đź’ˇ “As a mediator in health, care and workplace settings – and now a Churchill Fellow researching end-of-life dialogues worldwide – my work is all about the power of conversation.”
Hello, I’m Arabella Tresilian. I live in Bath in the southwest of England, and I work as a professional mediator specialising in health, care, and workplace settings. I believe deeply in the power of dialogue – both to resolve conflicts and to create understanding in some of life’s most difficult moments.
Here are 10 things to know about me and my work:
1. My first career was as a playwright.
I wrote verbatim plays based on interviews with people whose voices weren’t always heard – refugees, asylum seekers, people in the mental health system. One play, performed to 400 senior police officers, powerfully shifted perceptions of how people with mental health conditions are treated. That experience showed me how dialogue and storytelling can change lives.
2. Caregiving shaped my calling.
For over a decade I was a caregiver for family members with significant health needs – as well as having my own health and care needs. I often wished a mediator had been present to help navigate the complexities of the health and care system. That experience drew me towards mediation as a vocation.
3. I trained first in community mediation.
Working with a local charity, I mediated between neighbours in conflict. Seeing the speed, dignity, and empowerment that mediation brought convinced me that this was the work I wanted to do.
4. I am accredited in civil, commercial, workplace and employment mediation.
In 2017 I trained with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in London, and since then I’ve practised full-time as a mediator and trainer.
5. Health and social care is at the heart of my practice.
I mediate in hospitals, care settings, and public services, often where families and professionals are at odds over treatment or care. These cases are sensitive, complex, and carry huge consequences — which is why I specialise in them.
6. I believe mediation can reduce the need for court battles.
I recently contributed to research into mediation in medical treatment disputes. I see great potential for mediation to prevent lengthy, adversarial legal proceedings – particularly in cases involving life-sustaining treatment, mental capacity, and care planning.
7. I am a Churchill Fellow.
In 2024–25 I was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study how different cultures approach dialogue about death and dying. My research in India, South Africa, and Peru is helping me explore how mediators can support more culturally sensitive conversations in palliative care.
8. I founded Peaceable.
Peaceable is a community of “soul-led peacebuilders” – a space to share tools for both inner and interpersonal peace. I believe mediators need resources to sustain themselves, prevent burnout, and embrace the deeper, sometimes spiritual, dimensions of peace work.
9. I write and teach.
My background in theatre still plays a role – I write training scripts, design roleplays, and create teaching materials for new mediators. I also train professionals in mediation and conflict resolution skills.
10. I hold a gentle philosophy of practice.
When I first started mediating, I would go to great lengths to help people reach resolution. Over time, I’ve learned that resolution isn’t always immediate or possible – and that’s ok. Mediation is about offering people the chance to be heard, to plant seeds of understanding, and to trust that peace can grow in its own time.
Thanks for reading my ’10 things to know’. If you’d like to know more about my work in health, care, or workplace mediation, or explore training and collaboration, I’d love to connect.