About Dr. Oliver
Dr. Lisa Caraway Oliver, EdD, is an educator, healthcare-trained chaplain, and speaker whose work focuses on trauma, grief, bereavement, and end-of-life decision making. She is the Principal of Trauma & Grief Consultants, LLC, where she provides consulting and expert witness services related to trauma, grief, bereavement, and the human impact of serious injury and death. Her work examines how individuals and families experience and respond to medical crises, traumatic loss, and significant life transitions.
Dr. Oliver’s work focuses on helping individuals, families, and organizations understand and navigate the complex emotional, relational, and decision-making realities that accompany medical crisis, traumatic loss, and major life transitions. Drawing on clinical experience and interdisciplinary scholarship, her work explores how trauma, grief, and uncertainty shape human behavior, family dynamics, and meaning-making during periods of profound stress.
She holds a Doctor of Education in Adult Education from the University of Georgia, where her research examined death and dying, emotion work, and informal learning within hospice care settings. She also earned a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Howard University.
Dr. Oliver completed advanced Clinical Pastoral Education through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) at Grady Health System and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, both Level I trauma centers, where she provided spiritual care in high-acuity healthcare environments.
Her professional work frequently involves examining how individuals and families respond to serious illness, injury, and death within medical and institutional settings. She considers the psychological, relational, and meaning-making processes that emerge during periods of crisis and grief, helping clarify how trauma, loss, and uncertainty influence human behavior and family decision-making during times of profound stress.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Oliver is actively engaged in community education and public dialogue related to death, grief, and life transitions. She co-facilitates the Life Transitions Education Ministry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, leads grief and trauma healing groups, and regularly facilitates community conversations such as Death Cafés and educational workshops across libraries, faith communities, and civic organizations in the Atlanta region.
Dr. Oliver also serves on the Professional Advisory Group for the Grady Center for Spiritual Care and Education, contributing to the evaluation and development of Clinical Pastoral Education programs and initiatives that encourage thoughtful advance care planning and end-of-life decision making.
Originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dr. Oliver now lives in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia where she continues to teach, consult, and support individuals and communities navigating grief, trauma, and the profound transitions that accompany serious illness and loss.
Why Discuss Life Transitions?
Bring the Conversation to Your Community
Bring the Conversation to Your Community
Most of us plan for birthdays, graduations, weddings, retirement, and vacations. Yet many of the conversations that matter most are often left until a crisis forces them upon us.
By talking openly about our wishes, documenting important decisions, and sharing them with those we trust, we can reduce confusion, ease the burden on our loved ones, and create a lasting gift of clarity and peace.
I am committed to helping people have these conversations before they become urgent—offering guidance, education, and practical tools along the way.
Bring the Conversation to Your Community
Bring the Conversation to Your Community
Bring the Conversation to Your Community
These programs are available for churches, senior living communities, libraries, civic organizations, healthcare organizations, and community groups—either in person or virtually.
Whether your group is interested in advance care planning, hospice and palliative care, grief, funeral planning, or other topics from the Life Transitions Series, presentations can be tailored to meet the needs and interests of your audience.
Looking for something more interactive? Consider hosting a Death Café or Grief Café. A Death Café provides a welcoming space for people to talk openly about death, dying, and what gives life meaning. A Grief Café offers an opportunity to explore loss, grief, and life's transitions through shared stories, reflection, and conversation.
While these topics may sound intimidating, participants often leave saying, "That was much easier—and much more meaningful—than I expected."
Coffee, cake, thoughtful conversation, and a fresh perspective
included.