Be Bold. Open Up. Share. Connect. Grow.
Kelley Robinson, NP-C
Creator | Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Every day I am honored to be part of people’s journey into the unexpected, sickness, aging, grief, and dying through my journey as a palliative/hospice NP and now having transitioned into psychiatry.
Along the way, I have had the same thoughts:
I dreamed of a tool I could give families they could use on their own time to explore difficult questions in an intimate, safe space without a medical provider right there.
What was needed was a way to lighten the topic and infuse laughter into the conversation and cultivate connectedness.
I wished families could start having these conversations before sickness, aging, and death even cross their path.
I became determined with finding a solution! Elephant was born through this determination and a conversation with my dad who is in his 70s.
A little background is needed here — my dad is my best friend. He has taught me that adventure is necessary, nature is a sanctuary, humor is medicinal, and the sea is where the gods are. He taught me to be disciplined in manifesting my dreams and to take time to listen and communicate.
One day while working as a palliative care nurse practitioner, I pulled my car over in between patients to bounce the idea off him of a conversational card deck that could facilitate some of the difficult discussions I had daily about sickness, aging, and dying.
I wish my dad and I would have had something like this when he went through a year of intense medical interventions and came close to death.
On the side of the road we came up with the name Elephant In The Room because people often never discuss the topics on these cards.
This game is dedicated to all the patients who have taught me so much about living, loving, and dying. They have given me so many beautiful pearls of wisdom that I hope to now share with you.
Through this playful deck of cards, I hope to build a conduit:
To traverse the impermanence of life whatever age we’re at, our wishes with the unexpected, sickness, death, and leaving our legacy
To explore our common fears: am I loved, will I be remembered, did I love well, & the deep desire to not be a burden
To enable us to live more purposely, age well, die more peacefully, and empowered
To journey into the unknown and discover what we value and our purpose in life
To tell our story and be heard
To move through grief and loss
Into ourselves and explore the uncharted parts of our souls
Welcome to the Elephant Tribe!
I live in Colorado with my family who I absolutely adore. My dad’s my best friend. I believe nature is healing, laughter is medicine, and joy is the fountain of youth.
Services
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I provide serious illness, aging well, and end-of-life planning through facilitated family conversations in my private practice.
Illustrations & Graphics
A special acknowledgment to the incredible videographer Chase Baker. You took a rainy day and turned it into pure magic. You have a talent for aesthetics, sentimentality and story telling that is priceless. You’re an absolute wizard!
A special acknowledgment to the talented graphic designer Justin Maul and all your patience, mastery, critique, and detail you put into the Elephant game box and cards. You’re a creative genius!
A special acknowledgment to the Elizabeth Fuller who whipped out the most perfect logo when I showed you a lopsided line drawing of the vision I hoped for. You are an alchemist!