Reflective practice is a cornerstone of professional development in mediation. It enables practitioners to critically examine experiences, deepen self-awareness, and refine intervention strategies. In mediation supervision, structured reflection is particularly vital: it helps mediators assess skills, emotional responses, and ethical decision-making while fostering continuous professional growth.
Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle (1988) provides a systematic six-stage framework for reflection: Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, and Action Plan. Each stage builds upon the last, guiding practitioners from recounting events to developing actionable strategies for improvement.
(Figure: Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle – adapted from Gibbs, 1988)
By engaging with the cycle, supervisees can:
- identify what occurred in mediation sessions,
- explore the impact of feelings and behaviours,
- evaluate the effectiveness of interventions,
- analyse underlying causes,
- draw meaningful conclusions, and
- design action plans for future practice.
Why Reflection Matters in Mediation Supervision
- Promotes self-awareness and accountability – recognising strengths, biases, and blind spots.
- Improves decision-making – supporting thoughtful, theory-informed interventions in complex disputes.
- Encourages continuous professional development – aligning with CPD and supervision requirements under the Family Law Act 1975 and FDRP Regulations 2025.
- Enhances emotional regulation and resilience – enabling mediators to manage stress and remain neutral.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
- Define the role of reflective practice in mediation supervision.
- Describe Gibbs’ six stages of reflection.
- Apply Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle to real or simulated mediation cases.
- Evaluate how reflection supports professional growth and mediation outcomes.
Comparison of Kolb and Gibbs in Mediation Supervision
|
Aspect |
Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle (1984) |
Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle (1988) |
|
Core Stages |
1. Concrete Experience |
1. Description |
|
Focus |
Learning from experience through a cyclical process of action and reflection. |
Structured reflection with a strong focus on emotions, evaluation, and planning for change. |
|
Key Question |
“What did I experience, reflect on, conceptualise, and then try differently?” |
“What happened, how did I feel, what worked/didn’t, why, and what will I do next?” |
|
Strengths in Mediation Training |
- Encourages theory-practice integration. |
- Provides clear structure for reflective journaling. |
|
Best Use in Supervision |
- When guiding trainees through cycles of practice and improvement. |
- When helping trainees process emotions after difficult sessions. |
|
FDR Compliance Link |
Aligns with FDRP duties of competence, neutrality, and continuous development under the Family Law Act 1975 and FDRP Regulations 2025. |
Supports FDRP obligations around self-awareness, ethical decision-making, and professional growth as part of ongoing supervision and CPD. |
|
Learning Style Emphasis |
Experiential, iterative, adaptable. |
Reflective, emotional, action-oriented. |
Summary for Learners:
- Kolb is best when you want to understand the whole cycle of learning and connect practice to theory.
- Gibbs is best when you need a structured reflection tool for journaling, processing emotions, and setting action plans.
- In supervision, Kolb helps with cycles of development, while Gibbs supports deep reflection after specific cases.