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The Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (CPR) in collaboration with Reconciliation Alliance Consult (RAC) at the weekend launched a new approach to Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) christened �CounsMed Methodology�. CounsMed is a hybrid of counseling and mediation, which guarantees that mediation, is smoothly carried out with a two-pronged effectiveness which deals with emotions and substantive issues. The CounsMed methodology employs psycho-analytical methods in helping disputants to understand some behavioral dynamics of their life situations. Dr Emmanuel Hopeson, Counselling Psychologist explained that CounsMed is a skill methodology in ADR that enables a neutral or impartial third party to facilitate individual�s exploration of their feelings, thoughts, and behavior in intra and interpersonal conflicts. Dr Hopeson said mediation and counseling are techniques which help people to communicate and facilitate processes for people to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others and express needs and emotions that impair collaboration. He said the reason why mediation sometimes fails is because it strives on the willingness of disputants to resolve their differences, adding that, mediation can help settle a conflicts but not resolve it because of the deep-seated human emotions that were involved and were left unattended. �Through mediation, many angry people learn to put their anger aside so they can reach a settlement that is truly in their best interest and not one that satisfies a need for revenge or punishment� he added. Dr Hopeson said CounsMed Methodology has the professional skills and tools to respond to needs and help disputants to unlearn wrong behavioral reflexes and replace them with positive conciliatory behaviors that facilitate sustainable resolution. He stressed that CounsMed Methodology adds value to the practice of ADR and conflict resolution in that disputants in conflict situations have emotional needs such as perceived threat of loss, validation of self-worth, respect for personality and identity. Dr Hopeson presented certificates to 10 graduates from the training programme in ADR and conflicts, self-mediation and third party mediation, urging them to make good use of their knowledge and impact it positively to society. Reverend Father Raymond Osei-Tutu, a graduate and Parish Priest at the St Kizito Catholic Church, Nima, said the training has empowered them with new knowledge and skills to mediate in dispute resolutions. He appealed to clergymen and women to enroll in ADR training programmes because conflicts, both in marriage and society, is on the increase and this knowledge will help in addressing them for peace. The CPR is a professional Life Management, Counseling, Mediation, ADR, Peace and Conflict Resolution Research and Training Organization. The Centre is in partnership with RAC and affiliated with the Pulse Mediation Institute, Canada and Mediation Training Institute Internationa as well as the USA to provide training and certification in mediation and strategic management of conflict drawing upon over 35years of experience