“Linda Olden-Smith's book, Playing the Resolution Card: Mediating Disputes With the Thought Resolution Protocol, outlines a practical and novel approach to mediation. With her unique voice and writing style, she offers practical insights on mediator focus, impartiality and resolution techniques. The clear explanations and the innovative Mediator Intervention Flash Cards, can help mediators to reach resolution with more precision and elegance. I plan to use the insights of the book and the flash cards in my practice and in my teaching and coaching.”  

- Kay Elkins Elliott,J.D.,  LL.M.; TMCA Distinguished Credentialed Mediator; Former President Dallas ACR (2007); Board member of TMCA, TMTR, TCAM.Adjunct Law Professor of Alternative Dispute Resolution Courses at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (18 years) and Coach for 5 ADR teams each year at Texas Wesleyan School of Law;(1998 National Negotiation Championship); former board member of the State Bar of Texas ADR Section Council, Co-Author of  SBOT  ADR Handbook (2003), Simple Dispute Resolution: A Handbook of Settlement Science Solutions (2008-Knowles Publishing).

 “Olden-Smith poses the question, “If appropriately striking the right keys on a piano can achieve harmony reliably, is there a way that interpersonal conflict can, as well, be harmonized?”  This raises some profound considerations about these realistic applications that can provide productive results.  Playing the “Resolution” Card: Mediating Disputes with the Thought Resolution Protocol™ delivers this realistic application.  I personally reviewed the Mediator Intervention Flash Cards before conducting a mediation session.  I find that they assist in properly adjusting my focus on the task at hand and organize the structure of my intervention so that I can efficiently and effectively serve the parties.”

- Ron Johnson
Administrative Judge, Mediator, Arbitrator
Conflict Resolution Facilitator & Consultant
Adjunct Professor, Human Resources & Management

"Until I read, understood and applied the concepts outlined in this approach, I realized that I was just putting a band-aid on deeper conflicts.  Playing the Resolution Card: Mediating Disputes with the Thought Resolution Protocol™ presents a practical understanding and application of metaphysical ideas for resolving conflict.  Linda displaces theory, philosophy and dogma with no-nonsense technical action.  The book demonstrates the realistic achievement of resolution for any conflict.  Further, the Mediator Intervention Flash Cards are a ready reference guide to diffuse explosive issues that may arise in everyday interactions.  Using the book and flash cards you will learn to positively and dramatically improve your interactions with others.”

- Lisa Hembry
Former Dallas County Treasurer,
President/CEO of Dallas iMedia Network

"The book, Playing the Resolution Card: Mediating Disputes with the Thought Resolution Protocol™, provides a practical perspective for mediation written by a highly respected professional mediator. Unlike many other mediation books that are written in a very generalized format, this book gets to the specifics of what it takes to make mediation a useful tool for the participants to resolve conflict. Linda Olden-Smith has a humorous, insightful and personal way of writing that illustrates the Thought Resolution Protocol ™, while still encouraging the reader to develop his or her own individual mediation skill set. Not only does the book provide examples and real world scenarios, it also contains a set of Mediator Intervention Flash Cards. These flash cards are invaluable to both the novice and experienced mediator as a way to enhance their communication skills." 

 - Mardi Winder-Adams , M.Ed, Credentialed Distinguished Mediator,
Secretary of the AFCC, Texas Chapter, Parenting Coordinator, Consultant 

“Playing the “Resolution” Card: Mediating Disputes with the Thought Resolution Protocol™ takes the exalted idealistic viewpoints traditionally associated with conflict resolution and demonstrates a commonplace method for the realization of these ideals. The Thought Resolution Protocol™ is simple yet amazingly smart and pioneering.  The ideas Ms. Olden-Smith shares regarding how to think and work through conflict should be a staple in the curriculum in our lower, upper and higher educational institutions.”

- Karen Hembry Ph.D., Educational Research and Evaluation