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Laurel SchroederMediation & Restorative Justice

Mediation • Restorative Justice • Conflict Resolution

Finding Common Ground.Creating Meaningful Resolution.

Thoughtful mediation and restorative justice services grounded in more than two decades of experience in counseling, education, and leadership.

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Meet Laurel

A career spent in difficult conversations.

Laurel Schroeder brings more than two decades of experience in education, counseling, and organizational leadership to her developing work in mediation and restorative justice. Throughout her career, she has supported individuals, families, educators, and professionals navigating complex challenges and difficult conversations. Her experience as a school counselor, dean, director of student services, principal, and graduate-level instructor has called for thoughtful communication, perspective-taking, and practical leadership.

About Laurel

Proposed Services

Ways we might work together.

All Services

  • 01

    Family & Interpersonal Mediation

    Support for family disagreements, communication breakdowns, and difficult shared decisions.

  • 02

    Workplace & Organizational Mediation

    Facilitated conversations between colleagues, employees, leadership, and teams.

  • 03

    Educational & School-Based Conflict Resolution

    Drawing on two decades inside schools — as counselor, dean, director, and principal.

    A distinctive strength

  • 04

    Restorative Justice Facilitation

    Structured dialogue focused on understanding harm, accountability, and needs.

  • 05

    Community & Civil Dispute Mediation

    Neighborhood, community, and suitable interpersonal or civil disagreements.

  • Not sure where your situation fits?

    Discuss your situation

Why Work With Laurel

Experience Makes a Difference.

Good facilitation draws on more than technique. Laurel's background brings patience, structure, and a deep familiarity with how people move through conflict.

  • 20+ years of professional experience

    Two decades supporting students, families, educators, and staff through complex, emotionally charged situations.

  • Two master's degrees

    Graduate study in Guidance & Counseling and in Educational Administration at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

  • A counselor's ear

    Training in listening, perspective-taking, and helping people articulate what matters most to them.

  • Graduate-level teaching

    Taught counseling theories, ethics, and multicultural counseling — frameworks that inform careful, fair facilitation.

  • Educational leadership

    As dean, director, and principal, navigated competing priorities with clarity, steadiness, and practical judgment.

  • Restorative justice training

    Restorative Justice Facilitator training through the University of San Diego, centered on harm, accountability, and repair.

The Process

A Thoughtful Approach to Resolution

  1. 01

    Initial Consultation

    A conversation about the general nature of the conflict and whether mediation or restorative facilitation may be suitable.

  2. 02

    Understanding Perspectives

    Clarifying concerns, issues, and priorities so each participant feels heard and the conversation has a clear focus.

  3. 03

    Facilitated Dialogue

    Encouraging respectful communication and the exploration of possible solutions, at a pace that works for everyone.

  4. 04

    Moving Forward

    Identifying potential agreements, next steps, and improved communication where possible. Not every process ends in agreement — and that's okay.

Learn About the Process

Education

  • 2026

    Restorative Justice Facilitator

    University of San Diego

  • 2011

    M.A. Education, Administration · Administrative Credential Tier 1

    California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

  • 2004

    M.A. Education, Guidance & Counseling · Pupil Personnel Services Credential

    California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

  • 2020

    Administrative Credential Tier 2

    Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO)

  • 2002

    B.A. Sociology, minor in Gender Studies

    California State University, Stanislaus

Selected Recognition

Begin

The first conversation is often the hardest. It doesn't have to be.

Request an initial consultation to explore whether mediation or restorative facilitation may be a good fit.

Request a Consultation

Through Laurel’s lens

Places & small discoveries.

Tall palm trees against a cloud-filled sky above colorful buildings
01Tall palm trees against a cloud-filled sky above colorful buildings
Pink and green tea shop with teacups and cakes displayed in curved windows
02Pink and green tea shop with teacups and cakes displayed in curved windows
An evening garden dining space with trees wrapped in warm lights
03An evening garden dining space with trees wrapped in warm lights
Ocean Plaza building illuminated in vivid pink at night
04Ocean Plaza building illuminated in vivid pink at night
A large alligator mural across a city building
05A large alligator mural across a city building
White hydrangeas in a leafy garden with a grand house in the distance
06White hydrangeas in a leafy garden with a grand house in the distance
Laurel Hardware sign glowing red against an evening sky
07Laurel Hardware sign glowing red against an evening sky
A pink bedroom with floral wallpaper and a framed painting above the bed
08A pink bedroom with floral wallpaper and a framed painting above the bed
An arched bridge with stone towers spanning a river beneath a cloudy blue sky
09An arched bridge with stone towers spanning a river beneath a cloudy blue sky
A baseball park beyond a railing inscribed with the words I was Here
10A baseball park beyond a railing inscribed with the words I was Here
A vintage red convertible passing a tree-lined street and brick restaurant
11A vintage red convertible passing a tree-lined street and brick restaurant
Waterfront towers catching the evening sunlight beneath a broad pastel sky
12Waterfront towers catching the evening sunlight beneath a broad pastel sky
A stone house with tall windows surrounded by trees and a green garden
13A stone house with tall windows surrounded by trees and a green garden
Glowing red lanterns suspended beneath a canopy of flowers and foliage
14Glowing red lanterns suspended beneath a canopy of flowers and foliage
An illuminated observation wheel above a lively pedestrian street at night
15An illuminated observation wheel above a lively pedestrian street at night
Golden sunset over a coastal cove with tree branches framing the water
16Golden sunset over a coastal cove with tree branches framing the water
A luminous swirling plume crossing a starry night sky near the moon
17A luminous swirling plume crossing a starry night sky near the moon
A turquoise-lit swimming pool framed by palm leaves and warm evening lights
18A turquoise-lit swimming pool framed by palm leaves and warm evening lights
A waterfront sculpture of a sailor kissing a woman beneath a clear blue sky
19A waterfront sculpture of a sailor kissing a woman beneath a clear blue sky
A tiered courtyard fountain in front of a domed building under a blue sky
20A tiered courtyard fountain in front of a domed building under a blue sky
Vintage wooden bowling lanes beneath an ornate ceiling and warm lights
21Vintage wooden bowling lanes beneath an ornate ceiling and warm lights
Trees reflected in a blue-tiled pool beside a landscaped garden
22Trees reflected in a blue-tiled pool beside a landscaped garden
Black-and-white photograph of tall palms above a tiled-roof building
23Black-and-white photograph of tall palms above a tiled-roof building
Colorful illustrated motel postcards displayed in wooden holders
24Colorful illustrated motel postcards displayed in wooden holders
A curved wooden interior framing greenery and a glowing High desert hideaway sign
25A curved wooden interior framing greenery and a glowing High desert hideaway sign
A winding road passing through successive arched tunnels in a rocky hillside
26A winding road passing through successive arched tunnels in a rocky hillside
A wooden roadside book-sharing cabinet beneath leafy trees
27A wooden roadside book-sharing cabinet beneath leafy trees
A tall spiky agave behind a bright green mailbox and wooden fence
28A tall spiky agave behind a bright green mailbox and wooden fence
A pale blue roadside shelter with colorful painted shapes, wooden benches, and a circular opening
29A pale blue roadside shelter with colorful painted shapes, wooden benches, and a circular opening
A framed vintage portrait draped with flower garlands beside historic photographs
30A framed vintage portrait draped with flower garlands beside historic photographs
A sunny golden-sand beach with swimmers, palms, and waterfront buildings
31A sunny golden-sand beach with swimmers, palms, and waterfront buildings
A white swan in a garden stream surrounded by green lawns and tall palms
32A white swan in a garden stream surrounded by green lawns and tall palms
A colorful Olowalu Farmers Market food truck beneath leafy trees
33A colorful Olowalu Farmers Market food truck beneath leafy trees
The Alii Nui catamaran photographed at water level beneath a cloud-dotted blue sky
34The Alii Nui catamaran photographed at water level beneath a cloud-dotted blue sky
A catamaran near a sandy beach beneath a softly glowing sunset sky
35A catamaran near a sandy beach beneath a softly glowing sunset sky
Three softly colored textile panels suspended in a spacious gallery
36Three softly colored textile panels suspended in a spacious gallery
Tall geometric stone figures rising above green hedges in a sunny courtyard
37Tall geometric stone figures rising above green hedges in a sunny courtyard
A painted wall portrait of a woman with long hair and a green pendant
38A painted wall portrait of a woman with long hair and a green pendant
A wooden sauna with a broad window overlooking blue coastal waters and a hillside
39A wooden sauna with a broad window overlooking blue coastal waters and a hillside
Tall palm trees overlooking vineyard rows and green hills beneath a blue sky
40Tall palm trees overlooking vineyard rows and green hills beneath a blue sky
Colorful kayaks beside a lake framed by tall cacti and spiky agave leaves
41Colorful kayaks beside a lake framed by tall cacti and spiky agave leaves
Curved outdoor soaking pools and lounge chairs with mountains in the distance
42Curved outdoor soaking pools and lounge chairs with mountains in the distance
A large red moose mural against a green woodland scene on a brick building
43A large red moose mural against a green woodland scene on a brick building
A painted stag with sweeping antlers against a warm desert landscape
44A painted stag with sweeping antlers against a warm desert landscape
Framed embroidery reading Friendship Warms The Heart on a coral-colored door
45Framed embroidery reading Friendship Warms The Heart on a coral-colored door
A sunlit restaurant with arched windows, woven pendant lights, and cushioned bar chairs
46A sunlit restaurant with arched windows, woven pendant lights, and cushioned bar chairs
A grassy coastal hillside overlooking a beach, pier, and blue ocean
47A grassy coastal hillside overlooking a beach, pier, and blue ocean
Five women posing together outside a pink cottage decorated with hearts
48Five women posing together outside a pink cottage decorated with hearts
A sculptural arrangement of translucent green glass and rust-colored metal in a workshop
49A sculptural arrangement of translucent green glass and rust-colored metal in a workshop
A cozy sitting room with leather chairs and a brick fireplace beneath a wooden staircase
50A cozy sitting room with leather chairs and a brick fireplace beneath a wooden staircase
Rolling hills beneath a peach-colored evening sky with grasses and trees in the foreground
51Rolling hills beneath a peach-colored evening sky with grasses and trees in the foreground
A quiet lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows framing trees and distant mountains
52A quiet lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows framing trees and distant mountains
Round barrel cacti and leafy trees beside a clear stone-lined reflecting pool
53Round barrel cacti and leafy trees beside a clear stone-lined reflecting pool
Rows of golden barrel cacti beneath sunlit green trees in a desert garden
54Rows of golden barrel cacti beneath sunlit green trees in a desert garden