Stage 1: Description
What is Description? The Description stage involves recounting an event or experience factually and objectively, without interpretation, judgment, or emotion. It establishes the foundation for reflective learning by ensuring the situation is clearly understood and accurately documented.
In Gibbs' Reflective Cycle, the first stage asks the supervisee to describe what happened in a specific mediation session or scenario. The focus is on observable details rather than assumptions or emotions, which will be explored later in the cycle (Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis).
Key Considerations
- Encourage factual accuracy without omitting crucial details.
- Avoid subjective interpretations or assumptions.
- Include all relevant parties, actions, and outcomes.
Key Attributes of Effective Description
- Objectivity – Focus on facts, not interpretations.
- Clarity – Present events in a coherent, chronological order.
- Completeness – Cover participants, actions, and outcomes.
- Neutrality – Avoid emotional judgments or assumed motives.
- Context-awareness – Provide background details needed for understanding.
Insights for Mediation Supervision
- Foundation for Reflection – A clear, factual description ensures later stages (Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis) are grounded in accuracy, not bias.
- Promotes Self-Awareness – By focusing on observable actions, supervisees begin noticing practice patterns without conflating them with personal judgments.
- Enhances Supervisory Dialogue – Supervisors can guide reflection more effectively when both parties share an accurate understanding of the event.
- Reduces Conflict in Supervision – An objective account avoids defensiveness, keeping the focus on learning and professional growth.
For FDR practitioners, accurate description also reflects neutrality and professional accountability requirements under the Family Law Act 1975 and the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2025.
Supervisor Prompt
"Can you describe the session step by step, focusing only on what was said and done—not how you or the parties felt?"
Scenario
Sophie, a mediator, conducts a family mediation session between parents Alex and Jordan, negotiating parenting arrangements for their two children. Tensions rise when discussing weekend time arrangements. Alex interrupts Jordan several times, raises their voice, and eventually leaves the room for five minutes. Jordan folds arms, avoids eye contact, and speaks minimally. When Alex returns, both parties remain hesitant and anxious.
In Supervision
When asked to describe the session, Sophie recounts only the observable facts:
"During the 90-minute session, Alex interrupted Jordan on four occasions while discussing weekend parenting arrangements. Jordan responded with folded arms, minimal verbal engagement, and avoided eye contact. At 45 minutes, Alex left the room for five minutes, which I recorded. When Alex returned, I asked both parties to summarise their understanding of the discussion. Both appeared anxious and paused frequently before responding."
Notice that Sophie:
- Focuses on observable behaviours (interruptions, body language, timing).
- Avoids assumptions about motives or emotions.
- Maintains objectivity, separating her own feelings from the description.
- Provides sufficient detail and chronology for supervisory discussion.
Insights and Takeaways
- Objective recounting ensures reflection is rooted in facts, not bias.
- Clarity in description allows supervisors to understand context and sequence, enabling targeted guidance.
- Separating facts from interpretations supports professional neutrality and prevents misattribution of motives.
- Non-verbal observations (folded arms, eye aversion) provide critical insights into communication dynamics.
- Systematic documentation (timing, session length, specific actions) strengthens accuracy and accountability.
- Foundation for deeper reflection – Later stages (Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis) depend on a reliable description.
Key Takeaways for Supervisees
- Focus on observable facts, not interpretations.
- Include specific details (timing, sequence, frequency, non-verbal signals).
- Maintain professional neutrality—keep personal emotions or judgments out.
- Ensure the account is complete enough for the supervisor to understand the session fully.
Stage 2: Feelings
What are Feelings in Reflection? The Feelings stage explores the emotional responses experienced during or after a mediation event. Emotions influence behaviour, decision-making, and professional practice, and understanding them is essential for reflective learning.
Reflecting on feelings helps uncover underlying biases, anxieties, or assumptions that may shape mediator practice. In supervision, this stage invites supervisees to identify their emotional responses during a session — such as frustration, empathy, anxiety, or confidence — and consider how these feelings influenced their interventions, neutrality, and communication style.
This stage is not about blaming or excusing errors, but about understanding the influence of emotional states on professional actions.
Key Considerations
- Normalize emotional responses as a natural part of mediation practice.
- Differentiate between personal and professional emotions.
- Explore how emotions influenced actions and interventions during the session.
Key Attributes of Effective Reflection on Feelings
- Self-awareness – Accurately recognising and naming emotions.
- Emotional regulation – Understanding how feelings shape behaviour while maintaining professional conduct.
- Non-judgmental reflection – Accepting emotions without defensiveness or suppression.
- Insight-oriented reflection – Identifying what emotions reveal about practice.
- Practice relevance – Linking emotional experiences to mediator actions and session outcomes.
Insights for Mediation Supervision
- Promotes self-awareness – Recognising emotional responses helps mediators manage them in real time.
- Supports professional growth – Identifying emotional triggers enables mediators to plan strategies for future sessions.
- Enhances supervisory dialogue – Open discussion of feelings fosters trust and enables targeted supervisory support.
- Strengthens neutrality – Awareness of emotional influence is critical for impartiality and supporting all parties equally.
For FDR practitioners, reflecting on feelings supports obligations under the Family Law Act 1975 and the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2025 to maintain neutrality, professional competence, and safe practice in emotionally charged contexts.
Supervisor Prompt
"What were you feeling at key moments in the session, and how do you think those emotions influenced your responses?"
Scenario
Continuing from Stage 1, Sophie, the mediator, reflects on her emotional responses during the parenting mediation session between Alex and Jordan. As Alex raised their voice, interrupted Jordan, and later left the room abruptly, Sophie experienced anxiety, frustration, and relief at different points.
In Supervision
When invited to reflect on her feelings, Sophie responds without judgment:
"During the session, I felt anxious when Alex raised their voice and interrupted Jordan. I worried about losing control of the session or appearing ineffective. When Alex left the room, I felt relief that the tension had eased, but also uncertainty about resuming the discussion. As interruptions continued, I felt frustrated trying to keep the conversation balanced and ensure both parties felt heard."
Notice the qualities of Sophie's reflection:
- Identification of emotions – She names anxiety, frustration, and relief clearly.
- Connection to context – Each feeling is tied to specific events.
- Neutral acknowledgment – She observes her emotions without self-criticism.
- Professional awareness – She considers how feelings may influence neutrality and facilitation.
Insights and Takeaways
- Recognising emotions enhances self-awareness – Feelings affect mediator decisions, neutrality, and interactions.
- Distinguishing personal and professional emotions – Concern about appearing ineffective is acknowledged without equating feelings with actual performance.
- Emotions as data for growth – Frustration indicates areas where strategies (e.g., pacing, managing interruptions) may need refinement.
- Facilitates targeted supervision – Sharing feelings enables supervisors to explore triggers, coping strategies, and alternatives.
- Supports emotional regulation – Awareness of feelings allows planning for future sessions (e.g., grounding techniques, structured pauses).
Key Attributes of Reflecting on Feelings
- Honesty – Acknowledging emotions openly, without judgment.
- Relevance – Linking emotions to specific events.
- Professional insight – Recognising their influence on practice.
- Foundation for growth – Preparing for later stages of reflection.
- Supports empathy – Understanding one's own feelings enhances awareness of parties' experiences.
Example Takeaways for Supervisees
- Document your emotional responses as objectively as possible.
- Explore how emotions shaped your behaviour in the session.
- Identify emotional triggers as areas for skill development.
- Use insights to plan strategies for managing similar experiences.
- Recognise that emotions are normal and informative, not obstacles to professionalism.
For FDR practitioners, reflecting on emotions supports obligations under the Family Law Act 1975 and the Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2025 to maintain neutrality, manage emotional states, and ensure safe and balanced practice.
- When you describe a mediation session, how easily can you separate facts from feelings or interpretations? What challenges might arise?
- How comfortable are you in identifying and naming your emotions after a mediation session, and how could this enhance your reflective practice?