Connection, reflection, and choice in life’s final chapter.
With death comes honesty- Salman Rushdie
I believe that our society has made death a medical problem rather than a human transition, an uncomfortable conversation rather than an opportunity for deep human connection, an unknown rather than a profound event that can often be anticipated and held with love.
I know the healing power of planning, of facing what one fears, of frank conversations, and of the preciousness of dwindling time.
My intention as an end-of-life doula is to shine light into this territory.
The Role of an End of Life Doula
Live fully as preparing to die
Like birth, death is a significant and inevitable life change— potentially transformative— requiring planning, preparation, choice, advocacy, and accompaniment. End-of-Life Doulas (EOLDs) are non-medical professionals trained to provide holistic support across emotional, practical, physical, and spiritual domains to individuals with terminal illnesses and to their care communities. We demystify death through conversation, reflection and planning from diagnosis through dying, death, and early bereavement.
Education and conversations
I work to reduce fear via education and conversations about the natural dying process. I uplift the autonomy of the person who is living until dying by helping them clarify crucial choices about how they want to live, how they want to be cared for, and end-of life directives and wishes. I provide accompaniment & guidance in navigating the myriad end-of-life processes and decisions. I help people prepare for death as they reflect on and live their lives.
Honoring personal agency
Central to my work is the doula heart: a calm and non-judgmental capacity and stance of honoring the personal agency, choices and needs of the person who is dying, to be present without intervening, to guide while mapping out different paths through the territory. My focus is not simply on dying, but on how to live vitally and with intention until death.
Collaboration
EOLDs cannot provide medical assistance but may advocate for your wishes with family members and other providers. I collaborate with palliative care or hospice team members and my services complement the medical and clinical support you receive from them.
My approach
Each life's ending is as unique as the life itself. My services are meticulously customized to cater to your specific needs. In most cases, I consult directly with the individual who is approaching the end of life.
At times, however, the discussion may also include family members or friends. Sometimes there are situations where I engage solely with family members or the caregiving community.
Be proactive with end-of-life planning! Not all of my clients are at the end-of-life stage. Some are health-conscious individuals who wish to establish their end-of-life directives and desires well ahead of time. As Louis Pasteur wisely said, “Chance favors the prepared mind.”