least four hours each year. Those working towards accreditation must have an additional ten hours supervision before submitting their portfolio for accreditation.
This course has been professionally valuable and personally meaningful. With genuinely an incredibly strong and consistent team. A great student: trainer ratio that meant we felt genuinely supported, from start to finish. Sacha, graduate 2026
The first step in becoming a family mediator is to pass a foundation course. After this, you embark on a journey towards accreditation where, with the support of your supervisor and peer network, you compile a portfolio of evidence demonstrating your development as a family mediator.
Join our FMC-approved taster session to discover what becoming a family mediator involves, explore Ataraxy's modular training, and meet our experienced professional trainers and practicing mediators.
A practical, interactive day to help family mediators confidently bring the child’s voice into mediation, in line with FMC Standards and good safeguarding practice.
Learn to use the FMC/FMSB-approved Domestic Abuse Screening and Assessment tool, published in February 2026. This half-day workshop helps you integrate the tool into your MIAM and mediation practice, strengthen your screening skills, and ensure compliance with FMC standards.
