Hidden Gems: Meet Jennifer Segura of San Diego Family Mediation Center LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Segura.

Jennifer, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I began my college career on a path to become a psychologist. Along the way, my educational desires changed, but I still had a longing to work with families. Personally, my passion for mediation was first sparked in an undergrad anthropology course. We studied the Lewellyn Indian Tribe and their methods for resolving conflict. Their method was so efficient and healthy for all involved. It helped maintain peace in the tribe and prevented resentments from growing, which could have led to the tribe’s demise. I couldn’t help but compare this Tribe to our society and realize that mediation, which essentially is what the Tribe was engaging in, is far superior to our legal system. This theory of using “peacemaking” to resolve legal issues intrigued me so much that I decided law school was the right path for me.

Throughout law school, I gained a deeper understanding of the mediation process, and as I learned more, I realized how well-suited this career path was to my personality. It would allow me to fully embrace my passion for helping families during difficult transitions, as well as my passion for using peacemaking in place of a destructive, cold, highly unaffordable legal process. From that point forward, I focused solely on becoming a family mediator.

Throughout law school and for a few years after, I worked in family and estate planning law firms to learn as much as I could about the legal process. I knew that it was imperative for me to understand what happened in courtrooms in order to provide the best service to my clients.

In January 2008, I founded San Diego Family Mediation Center. I built this practice as a solo practitioner while continuing to work on the side. This allowed me to learn and build simultaneously, without incurring significant debt to grow the company. In 2015, I partnered with someone, and we ran the business together for eight years, during which time we rebranded as West Coast Family Mediation Center. In 2024, we parted ways, and I now run the San Diego Family Mediation Center solely, while she continues to run her own practice.

Since parting, it has felt good to reestablish the original vision I had for my company: to provide a hands-on, holistic, full-service boutique mediation firm that the San Diego community can count on to provide a peaceful and kind process that will support them through one of the hardest transitions one can go through in life.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are the ordinary and expected struggles of working as an entrepreneur, as well as being a mom and a wife. We all want to put our families first, but when the business provides the means to support them, sometimes the business has to come first. Maintaining that balance has always been a challenge for me, and I continually work to improve. The silver lining is that I am raising two fierce daughters (one is 16 and the other is 11), who have watched their mom work hard and build something that I am truly proud of. They also possess some pretty good communication skills, having listened to me work for their whole lives.

There were also struggles while running the business with a partner. We shared the same vision for a long time, and then things became complicated when our visions no longer aligned. Luckily, we were able to remain amicable and collaborative through the business dissolution. I am grateful we managed to separate our financial and business lives in a way that allowed us to seamlessly transition to our own practices without skipping a beat for the clients. It was a tough year, but well worth it. My practice feels like home again.

We’ve been impressed with San Diego Family Mediation Center LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve made it my life’s work to help individuals and families find clarity, peace, and stability during life’s most uncertain transitions.

My passion for mediation runs deep—it’s rooted in my own life experience. I grew up in a home filled with love, but also instability. My family moved often, and I lost my mother in a tragic accident when I was just 12. That profound loss, and the chaos that followed, gave me an intimate understanding of what it feels like when your world is turned upside down. That feeling—of being unmoored in a storm—is something I never want anyone else to go through alone.

I bring that empathy into every mediation session. Whether you’re navigating divorce, resolving family conflict, addressing aging parent dynamics, or simply feeling stuck in a difficult situation, my goal is to help you step off that stormy boat and find solid ground again. I don’t just mediate—I guide, support, and help you uncover practical, peaceful solutions that work in the real world.

Why Work With Me?
• I understand transition. Personally and professionally, I’ve lived it—divorce, remarriage, motherhood, and career reinvention.
• I’m highly qualified. I hold a law degree (Cum Laude), am a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, and a Certified Advanced Practitioner through the Academy of Professional Family Mediators.
• I lead with empathy and clarity. You won’t be left in the dark or overwhelmed by legal jargon. I explain your options, help you weigh them, and make sure you always know where you stand.
• I’m creative and collaborative. I bring ideas, options, and fresh strategies to every session—especially when emotions are high and clarity is hard to come by.
• I only do mediation. Since founding San Diego Family Mediation Center in 2008, this has been my sole focus.

My Approach

Mediation, to me, is more than a career—it’s a philosophy. I was first drawn to the concept while studying an Indigenous conflict resolution model in college. What struck me was the emphasis on healing, peacekeeping, and maintaining relationships, rather than “winning.” That still guides me today.

You won’t find adversarial tactics here. My process is calm, structured, and tailored to each individual. I help you shift from fear and confusion to confidence and resolution. And I do it with warmth, professionalism, and unwavering neutrality.

We specialize in divorce mediation, but also work with couples prior to marriage (premarital mediation), during marriage (Couples Mediation), co-parenting mediation (for modifications and/or paternity actions), blended family mediation, teen mediation, estate distribution mediation, church family mediation … pretty much any close familial relationship that needs conflict resolution.

We offer flat fees and a competitive hourly rate. We’ve been around for over 17 years, right here in San Diego. We have an established circle of professionals to refer our clients to for any issues that overlap with your divorce, but are not necessarily part of the divorce process (think financial advisor or therapist).

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t Give Up. It is hard. However, those who fail in business are often those who expect things to progress faster or generate more cash flow than is realistic in the first handful of years. If you love what you are doing and you are good at it, stick with it. You will get there. And once you get to your desired level, there may be setbacks that knock you back a few levels. Rising above those setbacks will only make you stronger and more resilient. Quitting cannot be an option. There are numerous opportunities available these days, thanks to technology and easy access to potential clients – if you want it badly enough, you can make it happen.

Pricing:

• Three different flat fee packages, based on complexity.
• Hourly rates also available (and very competitive)
• Military and First Responder Discounts
• Payment plans available based on financial need

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.SanDiegoFamilyMediation.com
• Instagram: divorce_mediators
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoFamilyMediation/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sdfmc/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SanDiegoFamilyMediationCenter