Compassionate Navigation, LLC

Compassionate Navigation, LLC I am a board-certified patient advocate and health communication professor. This is YOUR body, YOUR health.

Through personalized consulting services and comprehensive organizational-level training, I strive to equip clients with the tools, strategies, and skills necessary to navigate sensitive topics, resolve conflicts, and cultivate meaningful relationships. I received my PhD in 2012, and since then, I have been dedicated to researching and teaching various areas of health communication. My teaching ar

eas include Interpersonal Communication, Culture, Health, and Media Representation. Besides teaching, I am deeply committed to helping neurodiverse people and those of the LBGTQIA+ communities get the care they need. My passion is helping people navigate difficult conversations so they feel heard and seen, especially when it comes to their health. YOU have a voice, and I am here to help you amplify that voice.

09/02/2026

Have you ever watched someone effortlessly hold a room, navigate a hard conversation, or draw people in with warmth and clarity, and thought: some people just have it. And I don't.
That belief is one of the most pervasive ideas about communication there is. It's also one of the most damaging. And it is not supported by the research.
In this September myth-busting episode of Things We Think We Know, we investigate the idea that good communicators are born, not made, tracing where the belief comes from, what neuroplasticity and deliberate practice research actually show, and why this myth is particularly dangerous for communication health. Because the way you communicate today is not the ceiling of what you can become. You were not born a fixed communicator. You are a communicator in progress. And that changes everything.

#𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀

When is the last time you thought about your communication health? This September we'll dive into different facets of Co...
09/01/2026

When is the last time you thought about your communication health? This September we'll dive into different facets of Communication Health to help give you the confidence and resources you need, and your communication vitals are a great place to start. When something feels off, do a quick check in to determine: Is this confusion, tension, avoidance, frustration, or an actual conflict? Your answers to these check ins can give you clear next steps:
Feeling stable? Talk it out
Feeling elevated? Take time to prepare
On high alert? Get some support to help you navigate

Follow along this month to learn more resources to better your communication health

“Non-compliant.” A word that shows up frequently in healthcare.But what if we treated it as the beginning of the convers...
09/01/2026

“Non-compliant.” A word that shows up frequently in healthcare.

But what if we treated it as the beginning of the conversation instead of the end of the explanation?

A patient isn’t following the wound-care plan. Maybe they don’t understand it. Maybe the plan doesn’t fit into the reality of their life. Maybe previous attempts caused pain or frustration. Maybe they’re overwhelmed. Or maybe the conversation itself has become part of the problem.

When we’re under pressure, it’s easy to move quickly from behavior → assumption → label.

And it happens with colleagues, too.

“Defensive.”
“Difficult.”
“Doesn’t listen.”
“Doesn’t care.”

Labels can give us a sense that we understand the problem. But they can also stop our curiosity at exactly the moment we need it most.

That’s one of the ideas I’ll be exploring at the NAWCO HEAL Conference in September during my session:

From Conflict to Collaboration: Leading Difficult Conversations that Strengthen Care Teams

Because collaboration doesn’t mean everyone agrees. Sometimes it starts with being curious enough to find out what’s actually getting in the way.

Finding out secondhand that a colleague has been talking about you is one of the most destabilizing things that can happ...
08/31/2026

Finding out secondhand that a colleague has been talking about you is one of the most destabilizing things that can happen at work.

The instinct is to go to everyone except the person involved. Try going straight to them instead: ""I heard some feedback came up about X — I'd rather hear it from you directly if there's something on your mind.""

That's intervention — interrupting the pattern at the source instead of letting it spread.

Has this happened to you? You're not alone — comment below.

Have you ever thought: “How are we having this argument AGAIN?”Maybe this time it's about a holiday. Last time it was ab...
08/30/2026

Have you ever thought: “How are we having this argument AGAIN?”

Maybe this time it's about a holiday. Last time it was about who didn't call. Before that it was about Mom. And somehow a conversation about dinner ends with someone bringing up something that happened ten years ago.

It can feel like a family has dozens of different problems.

Sometimes, though, the topic keeps changing while the **pattern stays remarkably similar.**

One person feels dismissed and pushes harder. The other feels criticized and pulls away. Someone gets defensive. Someone brings up the past. Nobody feels heard.

Eventually, everyone leaves the conversation frustrated, until the next issue starts the cycle again.

When that happens, solving the latest disagreement may not change very much.

**Sometimes we need to understand the pattern underneath it.**

Family Conflict Navigation can help you recognize what's keeping a conflict cycle going and identify places where something different may be possible. And you don't necessarily need everyone involved to begin doing that work.

Learn more about Family Conflict Navigation:
https://www.compassionatenavigation.com/individuals/family-conflict

A few words of wisdom from the August's podcast episodes exploring communication debt to bring into the rest of the year...
08/28/2026

A few words of wisdom from the August's podcast episodes exploring communication debt to bring into the rest of the year. You can find links to The Communication Compass podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts through the Resource Hub in our bio. Which quote resonates with you the most? Compass Health

08/28/2026

When we go silent, we don't stop the conversation. We just remove ourselves from it.

The other person is still making sense of what's happening. They're filling in the blanks with whatever story they have available, and that story is almost never more generous than the truth you didn't say.

This week's episode is about exactly that. The conversations we've been avoiding, what our silence is actually communicating, and how to finally begin.

Link in comments.

THIS happened today!! 🥹💛Medium selected our article as a Staff Pick!“Floaties, Not Shorelines: What We Get Wrong About H...
08/27/2026

THIS happened today!! 🥹💛

Medium selected our article as a Staff Pick!

“Floaties, Not Shorelines: What We Get Wrong About Helping Someone Grieve” is a piece I wrote with Mary Carlton of WearingGrief about something that sounds simple but can be incredibly hard:

How do we stay with someone when we can't make what they're going through better?

Sometimes people don't need us to show them the shoreline. Sometimes they just need a floatie, something that helps them stay above water while they find their way.

I'm so incredibly happy to see this particular piece recognized, because I think we desperately need better ways of talking about grief, loss, and what it really means to support one another.

Thank you to everyone who has already read it, shared it, or told me it resonated. 💛

A little reminder as we head into a new week. A distracted one-on-one sends a message even when it's not intended to: th...
08/24/2026

A little reminder as we head into a new week.

A distracted one-on-one sends a message even when it's not intended to: this isn't a priority.

Rather than assuming the worst, name the impact and offer an out: "I have a few things I'd love your full attention on today — is now still a good time, or should we find another slot?"

That's Distinguish Impact from Intent — the behavior may not be personal, but you can still name what it's costing.

Sometimes the arguing stops. But that doesn't mean the conflict is over.Maybe you haven't spoken in hours, maybe weeks. ...
08/23/2026

Sometimes the arguing stops. But that doesn't mean the conflict is over.

Maybe you haven't spoken in hours, maybe weeks. Maybe you only communicate when absolutely necessary. Maybe you've stopped bringing up certain subjects because you already know how the conversation will go.

Sometimes creating distance is necessary. Sometimes it brings relief. And sometimes you're left wondering: **What do I do with this relationship now?**

There isn't one right answer.
Repair may be possible. A different kind of relationship may be possible. Stronger boundaries may be needed. Or you may simply need help understanding what has happened and deciding what you want to do next.

And here's the important part: the other person doesn't have to participate for you to begin figuring that out. Family Conflict Navigation can start with you.

Learn more about Family Conflict Navigation:
https://www.compassionatenavigation.com/individuals/family-conflict

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