Some think death is too scary to talk about.

We see things differently. 

Declaring what is most important to us while we are well, gives us the best opportunity to live life fully. What is essential becomes magnified and everything else begins to melt away.

We invite you to contemplate, articulate, and realize your vision of the life you wish to live now and through your final exhale.

“Go confidently  in the direction

of your dreams!

Live the life  you’ve imagined.”

– Henry David Thoreau –

Dyalogues is a communication and education company offering consulting, training and facilitation for individuals, organizations, and communities, designed to deeply connect people to what they value most in life. Created through a collaborative effort between a team of professionals from various backgrounds including medicine, finance and psychology, our fun and interactive programs provide a springboard for important and life-changing conversations to occur.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.

Learn as if you were to live forever.” 

– Mahatma Gandhi –

Services

Our services are customized to the individual, community or organization we are serving. Our interdisciplinary approach,  real life experiences, and extensive subject matter knowledge, combined with a relaxed, fun and engaging format, leaves participants inspired and empowered to take action. A sample of our workshops below.  

Dyalogues & Wishes – Knowing and Naming What You Really Want

An entertaining and interactive session, where you’re invited to learn how to play a game of a lifetime for a lifetime. A game designed to start a conversation exploring what matters most in life, uniquely simple and powerful. Leave inspired and empowered to continue these meaningful and life-changing conversations with family, community and health-care providers, now and well into the future.

Organizing Your Important Documents Workshop – Are You Ready for an Emergency?

Having your legal, financial and medical documents, the information for your online account, and your end-of life care wishes organized, and in one place, can make it easier to navigate significant life events and deal with the unexpected. No one ever plans to be sick or disabled, yet accidents, strokes, heart attacks, and dementia can happen at any age and without warning. Planning ahead can make all the difference for both you and to those who will help you manage your health and financial affair if needed. Participants  will learn what you need to do to be properly prepared, to create a comprehensive document checklist, to organize papers so they will be safe and accessible when needed.

Advanced Care Planning Workshop – Challenging Conversations Made Easy.

(Also available as an interactive communication training opportunity for Nurses and allied healthcare professionals. – CE credits available) An open conversation about medical care at the end of life. Learn why our current healthcare system errs on the side of quantity over quality of life and how you can clarify, advocate and align medical services to support you and those you love. The distinction between Hospice and Palliative Care will be highlighted as well as the benefits and limitations of Advance Care Directives and other healthcare forms.

Training for Non-Medical Professionals– The Conversation is Changing, Are You Prepared?

Get comfortable with the uncomfortable, expand your death literacy, emotional IQ, and your capacity for focused listening and curiosity. Be better equipped to support individuals experiencing death, dying and bereavement. Deepen relationship with your clients and their families. Learn to foster intergenerational conversations and legacy planning discussions.

“One person can make a difference and everyone should try”

– John F. Kennedy

Founders Dr. Dawn Gross, Nancy Belza and Paul Puccinelli are passionate about helping people engage in end-of-life conversations prepared and with clarity.

Dawn Gross, MD. PhD. is a palliative medicine physician dedicated to transforming end of life conversations.  Earning her BA from USC and a combined MD and PhD from Tufts University School of Medicine, Dawn completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Tufts, followed by fellowship training in Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant at Stanford and post-doctoral research at UCSF.  Considered a national thought leader on end of life care, her work has been featured in Science, JAMA and the New York Times. An invited speaker nationally and internationally, Dawn  founded a first-of-its-kind live, call-in radio program, Dying To Talk,airing on San Francisco’s National Public Radio station. For more information visit www.DrAsYouWish.com

Nancy Belza is a business development consultant, educator and planning activist.  She combines natural compassion and innate storytelling abilities with over 25 years of financial services industry experience, personal passion born from experiencing a close personal friends’ death, and 15 years of mental health advocacy to help people face end of life planning prepared and empowered. Nancy is an accomplished sales leader, relationship manager and strategic thinker, with an extensive track record of crafting, implementing and driving sales initiatives, assembling and developing high performing teams, and delivering presentations with impact and results. She provides real-time insight, advice and business strategy solutions that succeed at deepening connections, and align businesses with employees and clients in an intimate and meaningful way.

Paul Puccinelli, MS, MFT is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and Parent Educator.  He has developed a special interest in helping people who are struggling with complications associated with prolonged acute grief, and assists couples to successfully manage conflict and stay connected. Paul provides spiritual/pastoral/bereavement support and/or counseling while respecting individual beliefs, culture and values. Paul is in the Ambassador Program for Mission Hospice in San Mateo county, is a member of the San Francisco End-of-Life Network Group, and is completing Palliative Care training at UCSF.

“What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.”

– Ralph Marston –

Resources

We hope you use, enjoy and find the resources and tools listed on this page valuable. They are being provided to help you engage in the most important conversation that no one is having.

Resources to help you “Dyalogue”

Dying to Talk Radio: Listen to  Dr. Gross’ public radio pre-recorded podcast series Dying To Talk, where she and her guests create a safe space to transform the experience of end-of-life conversations from dread to discovery.  http://kalw.org/programs/dying-talk#stream/0 

 

Films, Documentaries and Books

Extremis, Short documentary film following the doctors, families, and patients, as they make end-of-life decisions. Available on Netflix. Watch official trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJiY8duVgz0

  • Being Mortal, Medicine and What Matters in the End, by Atul Gawande
  • Checklist for My Family, A Guide to My History, Financial Plans, and Final Wishes, by Sally Balch Hurme (AARP)
  • Dying to Make A Difference, by Mary E. Matthiesen
  • The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan for End-of-Life Care, by Angelo E. Volandes M.D.

Contact Dyalogues

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