How a Broken System Led Carol to Build a Better One
When my marriage ended, I expected hardship. I didn’t expect a seven-year legal war. What started as a divorce spiraled into endless disputes, sky-high fees, and a constant undercurrent of mistrust that consumed every part of my life.
We were sent to mediation several times. The mediator was a retired attorney. Well-intentioned, yes, but the process felt hollow. We sat in separate rooms while proposals were passed back and forth like paperwork in a bureaucratic relay. No healing happened. No true understanding was built, and though we eventually signed agreements, the conflict never really stopped. The next fight was always waiting.
The real problem? The process never addressed the root.
We didn’t learn to communicate. Our parenting plan was vague and easy to weaponize. The tension remained unresolved, and like most people who go through traditional mediation, we were left with outcomes that were legally tidy, but emotionally unfinished.
That’s when I realized something had to change.
I Became the Mediator I Needed
I did not fall into mediation as a second career. I studied it. I built it. I live it. With an MBA in negotiation and conflict management, and over 14,000 cases mediated or overseen with a 95% resolution rate, I’ve spent my life creating a new kind of process that is grounded in neuroscience, communication, and real human understanding.
Because here’s what most mediators get wrong:
They focus on settling the case instead of resolving the conflict at its root.
They shuttle between rooms. They deliver numbers. They treat parties like opposing teams in a courtroom. It becomes a battle of attrition, where resolution comes only after people wear down, not because they’ve been heard, understood, or respected.
Worst of all, they act as if being legally correct is the same thing as being emotionally resolved.
I know better.
My Mission Is Simple: Rewire Mediation to Actually Work
I built my practice around one belief:
Mediation should end with peace of mind, not regret.
People should leave feeling heard, empowered, and free, not second-guessing an agreement they were pressured to sign.
This means:
- I get people in the same room whenever possible
- I don’t reach lazy compromises
- I listen for emotional power dynamics, unspoken fears, and missed opportunities to build understanding
- I help people communicate more clearly, not just negotiate harder
Whether you’re facing divorce, custody battles, business disputes, or organizational breakdowns, I don’t just guide you to a solution. I help you build the skills and structure to stay out of conflict, for good.
Who I Work With
I work with families, attorneys, professionals, and organizations across the United States and internationally. I’ve led programs for Amazon, FEMA, the U.S. Air Force, and multiple state Supreme Courts. I’ve built statewide court mediation models, trained legal professionals in brain-based communication, and spoken on stages like TEDx and the United Nations.
But no matter who I’m working with, the mission is the same:
End the conflict cycle at the root. Replace it with clarity, collaboration, and peace that lasts.
As Seen on:
Credentials and Highlights
- Over 14,000 cases mediated with 95%+ resolution rate
- Directed Idaho’s Fourth District Court Mediation Services (team of 70 mediators)
- Designed eviction court mediation models now used in multiple states
- Court-appointed mediator for high-volume dockets in Nevada, Idaho, and beyond
- Adjunct professor in neuroscience-based conflict resolution at University of Idaho Law School, Boise State, and the College of Southern Idaho
- TEDx speaker and United Nations keynote presenter
- Best-selling author with Jack Canfield
- Named Idaho Woman of the Year twice
If You’re Facing Conflict That Feels Impossible
It’s not. But you can’t settle for a checkbox agreement that avoids the real issues. You need a space where resolution feels right, clear, and complete.
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