What is a Death Doula and What Do we do?
A Death Doula is a non-medical support professional that assists an individual and/or their loved ones through the death and dying process. Our work takes many forms, ranging from Spiritual, mental, and emotional support, to planning logistics and companionship care. We supplement traditional hospice or in-home care models of treatment, by supporting the needs of an individual or family beyond the scope of what most healthcare professionals have the capacity for. The core of the work of a Death Doula, is to be an accessible line of support in helping individuals and their families navigate the difficult, often tedious and tiresome, terrain of deathcare.
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​Our work is rooted in compassion, advocacy, respect for the human condition of death, and ensuring that grief and dying are met with gentleness, understanding and care. We uphold dignity in death by respecting each individual’s values, wishes, and humanity. We practice cultural humility by listening first and honoring diverse cultural, religious, and spiritual traditions. We commit to honesty and transparency, fostering trust through clear communication and ethical practice. In short, Death Doulas are allies and support providers for anyone navigating death and dying.
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Personal Mission Statement
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My mission is to bring deathcare back into the hands of the community by offering compassionate, culturally responsive support at the end of life and beyond. By creating a gentle, affirming space where grief can land softly, where stories are honored, and where care is shaped by the cultural, religious, and spiritual traditions of those we serve. I am committed to working with BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals and families with respect, dignity, and deep listening—honoring death as a shared human experience rooted in connection, care, and belonging.
CORE VALUES
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1. Compassion: Providing empathetic support to patients and their families during challenging times.
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2. Dignity in Death: Respecting the individual’s wishes and ensuring they maintain control over their care, quality of life, and overall vision for end-of-life support.
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3. Cultural Humility: To listen, learn, and honor diverse cultural, religious, and spiritual practices without judgement or assumption.
4. Honesty and Integrity: Upholding ethical standards and being honest in all interactions.
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AREAS OF SERVICE
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I provide comprehensive support services to individuals and their families throughout all phases of the life, death, and dying, process. I've broken them down into service categories, which may help you decide when phase you or a loved one is in.
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ACTIVELY LIVING - for individuals who may not have a diagnosis themselves, but are cargegiving for a loved one and needs support navigating that process, or for someone who may want to get a head start on their own end-of-life plans.
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Sample Services Include: Advanced Directives | Life Review | Grief Integration | Deathcare Planning | Home Organizing/Downsizing | Conversation Facilitation | Reconnection Support | Goal Setting and Plan Strategy
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AFTER DIAGNOSIS: for individuals who have been given a life-altering diagnosis, or have developed a condition that poses to severely impact the life of the individual
Sample Services Include: How to Tell Your Loved Ones | Medical or Logistical Planning/Advocacy | Legacy Projects | Discussion Facilitation | Bucket List Items | Living Wakes or Celebration Planning | Life Review | Ritual Making
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ACTIVELY DYING: for individuals that are in the actively dying process ranging from weeks to hours prior to physical death or for those caring for a loved one that is in this process
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Sample Services Include: 11th Hour/Vigil Sitting | End of Life Celebration Planning | Respite for Caregivers | Visitor Arrangements | Ritual Blessings & Spiritual support | Education on Dying Process | Life Reviews | Companionship Services | Family travel arrangements | Possession Organizing | Errand Running for Caregivers
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AFTER DEATH: support for everything after a physical death occurs -
Sample Services Include: Funeral/Burial Planning & Coordination | Family Support for Bathing & Blessing the Body | Coordination with Funeral Home | Documentation Retrieval | Grounding Rituals | Shrouding Ceremonies |