If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

~ Kahlil Gibran

 

 Death & Dying

From the moment we take our first breath,

we are on a journey towards our last.

Death is our final sacred rite of passage as humans; it is a threshold of transformation that has the possibility to be held with awareness and creativity. When we consciously engage with the mystery of death, the sanctity of life becomes our daily practice. Whether death enters our life suddenly or it is anticipated, End of Life Doulas offer holistic support to the living, the actively dying, and their families before, during and after the death process.

End of Life Doulas (also called Death Doulas) offer non-medical emotional, spiritual, and physical care to a dying person and their family to provide the most authentic and meaningful experience possible. An EOLD’s skill set may also include support and guidance for those who are not just in a dying process, but who are on a personal journey to be-friend death. Reflection, education, creative action, and practical preparation are some of the ways an End of Life Doula may support this intimate process towards conscious transition. For more information about the role of End Life Doula’s please see the FAQ at the bottom of this page.

“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live.”

~ Norman Cousins

 Offerings

I offer an array of services that are supportive in all phases of the death journey. Our death journeys are not just specific to the last months or weeks of our lives. Our death journeys necessitate reflection & planning and may begin long before we physically die. All of these offerings are available through zoom sessions and if geography allows, also in person.

Contemplative Inquiry

If you are just beginning your journey relating to death, knowing where to begin when it comes to yourself can be a daunting task. Cultural conditioning, negative personal experiences, and generalized fear can overwhelm us when it comes to be-friending death. During these private one-on-one sessions we will explore your relationship to life, death and mortality. Our sessions will include:

  • Discussion, Active Listening, Reflection, and Reframing.

  • Contemplative Exercises

  • Guided Meditations

  • Reflective Prompts for Journaling.

  • List of resources.

Inquiry Series includes: 3 one hour coaching sessions, session notes, unlimited prioritized email support, weekly reflective prompts, & resource list. $325 via payments.

Advance Care Planning / living will

Practical planning at any life stage assures us that our wishes be fulfilled by our family, friends, and health care providers. In the event that you were unable to make these decisions for yourself (i.e. a car accident and resulting coma) naming a person (health care agent) to follow your documented medical choices is imperative. With Advance Care Planning (ACP) we will open the discussion around what choices are best aligned with your values and preferences. For example, would you choose to end medical life support? Would you choose to receive CPR? These are just a few of the questions that we will discuss as you consider the person to carry out these choices for you.

During your ACP session you will gain clarity around your values and beliefs while learning how to talk with your health care agent about your choices and ultimately complete the documentation to make your wishes legally binding. We will cover during your session:

  • What an Advance Care Directive is and is not.

  • Choosing a Health Care Agent.

  • Choices about CPR.

  • Your personal beliefs around end of life care.

  • Completion of documentation.

Advance Care Planning Session Includes: 90 minute initial session (with or without your chosen health care agent), possible 15 minute follow up session, session notes, unlimited prioritized email support, and resources in PDF format. $125.

spiritual care directive

A Spiritual Care Directive (also called a Death Care Directive) is documentation that encompasses the spiritual, cultural, and personal preferences you have regarding various end of life phases. Envisioning and preparing for these phases is an empowering opportunity to define how you would like to shape your final rite of passage. Much like an Advance Care Plan, you will also have the opportunity to choose a person to carry out your wishes. This document is not legally binding, however, it is an important roadmap to be left with someone you trust to manifest your vision. Together we will:

  • Define & honor your beliefs around death and how these may be put into practice.

  • Envision the environment you would like created at your end of life.

  • Discuss who you want (or do not want) at your bedside.

  • Talk about the rituals / ceremonies to be included before, during, and after your death.

  • Consider your choice of post-mortem care (body disposition: cremation, green burial, etc.).

  • Envision & plan a Celebration of Life / Funeral support / Obituary.

    Spiritual Care Directive Sessions include: 3 one hour private coaching sessions which will include discussion, education, and meditation. Unlimited prioritized email support, spiritual care documentation, and list of resources. $240 via payments.

Legacy Projects & Life Review

 A legacy project is a way for you to create a unique gift for your loved ones, future generations, or your community so they may remember your influence and impact on the world. It is also an opportunity to deeply reflect on your life so you may pass down the wisdom of your experiences, your stories, and your accomplishments. Legacy projects invite us to share our authenticity, be creative, have a good laugh, inspire forgiveness, and leaving a lasting memory.

Some legacy project ideas include:

  • Autobiography

  • Cookbook

  • Voice and Video Recordings

  • Legacy Letters

  • Community Signature Project

  • Photo Album / Treasure Box

Legacy Creation includes: Fees vary based on the nature of the project. Please contact Jen for a free consultation to discuss your ideas!

Threshold Support

Threshold support offers gentle presence and grounded support on-site during the days and hours preceding death, the transitory period, and the tender time post mortem. Threshold care supports both the dying loved one as well the family. Intended to fill in gaps where medical/hospice care is not present, threshold care assures compassionate presence and caring support where needed.

Threshold support is offered on a case-by-case basis and is donation based.

  • Emotional & spiritual support.

  • On-site: vigil sitting, comfort care touch, and physical support.

  • Guidance around tending to the body (for home funerals).

  • Grief & grieving awareness.

  • Ceremonial / ritual support & planning Celebrations of Life.

If you or a loved one is in need of threshold support please contact Jen.

Grief & Beyond

In the weeks, months, and years following the death of someone we care about we learn to live with grief. For some, it becomes a familiar friend. For others, it may dominate their lives. There is no timeline for grieving and it can show up in a myriad of unexpected ways. Grief & Beyond support includes:

  • Supportive meditations.

  • Compassionate listening with non-dismissive dialogue.

  • Grief metabolism through art, ritual, and remembrance.

  • Relating with the dead - continuity of relationship and how to honor the deceased.

  • Resources.

Grief & Beyond includes: 4 hours of coaching sessions, prioritized unlimited email support, texting support, and resources. $380 via payments.

Additional Services

 Additional Services

 Let’s Chat!

Schedule your complimentary chat session with me so we can discuss your needs and answer any questions you may have.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Hospice is an incredible service that offers many benefits; however, just like any healthcare system there are limitations and unfilled gaps created by Medicare rules, financial restrictions, staffing shortages, etc. Caseloads may be high for hospice nurses, social workers, and spiritual support counselors which may limit the amount of time and attention provided.

    EOLD’s can bridge these gaps by working with your hospice team to ensure all of your unique end of life needs are being met. Some people decline hospice care at end of life but still desire non-medical support and guidance.

    Whether or not you are enrolled in a hospice program, a Death Doula can be of great service in providing additional resources, more one-on-one time, and the high-quality emotional, physical, and spiritual support you deserve.

  • No. End of Life Doula’s are non-medical professionals and therefore are not licensed or protected to provide any type of medical care.

  • Yes. Your doula can still act as an ancillary member of your care team. This means she will collaborate with your hospice social worker, nurse, and spiritual counselor to ensure that your end of life wishes and needs are being fulfilled.

  • End of Life Doula’s are a fantastic resource for anyone wishing to engage with and prepare for their death journey. They are also available to caretakers, family members, and other individuals seeking support in preparing and caring for the death of a loved one.

  • Unfortunately, our services are not covered at this time. As part of my commitment to economic accessibility, I do offer some services via sliding scale or donation. Please contact me to inquire about such arrangements.

  • The days leading up to and just after the death of a loved one are a sacred, tender time. Having an awareness of economic inequality and a dedication to support anyone during their dying journey has led me to offer donation based threshold assistance. Economics should not be a barrier to non-judgmental, compassionate support. I take clients on a case-by-case basis for on-site threshold support. Virtual support is also available if you live out of my geographical region. Please contact me to set up a consultation.