What is an End of Life Doula or Death Doula?

End-of-Life doulas provide companionship, comfort, and guidance to those facing a terminal illness or death. Our non-medical holistic support encompasses emotional, spiritual, and practical care. We offer resources to help the dying person, along with their family and loved ones, to make informed decisions in a supportive environment.

A doula can become involved any time in a person’s life. We offer support when people are impacted by a life changing illness, after a terminal diagnosis, when death is imminent, or even after a death—to help transistion loved ones with light grief support. Sometimes family members or loved ones of the person dying seek support and guidance from end-of-life doulas.

Doulas normalize deathcare by creating spaces to hold conversations leading to increased communication and increased spiritual and emotional well being. When individuals plan for death, they have autonomy over their decisions and are able to clearly define their end-of-life wishes with family and loved ones. While there are alternative names for end-of-life doulas like death doula, death midwife, death coach, end-of-life coach—we all seek to provide compassionate death care.

(Above definition taken from the Inelda website)

Can you offer medical advice or support?

No. I am not a medical professional and cannot offer medical advice or support in medical care.

What types of support can you provide if you cannot offer medical support?

One of the most meaningful things I believe I can do as an End-of-Life Doula is I can create the space for clients to speak openly about death and dying.

Other supports I can provide include:

• Guiding people toward creating a life that mirrors their soul physically, emotionally and spiritually

• Creating an opportunity to talk about a person’s life legacy

• Talk about creating an advance care directive

• Discuss end-of-life care options both logistically and through ritual

• Provide respite for exhausted caregivers

• Explain the signs and symptoms of the dying process

• Process the emotions and experiences with loved ones

(Some statements taken from the Inelda website)

What certifications do you hold?

I completed the following coursework through the Conscious Dying Institute in Boulder, CO.  

Conscious Dying End of Life Coach and Sacred Passage End of Life Doula 
November 2021

Conscious Dying Educator 
March of 2022

I completed the following coursework through the Inelda (International End-of-Life Doula Association) in Jersey City, NJ.

Navigating Dementia 
February of 2023