Solid Ground - Our Training Services

Solid Ground offers a broad range of trainings, workshops, talks and webinars aimed at enhancing the skills of mental health practitioners, lawyers, advocates and lay persons. Training is either run on-site or via virtual meeting platforms and trainees will be provided with a comprehensive training manual. All the trainers have years of experience as both practitioners and trainers and are committed to providing interactive, professional and relevant training.

“The world breaks everyone and afterwards many are strong at the broken places.”
– Ernest Hemingway –

training events CALENDAR

    If you wish to learn more or join one or more of the training events,
    please contact Claire Penfold on 083 928 8040 or claire@solid-ground.co.za.

    DIVORCE AND FAMILY MEDIATION TRAINING

    NABFAM ACCREDITED

    COURSE DATES 2026
    Thursdays, Fridays & Sundays 8:30 – 13:30
    Feb/March:    26, 27 Feb, 1, 5, 6 & 8 March
    May/June:      28, 29, 31 May, 4, 5, & 7 June
    Oct:                  15, 16, 18, 22, 23 & 24 Oct

    COURSE PRICE
    R6500

      APPLIED LAW FOR FAMILY MEDIATORS

      NABFAM ACCREDITED

      COURSE DATES 2026
      Thurs & Fri 8:30 to 13:30
      March:
      19th & 20th
      Aug:      27th & 28th
      Nov:      19th & 20th

      COURSE PRICE
      R2500

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        APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY FOR MEDIATORS

        NABFAM ACCREDITED

        COURSE DATES 2026
        Sat & Sun 8:30 to 13:30
        April:                14th & 15th
        Aug:                  1st & 2nd
        Nov:                  14th & 15th

        COURSE PRICE
        R2500

          AUTOGENIC TRAINING

          8 Mornings (2 Hour Sessions)

          COURSE DATES

          TBC

          COURSE PRICE
          R2800

            GRIEF COUNSELLING TRAINING

            2 Mornings (9:00-14:00)

            COURSE DATES

            TBC

            COURSE PRICE
            R2800

              BECOMING TRAUMA CONSCIOUS

              2 Mornings (9:00 to 14:00)

              COURSE DATES

              TBC

              COURSE PRICE
              R2800

                Solid Ground - Claudia Abelheim

                Claire Penfold

                Claire holds BA (Psych Hons) and LLB degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand and has worked in the divorce and family mediation field for the last 20 years as both a mediator and trainer. She has provided training in both the NGO and private sectors – training professionals predominantly from the legal and mental health sectors.

                Claire is committed to growing an ethical mediation profession in South Africa – a goal to which she has contributed by training a large number of mediators over the years. She is also currently the Chair of the National Accreditation Board of Family Mediators (NABFAM) and has represented the Family Life Centre on NABFAM for the past 10 years. NABFAM sets accreditation standards for mediation trainings and mediators as well as an ethical code of conduct for mediators.

                Claire is passionate about mediation and strives to provide an alternative to litigation – to reduce the emotional and financial upheaval experienced by families going through divorce or dealing with conflict on issues relating to children or finances.

                Contact Me

                For more information please contact Claire Penfold
                Cell: 083 928 8040
                Email: claire@solid-ground.co.za