Berkeley Mediation & Restorative Justice Practices offers problem-solving processes to welcome conflict as an opportunity for our differences to be respected and understood.  In creating for you an environment where conflict and opposition are expressed in a way that is safe, enriching and informing, rather than dividing, recurring clashes can be resolved and gridlock transformed into greater connection and harmonious exchange.

Along with other restorative justice practices, Pepper teaches you an individual, internal conflict resolution-based offering as a self-care practice related to EFT, (Emotional Freedom Technique created by Gary Craig) .  The Tapping technique Pepper teaches, which uses biocognitive science-based and indigenous wisdom cultures is known as the Triad Method of Tapping.   The word triad stands for body, mind, and spirit, and is an indigenous, self soothing  acupressure technique based on the multidisciplinary research behind biocognition as well as 1,000 year old wisdom cultures. 
Thanks to fMRI brain imaging, confirming Tapping's ability to create new neuro-maps in the brain in resetting the nervous system to relaxed calm, combined with the effects of slow breathing,  the "pocket" form of Triad is quick and easy. Pepper teaches this  self care several minutes version, and a more comprehensive traditional program for achieving powerful lasting change.
Is tapping considered a restorative justice process? Pepper has noted that as we are all meant to be peacemakers as biopsychosocial beings, and peacemaking begins in being gentle with ourselves, finding ways to practice a life-giving harmonious way of life. Restorative justice begins inside our own bodies. 
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Founding Principal Pepper Black, in practice since 2006,  is also available for guest lecturing. She is currently a guest lecturer in the Department of Education at University of San Francisco, where she is a part of the USF Crisis Response Triage Team, The team has responded to address the needs of those affected by flood, fire, earthquake, active shooter mass shooting (Gilroy) and the humanitarian crisis at our southern border. Currently Pepper is on contract with  Bay Area Border Relief as a part of the USF Crisis Response Triage Team, returning half a dozen times in response to the humanitarian crisis on the Texas Mexico border in the refugee camps of Matamoros, Mexico.
Pepper has also guest lectured at Santa Clara University, Notre Dame de Namur University, Institute of Public Law, Brasilia, Brazil, in the Department of ​Social and Environmental Sciences at University of California, Berkeley, and Florida International University.  She has taught the Triad Method of Tapping in the classroom from elementary school to the college classroom, and offers groups and individual sessions. 

After you have reviewed these offered forms of restorative justice practices,  a complimentary consultation can help you discover the process best suited for your needs.

​Pepper's mentors are numerous, most notably the work of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, creator of the
​Nonviolent Communication process and cultural psychoneuroimmunologists Dr. Mario Martinez, and Dr. George Solomon, as well as Dr. Belinda Hernandez Arriaga, and many more  too numerous to name.      

To explore together finding the right tools to apply to your situation, call
​(510) 984-4581, or fill out the Contact section below. Thanks. Pepper Black

Services

• Family Group Decision-Making
  Honoring families as experts of their own needs
  This family group conference originated in New Zealand wherein a restorative justice practitioner informs and discusses with the family the expectations and services and resources available to support the family’s plan, with parameters and goals clearly established. Then as the most radical feature of this process, the practitioner leaves the room, for a given period of time, allowing for “family alone time” empowering the family to agree on solutions in private discussion.
  
  
• Family and Group Mediation
  Resolving conflict between parties with concrete effects
  The mediator creates a safe environment for participants to discover solutions by agreeing to communicate until the mediation session concludes with an agreement or to agreeably disagree with next steps in place, until solutions are found that work for both parties.
  
  
• Restorative Conferences and Circles
  Linking issues and interests to greater good outcomes
  Between two people or as a group, conferences and circles are an invitation for open communication. A formal conference or an informal circle can include reparation of harm through these restorative justice processes. A more comprehensive explanation of a chosen process is given to you through consultation. 
  
  
• Harm Prevention, Behavioral First Aid & Violent Critical Incident Management Training
  Prevention for the best outcome while being prepared for the worst
  This training equips an organization or business to begin the practice of training to safely respond to a targeted violence incident. In addition training is offered in how to identify potentially violent individuals and groups, and how to get them help before they resort to violent acts.
  
  
• Restorative Dialogues
  Dialogue between those harmed and those who have done harm
  This is a scripted mediated exchange between parties in order for everyone to be heard and understood and agree to reparation of harm.
  
  
• The Triad Method of Tapping Series for individuals and groups
  -Practical applications for daily self care because restorative justice must begin inside our own bodies-
  EFT is also known as “Tapping”.  The Triad Method - is based on biocognitive science in reference to mind, body, and spirit experienced within our culture.  Mind is in this context a reference to conscious awareness, and body as including the biology of the human brain.
• The Triad Method is a nervous system resetting tool; a personal growth, stress, and trauma-releasing somatic technique utilizing an indigenous, self-soothing, repetitive, gentle finger tapping on acupuncture meridian points on the upper torso,  along with a guided dialogue.
• As we expand our knowledge of the human brain, and greater respect for the "wisdom" of our bodies, we gain understanding of the ways in which such embodied psychological and emotional states can be navigated for enhancing health and well being. The Triad Method is used as a daily self-care practice for peacemaking inside one's own body/mind/spirit. We have vast internal resources, and the Triad  is one of  many means for accessing our best selves.
• Guided self-dialogue while tapping is useful for relief from traumatic experience and other adverse and haunting experiences. Tapping can be used as a part of a mental health support system, for stress management, daily self care, and to challenge belief systems for an enhanced quality of life.​
  The American Psychological Association recognizes EFT as an evidence-based practice.
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• Read more about Fees, Additional Specialized Services and Training
• Pepper's personal experience with The Triad Method of Tapping .

Meet Pepper

Pepper Black is a Harvard College and University of California certified mediator, has certified as a victim offender dialogue practitioner through Insight Prison Project, a certified trainer by the EFT Institute,  licensed in restorative justice practices training by International Institute of Restorative Practices, and has been certified as a violent critical incident management trainer through ALICE Training Institute.
​More about Pepper.

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Contact & Scheduling

Call (510) 984-4581 to discuss scheduling.
For other enquiries please use the contact form below.​