Qualifications and Affiliations

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Certifications and Trainings:​
Sacred Crossings,  "The Art of Death Midwifery -  Conscious Dying, After-Death Care, Home Funerals"
Certified CareDoulaI®, End-Of-Life Doula Certificate Program
MISS Foundation, "Compassionate Bereavement Care Course - Peer Support", as granted from the MISS Foundation, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Family Trust and The Center for Loss and Trauma
Authentic Presence, "Cultivating Compassionate Presence ` Training for Healthcare Professionals and trained Volunteers"
Authentic Presence, "Cultivating Mindfulness and Awareness in End-of-Life Care - Training for Healthcare Professionals and trained Volunteers"
​National End-Of-Life Doula Alliance, NEDA Proficient
​Our House Grief Support Center, Volunteer Group Leader Training Certificate
Respecting Choices Advance Care Planning Facilitator Training ​


​Residential Immersion Retreat:
Residential Component of the Accompanying the Dying Certification Program​, Texas. Presented by Authentic Presence, Formally Spiritual Care Programme and Quality of Life Care. Course based in the writings of “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying”.    ​

​Training:
Hospice Volunteer
NODA (No One Dies Alone) Volunteer

​Affiliations:
National Home Funeral Alliance 
National End-Of-Life Doula Alliance

Online Webinar:
 End Of Life University, Webinar, Hosted by Karen Wyatt, M.D.  instantteleseminar.com/Events/109722972
 New Voices In Death Education: Teach About Death and #ChangeTheWorld
 Dee Dee Turpin, "A Necessary Conversation: Facilitating End Of Life Experiences"

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Podcast: Breast Cancer Conversations, Presented By Survivingbreastcancer.org
"What end of life choices do you need to consider? It's always best to consider end of life care and preferences before the crisis happens.  In today's episode we speak with Matt Whitaker from Compassionate Choices and Dee Dee Turpin from A Necessary Conversation as confront a topic that is seldom talked about, but is incredibly important"!

iMortuary funeral & planning resources, Manhattan Beach, CA ~ A Necessary Conversation

Let's Reimagine Community Resources ~ Death Doula, A Necessary Conversation

Let's Reimagine Community Resources - Grief, A Necessary Conversation

Let's Reimagine Community Resources - Relationship Improvement, A Necessary Conversation

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My Practice ~
Death Is Part Of A Full Spectrum Experience

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A Necessary Conversation encourages you to cultivate relationships between living, dying, death and if need be, grief.
Life is a full spectrum, and it includes End of Life.
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• This is a heart-based, not a clinical-based, practice.  
• In partnership, we implement pro-active steps to help you "Do Death Differently."
• Here, you have the opportunity to transform how you respond to End Of Life experiences.
• Together, we create a spiritual pathway for you to move forward with courage, compassion, dignity and love.

• Cultivate the willingness to ​experience both life and death in a more profound and emotionally healthier manner.

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This is a spiritual opportunity that is available to anyone, regardless if you are healthy, facing your own immediate death or someone you love is dying or has died.  Please contact me.....I'd be honored to speak with you.

About Me

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My name is Dee Dee and A Necessary Conversation is an endeavor to offer an alternative approach to those yearning to experience End of Life matters, in a spiritually-rooted state of being. The relationships we cultivate between living, dying, death and bereavement will deeply influence our reactions and  responses to life and death situations.  ​

As a child, I was always curious about death and dying....but I quickly learned that these subjects matters are rarely discussed in our society.  So, I did what most of us do: I avoided any kind of self-awareness around these topics for many, many years. ​

Like many people, I have encountered different circumstances of death (children, young adults, accidents, sickness and murder). The more death I experienced, the more uncomfortable I became with how I was processing End of Life situations.  Never once did it occur to me, that I could change how I spiritually responded to death, dying and grief. 
 
Then, the ultimate tipping point happened. I received an unexpected call: My Dad had suddenly died. I was rapidly engulfed with so many different feelings and emotions! I could not control the psychological roller coaster that was now my reality. ​

I remember the feelings of:
Confusion
Denial.
Panic.
Fear.
Nausea.
Profound loss and heartache.
Isolation.

I remember thinking:
I can't believe my Dad is no longer on this earth.
I’m now officially an orphan.
What a stupid thing to think! I am an adult and I don’t need my dad!
My Dad had to die alone.
My Dad was in a cold morgue and alone in a funeral home.
Strangers were taking care of my Dad and his body.
I was betraying my Dad, by not being with him during this time.

And then the grief came!  I experienced:
Overwhelming sadness.
Difficulty sharing my feelings.
Self-imposed isolation.
Pretending I was fine, even though I was devastated.
Confusion as to why I could not “move past” this death.
Feeling as if I was losing part of myself in this whole death process.

A short time after my Dad's death, my sisters and I were surprised, and unsettled, to be given the responsibility of orchestrating our Dad's "funeral and reception."  We felt inadequate to make such significant decisions on his behalf, and we had no idea where to turn to for guidance.

Fortunately for us, a heartfelt deed quickly transpired:  Our Mom offered to help us "celebrate" our Dad!  What is amazing about this overture, is that our parents had been divorced for over 18 years, and  both of them had created new lives for themselves.

Nevertheless, our Mom:
Generously allowed us the space to grieve.
Supported us in the planning of our "Dad's Life Celebration.”
Inspired us to focus on our Dad's genuine qualities when making decisions.
Encouraged us to be true to ourselves, all while honoring our Dad's memory.
Collaborated with us to help create a loving, and an amazingly beautiful, "Life Celebration."
Exhibited that when one puts love in front of everything else, life and humanity can be harmonious.
Graciously encouraged us to be spiritually present and to feel all of our emotions, but to also enjoy "One of the best days of our lives!"

A few seasons after my Dad's heartwarming Life Celebration, I was finally ready to start exploring my own deep-rooted feelings around End of Life situations.  I earnestly wanted to start building emotionally healthier bridges between living, dying, death and grief.  I knew that I needed a wide range of spiritual tools to experience both the pain, and the joy, that comes with life and death.  Understanding this, I have been inspired and motivated to seek, and attain, varied education, training and professional certification as a Facilitator and Death Doula in End of Life Care.

I live in the Los Angeles area with my husband of 31 years. I have two children that I deeply love. I am also "Mom" to two dogs.  I am in profound gratitude that I've been in recovery for over 22 years. Throughout these years, I have been given the opportunity to help countless women by guiding each of them through the physical, and the emotional changes necessary, to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.