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The Conversations That You are Avoiding Are Costing You More Than You Realize
Whether it's family disputes, business conflicts, or workplace tension, I create space for difficult conversations where everyone feels heard, —so you can reach real solutions without the time, cost, and damage of litigation.
And I don't just resolve today's conflict—I equip you with the skills to navigate tomorrow's challenges with confidence.
The most important conversations are often the ones we're not having.
I'm Kim Best—critical care nurse turned conflict mediator. After decades in healthcare crisis situations, I discovered that people in conflict need the same thing people in medical emergencies need: to be seen, heard, and understood.
Today, I help organizations and families have the conversations they've been avoiding. Through mediation, training, and coaching, I teach the skills that transform tension into trust.
Because there aren't "people problems"—there are skills gaps. And every conversation is two stories seeking one understanding.
About
Conflict is normal. It's what happens when people care deeply about different things. But unresolved conflict doesn't have to be the stopping point. I always say I love conflict management—unless it's my own. Because we all need someone who's "for" everyone in the room, where blame and judgment don't exist, where we can negotiate a better way forward that works for everyone.
You get to decide the outcome, without the time, cost, and relationship damage of litigation. Through mediation, coaching, and training, I create the space where difficult conversations become possible, outcomes are better and relationships can become stronger.
How I Help
Family Mediation
Families don't fall apart because they disagree, they fall apart becuase they don't know how to have the conversations that matter. Whether you're navigating elder care decisions, estrangement, or major family transitions, family mediation creates a space where everyone can be seen, heard, and validated. I help families find their way back to each other without the courtroom battles that destroy relationships. No matter the past, you can negotiate a better future.
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Healthcare Conflict Resolution
As a former ER/ICU nurse, I understand the weight of what you carry—and the cost when conflict goes unaddressed. Turnover. Burnout. Patient care suffering. I help healthcare organizations build conflict management systems that work, not just for today's crisis, but for tomorrow's challenges. I provide mediation, team training, and organizational consulting specifically designed for the pressures of medical environments.
Workplace Conflict Management
Your workplace doesn't fail because it has conflict, it fails when people don't know how to resolve it. I help businesses, nonprofits, and organizations turn workplace tension into productive conversations through mediation, conflict coaching, and practical skills training. Whether you're dealing with partnership disputes, employee conflicts, or team communication breakdowns, I teach the frameworks that help people navigate disagreement with confidence.
Conflict Coaching
Sometimes you don't need a mediator in the room, you need someone in your corner. Conflict coaching is one-on-one support to help you prepare for difficult conversations, navigate workplace dynamics, process conflict-related stress, or build your personal capacity to handle disagreement differently. Whether you're a professional facing a tough conversation with your boss, a parent navigating family tension, or a leader developing conflict management skills, I teach practical tools that work under pressure. Because there aren't "people problems," there are skills gaps—and you can close them.
Meet Dr. S
Local Physican and Practice Owner
The result? Less turnover, more job satisfaction, and unity.
The most transformative change, however, was the implementation of a robust conflict management system. All new hires were oriented not just on the practical aspects of their roles but also on the collaborative culture and the conflict support that came with it.
It’s no secret that healthcare can be a high-stress environment. But when that stress turns into conflict, it can threaten the very heart of a practice. This was the situation facing a physician's office that was on the verge of fracture, with top employees on the edge of walking out and management entangled in the seemingly endless task of deciphering right from wrong. Long-standing frustrations had reached a boiling point, but before it all imploded, conflict management provided a lifeline.
The turnaround began with an approach that may seem unconventional in the clinical world: the team stopped viewing one another solely as co-workers and started to see each other as people with lives and stories beyond the practice’s walls. I facilitated a gathering that allowed us to discover who each were outside of work. This seemingly simple step changed the whole dynamic; when people felt heard and validated, they opened up.
Armed with newfound understanding and camaraderie, the team tackled the core issues head-on. The solutions didn’t come from management but from the employees themselves. Leveraging their insights and ideas, they redesigned their office workflow and environment to reflect the kind of workplace they all desired—a space where teamwork and patient care was a top priority.
The Blog
Client Reviews
Jack K., Los Angeles City Attorney's Office
“Kim is the most advanced mediator on our team and does possess a very high level of knowledge in dispute resolution. She currently handles some of the most complex cases we have here at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. She is ALWAYS focused on a resolution. She has a very unique and professional skill set that helps other parties feel more relaxed, at ease, and open to resolving high conflict situations. Kim has resolved all of the cases that have been assigned to her. I can’t think of one that has been unresolved. Kim is the most fair and transparent individual on our team. She is loyal, honest, and committed.”
Jan S.