We help clients address barriers, conflicts, and mindsets to achieve excellence. You can unlock Potential, Navigate Conflict, Achieve Success, and Thrive!
I’m Grace Carter and welcome to Carter Collaborative Solutions, where we see every challenge as an opportunity for you to grow, learn, and succeed. We help you navigate difficult situations and achieve your desired outcomes with clarity and confidence. Mission and Values:
It was late in my legal career when I began to contemplate the toll of litigation on both parties and attorneys. I also noticed
the failure of legal processes to address and resolve the underlying conflict that fueled the case. Moreover, my legal training left me ill-equipped to help folks resolve those often deep-seated conflicts. As I planned my retirement, I began to study alternative strategies for conflict resolution, reconciliation, and restorative justice. My journey to mediation and coaching was fueled by a passion for helping others navigate life’s challenges with compassion and empowerment. Witnessing the toll of conflict, I offer a more holistic approach, drawing upon my legal expertise to provide clients with the tools and support they need to thrive even in the midst of highly charged situations. Carter Collaborative Solutions offers services rooted in a belief that every challenge presents an opportunity for growth. My mission is to empower you to unlock your potential and create a brighter future. Who do we serve? You are facing a long-simmering conflict that you feel powerless to resolve. One-to-one conflict coaching solution may help you find your power. You find yourself missing appointments and deadline. Your uninspired time management and lackadaisical life planning is threatening your efficiency, and does not support your purpose. You may benefit from the Full Focus suite of services and products from a certified Full Focus Coach. You are a professional who must engage in conflict professionally. You are ready to enhance your understanding and skill in dealing with the stress of constant conflict. You are engaged in a tug-of-war with a family member or neighbor, mediation with conflict coaching may bring peace. You lead a conflict-riddled team or organization, and want to increase morale as you evaluate the emotional culture to help open the lines of communication and foster a healthier workplace. A facilitated Emotional Culture Deck conversation might be just what you need. You are struggling to meet your goals and need accountability and community. If so, joining a mastermind group may be transformative. Clients who are triggered and act in inappropriate ways that cause conflict and difficulty for others, benefit from assessing and understanding conflict styles and those of others in a course or webinar. If you are in any of these situations and more, we’re here to help. CCS offers a range of services including:
1:1 coaching
Workplace PEACE facilitated discussions
Emotional Culture Deck facilitations
Pre-mediation coaching
Group coaching and mastermind groups
… and more, all designed to meet your unique needs and help you achieve your goal of greater peace and equanimity in your personal and professional life. Who is Grace Carter? I am an attorney with 40 years of diverse legal experience. I was an Administrative Judge for 15 years in the employment law arena. I am a certified mediator who has mediated more than 150 cases. I am a mastermind facilitator. I am a mentor to early career attorneys. I am a certified Full Focus Planner Coach. I am an Elephant and Riders Emotional Culture Deck Facilitator. I have coaching certifications from California Coaching Collaborative, Rapid Results Coaching, Creative Results Management, Phoenix Strategies (Conflict Coaching), Full Focus Certification, and Embodied Conflict Coaching. I am a member of the International Coaching Federation.
What kind of services do we provide:
– Mediation and alternative dispute resolution: Individuals, businesses, and nonprofits resolve conflicts and find mutually agreeable solutions through mediation. With our guidance, you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Coupled with early intervention conflict resolution services including conflict coaching, and emotional culture training, you can get off the seemingly inexorable train toward litigation.
– Coaching and training: We offer coaching and training to help you develop your communication and conflict resolution skills, build more collaborative and productive teams, and achieve your personal and professional goals.
– Legal Professional Service Solutions: As a retired lawyer, Grace Carter mentors and coaches legal professionals and others who regularly engage in conflict. Grace provides support to improve productivity and achieve balance. You CAN address the toll of long-term engagement in conflict with knowledgeable coaching. Enhance the profitability of your practice while building effective personal boundaries. The traditional legal professional model can be adapted to ensure your life is balanced, ethical, and fulfilled. Be supported by a coach and mentor that understands the challenges of lawyering, as you design an enjoyable legal career.
-Mastermind Groups: Mastermind groups are a group solution to address productivity, habits, routines, and life planning. They are also valuable to increase creativity, innovation and business development. Specific short-term groups are offered to implement specialized learning such as in conflict resolution, the P.E.A.C.E. process
At Carter Collaborative Solutions, every challenge presents an opportunity for growth and success. With our guidance and support, you can overcome obstacles, resolve conflicts, and achieve your desired outcomes with confidence and clarity. Browse our website to learn more about our services. Read Grace’s blogs and check out her podcast, The 3-Minute Coach. When you are ready, contact us (here – calendly link) to schedule a free consultation with Grace today. Let us help you achieve your goals and thrive in all areas of your life. What are people saying:
My experience: Typically in the past, I attended networking meetings where people are looking for business, I found this group to be the opposite you have a group of people who are genuinely interested in what you have to say and offer HONEST advice, as I say to my kids, appreciate honesty even if you don’t like it. I also loved the fact that members were from around the globe, I loved becoming aware of each person’s “norm” is different, which is GREAT! Loved, loved this group of people!!!
“I wish that I had started this group 10 years ago!”
“Over the last 3½ years, I’ve had the joy of being part of a small group of Friends with faith who meet up for a group Zoom every couple of weeks from around the US, Canada & Europe. We share life updates & current goals we’re working on. When stuck on a challenge, we’ll ask for ideas & resources from the rest of the group to help us keep moving forward. The group is hosted by a wonderfully thoughtful friend: Grace. She’s a Coach & gifted at helping bring out the best in others by sharing resources, encouraging & challenging us to keep growing into the best version of ourselves.”
One-on-one Coaching:
05/30/2026
Tending Joy – Feel Well
Friday’s theme of Wellbeing in the Law Week invites us to reflect on emotional well-being — and one surprisingly powerful ingredient of joy: novelty and meaning.
In busy professional lives, it’s easy to move through our days on autopilot, repeating routines without pause. Yet research reminds us that trying something new can energize us, stretch us, and support our psychological wellbeing. Sometimes joy arrives when we step outside the familiar — a new place, a different perspective, a conversation we wouldn’t normally have, a small act of curiosity.
And while novelty matters, so does rhythm.
Meaningful rituals — the things we return to intentionally — help ground us. A weekly walk with a friend, morning reflection, Friday coffee, a family dinner, or a quiet moment of gratitude can become anchors of joy in demanding seasons.
Today’s gentle nudge: try something new and create space for something meaningful to return to.
What is one small ritual that helps you feel well — or one new thing you’ve been wanting to try? ✨
05/29/2026
Thursday’s theme of Wellbeing in the Law Week invites us to reflect on something deeply human: connection. Joy grows in community. Whether it’s sharing coffee with a colleague, checking in on a friend, gathering with family, or simply making space for meaningful conversation, connection reminds us that we were never meant to carry life alone.
For many professionals, especially in demanding seasons, relationships can unintentionally move to the bottom of the list. Yet research consistently reminds us that belonging matters — not just for happiness, but for resilience, wellbeing, and even performance. Sometimes, tending joy looks less like doing more and more like being with people who make us feel seen, encouraged, and understood.
Today’s gentle nudge: bring people together or reconnect with your people. Send the text, make the call, host the coffee, say yes to lunch, or take a moment to be fully present with someone who matters. Joy has a way of multiplying when shared.
Tell me — who helps fuel your joy? ✨
05/28/2026
Tending Joy - Engage & Grow
Wednesday’s Theme of Wellbeing in the Law Week focuses on engaging and growing — nurturing joy through curiosity, meaningful work, and intentional growth in both our professional and personal lives. Sometimes joy at work feels natural and energizing; other times, we may feel disconnected, uninspired, or simply caught in routine. The invitation today is to gently reignite that spark.
There are simple practices suggested to nurture engagement and experience the side effect of Joy: reflect on how to build your strengths into your day, invest in professional growth, strengthen relationships with colleagues, and create meaningful shared experiences. Just as importantly, consider unplugging for a little while — stepping away from screens to read, create, cook, walk, or do something that feeds your mind and spirit.
Joy often grows when we make intentional space for curiosity, connection, and renewal. Let me know what small step you try today and how it goes.
05/27/2026
Tending Joy - Alignment
Tuesday's Theme of Wellbeing in the Law Week focuses on being aligned - that is, spiritually connected, whether in your personal or professional life. For some, a long, devoted spiritual life is as natural a part of their life as drinking water. For others, the muscle has never been developed- there might be a sense of loss, or vacancy, rather than connection. There are five simple practices suggested to nurture alignment and experience the side effect of Joy: live in gratitude and service, be fully present to others, seek and notice beauty, humor, and intrigue. I know this is coming to you late in the day (sorry about that), but let Joy permeate your tomorrow as you try these practices. Let me know how it goes.
05/25/2026
May is Mental Health Month, a time set aside to think about and nurture our mental health. As part of this observance, the Institute for Wellbeing in the Law commemorates Wellbeing in the Law Week (WBIL). This year it was held May 4–8, 2026.
I was unable to attend the events or share many of the materials at the time. But before the month ends, I want to acknowledge and encourage both the letter and spirit of Mental Health Month and WBIL.
This year’s WBIL theme is Tending Joy.
For me, that theme could not be more timely.
Joy is present when the fragility of life suddenly reveals itself — and you emerge with a promise of healing.
Joy is present because we tend it.
Joy grows when we focus on what is good, expect the best where we can, and search intentionally for evidence of grace in the middle of life’s messiest moments.
The WBIL materials use the metaphor of a garden: joy as something living that requires attention, nourishment, and care. Each day focuses on a different area of wellbeing — Physical, Spiritual, Occupational and Intellectual, Social, and Emotional.
Today's topic is Tending Joy by Staying Strong. I invite you to explore how physical movement can help you access (and tend) the joy. How does exercise, movement, sport bring joy to your life?
05/11/2026
For several weeks, I have been publishing a newsletter for folks who have subscribed through my blog, clients, or friends who have attended my events. It's called Breakthroughs and Bridges. This is my edition for Mother's Day - a tribute to my own Mom. Enjoy!
Happy Mother's Day from Breakthroughs and Bridges
Mother’s Day is a truly egalitarian holiday. We are all some mother’s child, and so Mother’s Day becomes an opportunity to celebrate and consider our feelings, memories, and realities with our own mothers.
05/01/2026
Enjoy Episode 8 of Conflict Competence as we explore the role of blame in conflict. in today's 3-Minute Coach
Blame looks backward.
Progress looks forward.
You usually can’t have both.
To move beyond the blame game, try asking:
“What will move this forward?”
04/28/2026
3 Minute Coach, Conflict Competence - Conflict Is Not a Solo Sport, Episode 7/10
Conflict is not a Solo Sport
Here is a reframe.
Conflict isn’t “me vs you.”
It’s “us vs the problem.”
That shift changes everything.
Try asking:
“What would solving this together look like?”
04/24/2026
3-Minute Coach: Conflict Competence - Respect is Not Optional, Episode 6 of 10
Professionalism isn’t personality.
It’s discipline.
The pause before the reaction.
The choice in the moment.
Ask yourself:
“What would a professional version of me do right now?”
04/21/2026
Conflict Competence – Respect is Not Optional, Episode 4/10
You’ve heard the Godfather say it, or perhaps J.R. in Dallas (dating myself here), and you might have even said it yourself, “You don’t get respect, you earn respect.”
You must consciously bring respect to every conflict conversation.
Disagreement is not evidence of disrespect.
Nor must disagreement dissolve into disrespect
But disrespect will escalate conflict every time.
Respect shows up in tone.
In behavior and physical cues.
In timing.
In restraint.
Rather than requiring your respect to be earned, make a decision to hold dignity steady.
05/30/2026
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05/11/2026