About Us

Where Science Meets Resolution

Institute of Applied Conflict Resolution and Mediation was founded on a simple idea: conflict deserves a smarter, more human way forward. Built on neuroscience, informed by experience, and grounded in the belief that most disputes can be resolved outside the courtroom, our mission is to create lasting resolutions through empathy, structure, and strategy.

We help individuals, families, and organizations communicate better, resolve conflicts faster, and reach solutions that feel good on both sides. Whether you are navigating family law mediation, workplace disputes, or business disagreements, our mediation services are designed to bring clarity, peace of mind, and long-term results.

Our Approach

At the Institute of Applied Conflict Resolution and Mediation, we use brain-based mediation strategies to support calm, productive conversations that move people forward. Our techniques are designed to minimize resistance, improve understanding, and guide emotional clarity, making us especially effective in family mediation, business conflict resolution, and other complex disputes.

Unlike many traditional mediation attorneys who focus only on legal outcomes, we focus on human behavior. That means fewer misunderstandings, more buy-in from both parties, and outcomes that stick. Every member of our team is trained in neuroscience-backed communication, ensuring consistency in how we help clients find clarity and resolution through every stage of the mediation process.

Meet Carol Barkes

Founder. Mediator. Global Authority in Neuroscience-Based Conflict Resolution.

Carol Barkes is the nation’s leading authority on neuroscience-informed conflict management and negotiation. As a best-selling author and sought-after keynote speaker, she transforms how Fortune 500 organizations approach conflict resolution through cutting-edge brain science.

Armed with a BA in Global Leadership and Influence, an MBA in Conflict Management and Negotiation, and an advanced certificate from MIT Sloan in Neuroscience of Leadership, Carol brings unparalleled expertise to every engagement. Having directed Idaho’s largest Fourth District Court mediation program and currently serving as an ADR Advisor to FEMA, she teaches at Boise State University and the College of Southern Idaho while consulting for industry giants including Amazon, U.S. Air Force, HP, Micron, and the American Bar Association.

Recognized by national media as “the TOP Neuroscience and Conflict Resolution expert in the United States,” Carol’s insights reach millions through major networks including NBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, Wall Street Journal, and PBS. Her groundbreaking TEDx talk, Conflict and Negotiation: From Flames to Solutions, has garnered over 2 million views and was named one of the 30 most influential TEDx talks of this century by LA Magazine—impact so profound it earned her a second TEDx invitation in Swansea, UK.

Carol’s revolutionary approach is forged by her extraordinary background as a professional firefighter in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she discovered that the most dangerous fires require both courage and science to extinguish—a philosophy that now transforms organizational conflicts worldwide.

Affiliations

Take the first step toward lasting impact.

Whether you’re here to resolve conflict, transform communication, or become a certified expert in brain-based strategy, we’re here to help.