When Relationships Matter,
Conflict Needs a Better Process
At Gradient Resolutions, I help Families, Couples, and Closely Connected Partners Resolve Conflict and Reach Lasting Agreements.
What I do:
Conflict Prevention Classes and Workshops,
Conflict Coaching,
Mediation Preparation
Mediation
Agreement Maintenance and Modification
Where I Help:
Co-Parenting and Parenting Plans
Couples Conflict and Discernment Conversations
Elder Care and Family Caregiving Decisions
Family or Business Partner Dissolutions
Family Conflict Affecting Important Relationships
The Gradient Philosophy: Resolution at the Edges
Resolving conflict is rarely a single conversation—it’s a process. I support clients across the full gradient of resolution, from preparation and coaching to mediation and agreement support. By creating a structured and respectful space for difficult conversations, I help people reach practical agreements and move forward with clarity.
Protecting the Foundation: Children & Development
As a PITC (Program for Infant Toddler Care) Fellow and former Master Infant Toddler Teacher, I view family transitions through the lens of developmental science. Chronic familial stress directly impacts a child’s neural development. My commitment is to help parents build plans that shield children from the crossfire of separation, ensuring that the "intactness" of a family is defined by the quality of its relationships, not by where people live.
Mediating on the Edges
While many practitioners shy away from the most difficult cases, I specialize in them. I am uniquely equipped to handle the "edges" of the conflict spectrum—including cases involving domestic violence, restraining orders, and complex contested adoptions.
I do not avoid high-friction environments; I stabilize them. By working closely with courts and counsel, create safe processes to explore what is possible. My role is to create a containment field of safety where participants can finally move beyond the dispute.
A Right-Fit Process for Every Story
No two conflicts are the same, which is why I am committed to designing a tailored resolution process for your specific situation:
Represented or Pro Se: I am comfortable working alongside counsel or guiding unrepresented parties through the procedural requirements.
Complex Solutions: My mediations are designed to resolve the underlying relationship issues while securing the technical, durable agreements you need to truly leave the conflict behind.
Our Services
Preparing / Coaching / Strategy
Move from confusion to clarity. Gain the strategic roadmap and conflict coaching you need to safely approach negotiations, even if the other party is reluctant.
A focused, strategy-building phase designed for individual conflict coaching, preparing for a future mediation with an outside mediator, or navigating a reluctant party. This includes up to 4 hours of dedicated, one-on-one individual sessions.
Services conclude after the allotted 4 hours. If additional ongoing coaching or strategy support is required, you can easily purchase a flat-fee "Preparation Renewal Block" to continue our work together without needing to purchase a full mediation package.
Amicable, Low-Conflict Mediation
Protect your family’s foundation. A structured, predictable mediation process to help you reach a practical, durable parenting plan or agreement without the stress of court.
A structured, predictable resolution process ideal for:
Low-Conflict Parenting Plans,
Parent/Teen (Young Adult) Disputes,
Neighbor Conflicts
Simple Business Disputes.
Includes 2 hours of individual preparation sessions and up to 4 hours of joint mediation. It also includes a final written agreement provided by Gradient Resolutions, unless you elect for independent counsel to draft the language.
The Details:
Pacing Boundary: To prevent decision fatigue and ensure precision, the 4 hours of joint mediation are strictly divided into 2- or 3-hour blocks.
Drafting Boundary: For court-involved cases, the drafted document is provided as an unsigned version to be submitted to the court; it is not a finalized legal order until accepted by a judge.
Preparation | Mediation | Post-Mediation Support
Secure your family’s future. An end-to-end resolution and maintenance plan built to withstand legal scrutiny, shield your children from chronic stress, and adapt as your family grows.
Ensuring that you come to the right agreement by supporting each party through the entire process:
Individual Coaching
Mediation
Individual and Joint Sessions to Build and Maintain Communication Skills and Agreements
20+ hours comprehensive management, starting at $10,000.
Deeper Disputes / Intractable Conflict
When communication has completely broken down, we provide the time, safety, and specialized structure you need to reach strong agreements.
8 hours in session + 8 hours intensive support
Safety Parameters: Strict adherence to pre-established safety parameters and legal boundaries is required to keep all parties grounded in reality and ensure the process remains secure.
Laura Lorber, J.D.
Certified Co-Parenting Specialist (CoPS) | Founder, Gradient Resolutions
Welcome to a Safe Space for Resolution
When you step into my virtual mediation room, you are stepping into a safe, warm, and controlled space. I know that dealing with family conflict is incredibly hard. My Zoom room is not a cold, sterile legal office. It is a human place where we can do the hard work, laugh, and sometimes even cry together. If you feel unsure about using virtual meetings, I am here to help you feel comfortable and empowered as you learn this new environment.
From Caring for Children to Helping Parents
For years, I worked directly with children as a Master Infant Toddler Teacher and a Program for Infant-Toddler Care (PITC) Fellow. I saw firsthand how chronic family stress directly affects a child's brain development.
That is why I shifted my focus. I realized I could help children more by helping their parents build plans that shield them from the crossfire. My approach is deeply inspired by the Reggio Emilia preschool philosophy, as I was previously the Infant-Toddler Lead for the San Diego Reggio Roundtable. This philosophy teaches that the environment matters. From the way our virtual room feels to my calm demeanor, everything is designed to help you feel safe. I want you to feel ready to explore new options, even if it takes a while to feel brave.
A Right-Fit Process Built for You
No two families are the same, so my mediations are never cookie-cutter. The pacing and structure change to fit your specific needs and the nature of your conflict.
We usually start slowly. This intentional pacing helps prevent exhaustion. Because of this careful start, the final agreement often comes together in a flash at the end. There are no interrogations here. I gather the information I need through purposeful conversation. Once, a parent asked me, "When does the mediation actually begin?" I smiled and answered, "I'm already writing parts of the agreement."
We also make room for big emotions. If things get heated or someone falls apart, we stop. In one mediation, a mother became completely overwhelmed. We simply sat together and processed what happened, and we only moved forward when she was ready. At the end of the day, she told me, "I don't know if you believe in God, but I do. And I believe God put me in this Zoom room with you today."
Bringing Reality and Boundaries to the Room
While I bring deep care to our sessions, I also bring reality. Holding a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, I use my legal background to create firm boundaries around what is legally necessary and possible. This keeps everyone grounded and safe. Sometimes that means I have to get tough, but I am always tough on the process, never on the parties.
Professional Credentials & Accolades
Juris Doctor (J.D.), University of San Diego School of Law
MC3 Certified Mediator
Certified Co-Parenting Specialist (CoPS)
Program for Infant-Toddler Care (PITC) Fellow
Co-Founder, Elder Care Coalition
Author, Your Co-Parenting Plan Blueprint
Over 8 Years of Practice, specializing in high-conflict and complex family matters
Often, clients tell me that after our first 15-minute consultation, they finally have hope again. Whenever you are ready to find clarity, I invite you to reach out.
Finding Balance with Puddles
When I am not navigating the edges of conflict, I find my own balance walking and training my rescue pittie mix, Puddles. He makes sure that I step away from my desk and walk off the stress of the day at least twice a day! Just like in mediation, we focus on what works: when he gets anxious, we don't stress—we get training. He currently holds two AKC Trick titles, and we are almost ready to test for his third. Much like the complex family cases I handle, Puddles has taught me that even the most misunderstood, high-stakes situations can find peace and stability when you provide clear boundaries, patience, and the right environment.
“Puddles the More”
AKC Trick I & 2 Titles
What is Mediation, Anyway?
Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process where parties work directly together to design their own durable resolutions. It is a space where autonomy meets expert guidance, allowing you to move from conflict to clarity without a court-imposed outcome.
A high-level mediator must be a "bilingual" practitioner, fluently straddling two distinct worlds:
Legally-Grounded Resolution: This is essential for cases originating in court, such as a divorce where existing custody rulings or statutory requirements provide the framework. We ensure your agreements are built to withstand legal scrutiny.
Psychologically-Grounded Resolution: This is vital for families navigating complex relational shifts—such as redefining roles and reimbursements when caring for aging parents. Here, the focus is on communication, fairness, and the preservation of the family unit.
A mediator does more than remain "neutral." My role is to actively assist you in:
Narrating your story so it can be heard without triggering further conflict.
Developing a strategy based on your true needs rather than just your "position."
Facilitating negotiation to bridge the gap between stagnant friction and a workable agreement.
Whether we work together in the same room or remain in separate private sessions to protect the parties or the integrity of the process, the goal remains the same: a right-fit resolution tailored to your unique gradient of conflict.
The Gradient Process: Your Roadmap to Resolution
Gradient Resolutions utilizes a structured, four-phase approach designed to transition participants from the 'edges' of conflict back to a grounded center.
This process is intentionally paced to prevent decision fatigue and ensure that every resulting agreement is durable and sustainable.
The Final Steps: From Session to Settlement
Once consensus is reached on all agenda points, the transition from negotiation to a binding resolution follows a precise protocol:
The Document: A final written agreement is provided by Gradient Resolutions, unless the parties elect for independent counsel to draft the formal language.
The Execution: The signing process is determined by the legal path of the case:
Private Agreements: In matters where no court orders are required, the final agreement is signed by all parties immediately upon conclusion.
Court-Involved Cases: If the agreement is subject to judicial review, an unsigned document is submitted to the court. Participants sign the final agreement once it has been accepted by the judge and incorporated into formal orders.
Pacing for Precision: Resolution may be achieved in a single session or intentionally divided into 2 or 3-hour blocks. This structured pacing ensures that no agreement is reached under the influence of exhaustion or frustration, preserving the integrity of the final outcome.
Schedule your Session
15-Minute Strategy Consultation:
The purpose of this brief call is for us to meet, discuss my resolution frameworks, and determine which 'Resolution Block' is appropriate for your situation.
Important Note: To preserve the procedural integrity and neutrality required for future mediation, please do not share the specific facts or details of your dispute during this call. We will focus strictly on the process, safety parameters, and next steps. Detailed intake occurs only after a formal 'Agreement to Mediate' is in place.
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