When conflict or harm occurs, we can be uncertain about what to do. There are so many questions that we might have:

• How do we move forward when something so difficult and challenging to our community has occurred?

• How do we create a pathway that is safe for others and lessens the impact of the harm on people?

• How do we respond in a way that is anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and takes into account systemic, cultural privileges and dynamics of power?

• As we chart out a response, are we deliberate about engaging people in a way that is respectful, inclusive and trauma-infomed?

• How do we rebuild trust and confidence in our team?

We believe that organizations, groups, and teams are living systems.  They are alive, organic and interdependent.  The health of any organizations reflects the quality of relationships between people. When relationships and connections between people have been broken or weakened, there is naturally less trust, more fear and increased anxiety throughout an organization. The process of returning to wellness, strength and wholeness is difficult but it is not impossible. There is a way for leaders to respond and ensure that people feel heard and are supported in solving problems and also empowered to make decisions that will help teams thrive and move forward. When relationships have been broken, or conflict or harm has occurred, a good facilitator creates the space for respectful, safe and productive dialogue that focuses on three fundamental areas of inquiry: “What happened?”; “Who has been affected and how?”; and “What needs to happen to make things right?”. At its heart, the process of moving though harm requires that people be engaged in finding solutions and also encouraged to find their way to a “new normal”.

In partnership with organizational leaders, we work to create healthy organizations and good outcomes for all. Our ADR specific offerings include:

• restorative processes, including formal restorative conferencing

• conflict coaching for organizational leaders

• early neutral evaluation/assessment

• conflict transformation processes

• systems and process design/consulting

• group training

Our services have been utilized with much success in a number of contexts: communities and neighbourhoods, institutional (schools, universities, custody and care facilities, governing bodies and boards), corporate, business and not for profit organizations, criminal justice systems, the media and arts industry, both unionized and non-unionized work environments, and families. We specialize in services that are inclusive, culturally competent and meaningful for all involved. We value relationships, diversity, and inclusion and are deliberate about increasing synergy, intercultural understanding and collaboration in group and team environments. We maintain strict confidentiality in all of our work. Our speciality is the design and delivery of restorative processes to help restore rebuild relationships in organizations and teams following allegations or investigative findings of discrimination, harassment, and bullying.  

Please note that due do current contractual obligations, Gola is not currently offering her consultative services within Nova Scotia.

If you are outside of Nova Scotia and would like to receive a complimentary consultation on your organizational challenge, please connect directly to Gola at gola@arcworks.ca or call 902-219-2619. You can also learn more about Gola’s work and practice history here.