When Words Matter Most: A Video Series on End-of-Life Conversations

End Of Life Logistics

October 28, 2025

The anticipation of the conversation is almost always harder than the conversation itself.

According to our 2025 Annual Report, 53% of people are planning to help someone else with end-of-life arrangements—most often a spouse or aging parent. These conversations bring a mix of emotions: empowering and scary, overwhelming and essential.

But where do you begin? That's where so many of us get stuck.

Finding Your Voice

In this video series, we sit down with Dr. Jill Gross, a Seattle-based clinical psychologist and grief therapist who specializes in end-of-life conversations. Dr. Gross has guided hundreds of families through some of life's most challenging transitions, helping them find the right words when words feel impossible.

Based in Seattle's Phinney neighborhood, Dr. Gross brings both professional expertise and genuine compassion to topics many of us would rather avoid. Her approach is refreshingly direct: naming the fear makes it less scary.

What You'll Discover

Throughout this six-part series, Dr. Gross will help you understand:

The Gift of Clarity – How getting specific about your wishes brings peace of mind to the people you love

The Right Moment – Why "peacetime planning" matters, and how to create space for meaningful dialogue when emotions aren't running high

Moving Beyond Fear – Why we avoid these conversations, and how to recognize that what we're really afraid of is discomfort, not death itself

Starting with Heart – Practical, authentic ways to open these conversations without ambushing your loved ones while they're folding laundry

Navigating Differences – What to do when your vision for your body, like choosing soil transformation, doesn't align with family expectations

Planning with Purpose – The three essential components of an end-of-life plan and why your will isn't a "set it and forget it" document

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Watch the Series

Part 1: The Gift You Give Your Family

Part 2: When to Start End-of-Life Conversations

Part 3: The Universal Fear

Part 4: Why We Avoid Talking about End-of-Life

Part 5: How to Navigate Disagreements

Part 6: The 3 Crucial Parts of an End-of-Life Plan

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These conversations aren't about dwelling on death. They're about living and loving more intentionally. When you share your wishes clearly, you give your family permission to grieve without the burden of guessing.

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About Dr. Jill Gross

‍Dr. Jill Gross is a clinical psychologist and grief therapist based in Seattle, Washington. She guides people through life's most challenging transitions, including divorce, death, illness, ambiguous loss, and disenfranchised grief. Her practice helps clients discover how confronting mortality can become a pathway to understanding who they truly are and what matters most in life.

Learn more at www.drjillgross.com.

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