The Compassionate Conversation Handbook
Serious illness, cognitive change, and later life transitions require ongoing difficult but critical conversations. Many people are left to figure out how to say hard things about safety, role changes, and end-of-life planning, often in the middle of a crisis.
Written by Geropsychologist Dr. Vanessa Schaeffer, this resource helps families and professionals communicate with clarity and compassion, so that safety, dignity, and connection stay at the center of our relationships. Inside you’ll find plain language examples for talking about safety, support needs, and limits. This book gathers evidenced-based communication strategies and turns them into short, usable scripts for everyday care.
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Dr.Vanessa Schaeffer
About ME
Hello! I'm Dr.Vanessa Schaeffer.
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in working with older adults and the people who love and care for them. I am also an appointed Advisory Board member for the Beyond Dementia Coalition.
As an official Psypact provider, I see clients via Telemental Health, so you can access my services from the comfort of your own home. Research shows these sessions are just as effective as in-person care, with easier access.
As a Geropsychologist (someone who specializes in treating adults age 65 and older), I am part of a very small group of providers with this focus. In fact, only 1.2% of Psychologists describe their specialty as Geropsychology.