The most important conversations: Mary Matthiesen

Conversations for Life offers a way to talk with the living about dying. Mary Matthiesen shares how they have developed the resources and training to have these liberating conversations that give agency and self-determination. Workshops with clinical staff using the conversation cards quickly get to the intimate and unique values that are beyond theory and dogma. We wonder about how we can guard against imposing our own constructions around death and mortality on those we encounter. It is important to allow people to flow with their conversations and to validate (and sometimes expand) their expression of individual issues or beliefs. Mary emphasises that conversations do not need to have a solution or an answer, and can be riddled with false assumptions if these are not explored and challenged. Mary shares some examples of how the Conversations for Life cards may be used with clinicians, families, children and individuals to explore and express feelings and wishes about mortality.