Cultivating Compassion Education Series October Gatherings |
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We Are All On This Road
The importance of talking about death and dying, and how an end-of-life specialist can help. |
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Presented by Barbara Cubanski, certified end of life doula
Sunday, October 19, 2025 11:00 a.m. ET |
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Honest conversations about death can transform the way we live right now. Speaking openly about dying frees us from fear, strengthens connection, and allows us to make intentional choices that reflect our deepest values. These conversations help families plan with clarity, resolve unfinished business, and create space for meaningful moments in the time that remains.
As an end-of-life specialist, Barbara has witnessed how approaching these discussions with dignity and care can open doors to healing and peace. In this talk, we will explore gentle, practical ways to begin these conversations—and if needed, how you can invite support to begin the process. |
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Barbara Cubanski has spent decades supporting families through life’s tender beginnings and endings. A longtime Waldorf early childhood educator and parenting coach, she later trained with Suzanne O’Brien of Doulagivers International to become an end-of-life doula and elder care specialist. She has also served with TIP Orange County, supporting first responders in moments of crisis, and brings additional training in guided memoir and expressive arts as tools for healing and growth.
Her work blends compassionate guidance, practical planning, and a steady presence, helping individuals and their loved ones navigate serious illness and life’s final chapter with dignity and peace. |
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Announcing an important program for November! |
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Join us for the Honey Grief and Healing Hearts Zoom retreat in November!
We are honored to present our first CCALS zoom weekend holding a sacred circle of grief before the Holiday Season. Thursday, November 20 thru Saturday, November 22. PLEASE only register if you can attend the entire retreat.
7-8:30pm ET Thursday, November 20 7-9pm ET Friday, November 21 10am-3pm ET Saturday, November 22
CCALS began offering in-person grief retreats in 2023, and has hosted seven of these live at our retreat center in Falmouth, Mass., in recognition of the deep grief that living with ALS can bring. These retreats have been well received, encouraging us to offer an online version so more people could experience the power and healing of a grief ritual with community.
“Thanks for the wonderful weekend! It has helped immensely now, and I expect will pay benefits in the future as well. I felt like I learned and grew much.”—Juli, Honey Grief participant
Your full attendance and participation is required for continuity and respect for the deep sharing that occurs when we hold grief with the reverence and awe it deserves.
Look forward to being with you online in November. |
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Trauma Healing
October 8 7:00pm ET |
| Our own Trauma & Spiritual Care Liaison, Julie Yau, Ph.D., SEP, will be hosting a monthly gathering for our community focused on trauma awareness and healing. CCALS has long recognized how traumatic an ALS diagnosis is, and the continuing challenges and trauma that can arise while living with ALS. Dr. Julie is a renowned trauma specialist and author of the powerful trauma healing book, "The Body Awareness Workbook for Trauma." She is a dear friend and colleague of CCALS founder, Ron Hoffman, and has been supporting our families for nearly 20 years. To participate in this group, we are asking for a commitment of at least three months, and the purchase and reading of Dr. Julie's book.
Please contact james@ccals.org if you are interested in participating. |
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Caregiver to Caregiver
October 9 3:00pm ET |
| Join the informal gathering designed to offer genuine support for those engaged in ALS caregiving. Enjoy the opportunity to be with other folks who have an intimate understanding of ALS and share your unique point of view as a caregiver. It is truly a wonderful experience to sit in council with ALS caregivers, to practice heart-centered listening, bear witness to our journeys and those of others, and to support and be supported without judgment. |
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Sons and Daughters of ALS Guided by Ron Hoffman, CCALS Founder
October 9 7:00pm ET
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| Sons and Daughters of ALS, hosted by CCALS Founder and Director, Ron Hoffman, is designed for those 18 years to 30- somethings who have experienced a parent, or close loved one, struggling from symptoms, diagnosis, decline or death with ALS. Growing up with the intensity and complexity of ALS in our family can shake us to the very core. It is often hard to comprehend or describe the ways that this disease shapes our past, present and future. If you are living with, or have lived with, the impact of a parent with ALS, you are invited to join our zoom gathering for Sons and Daughters of ALS. With deep listening, in the company of others who know the similarity of the uninvited path of having a parent with ALS, we will gather in council to share our experiences with the broad motivation to bring heartfelt connection, awareness and healing. |
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Songs of Hope and Healing
October 15 4:00pm ET |
| This new gathering will be provided by Evy Amato, Music Therapist, Faith & Family Hospice, with support by CCALS staff. Songs of Hope & Healing is being provided to uplift, connect, and empower individuals living with ALS and their loved ones through the healing power of music. Whether you're a lifelong music lover or simply open to the ways music can soothe and inspire, Songs of Hope & Healing invites you to join our song circle where voices are heard, stories are honored, and healing takes root—one note at a time. |
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Men of ALS Guided by Ron Hoffman, CCALS Founder
October 16 2:00pm ET |
| Join us for a time of brotherhood and belonging for men living with ALS, or men caring for someone with the disease. This group operates as a council circle that encourages deep listening, acceptance, and an invitation to be genuine about what is going on in your life. |
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Women of ALS
October 16 3:00pm ET |
| Enjoy the connection and unique perspective of other women living with ALS, female caregivers of persons living with ALS, daughters of those with ALS, or any woman touched by the disease. We will gather in council to share our experiences with the broad motivation to bring heartfelt connections and healing to the ALS journey. The Women of ALS gatherings create a safe space to explore the rich feminine perspective on lineage, sexuality, the role as caregiver, and the experience of compassion. |
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Beyond ALS
October 23 6:30pm ET |
| Join a welcoming group of men and women who have lost a loved one to ALS. Share openly with others who are rebuilding their lives after profound loss. This interactive gathering will highlight where we are now and what may feel different: our identity, our values, our approach to spirituality, and more. We will listen deeply to each other’s stories about the new experiences of building relationships, contentment with solitude, or challenges as a single parent. But, most importantly, come to enjoy and appreciate the company of others who have come to experience the precious nature of human life. |
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Mothers of ALS
October 27 1:00pm ET |
| CCALS offers this informal gathering specifically for mothers who have been impacted by ALS. This disease shines a unique and challenging spotlight on the relationships between mothers and their children. We will join with each other in council to listen deeply and bear witness to our experiences as we connect and discover new pathways through the intensity of an ALS experience. |
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