Every Death Doula /End-of-Life Doula is different in what skills they bring into their service. Death Doula/End-of-Life Doulas (terms used interchangeably in US) provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support and guidance to the death journeyer and their family when a terminal diagnosis is given and through the active part of dying and death. Death doula's serve as part of your team along with hospice, medical staff, chaplains, and social workers. A death doula/midwife is a non-medical person, although some nurses and physicians have gone through end-of-life doula trainings. Death Doula's compliment other services that a dying person and their family may be receiving, including hospice or palliative care.
Death Doula's offer holistic non-medical support. I use the term death doula over end-of-life doula, as we ourselves give words any power and meaning they have to us. In working through fears many have around death in the west, I find calling it out and acknowledging it and making friends with the word is powerful and healing in itself.
My approach to serving as a death doula focuses heavily on the spiritual support as an Interfaith Minister and Energy Worker. Also, with a background in rituals and ceremonies, the funeral is a unique aspect that I'm able to help you and your family prepare for and/or perform. I am always honored to serve as the Funeral Celebrant if it's the individual or families wish, especially after being with you all leading up to the death.
I can provide spiritual support and rituals for the death journeyer as well as family and friends through this rite of passage and on the other side. I also facilitate individual and group healing labyrinth walks to support families and friends processing grief.
Having been a part-time caregiver for grandparents and a father, I know how unprepared families can feel. I want to empower you in this ancient role caring for a loved one and organizing support, as there are resources available.
An area that is close to my heart is caring for those with dementia. I've also completed several Dementia caregiver trainings over the years and I personally know what families are going through with the long goodbye. The lesson I learned early on is it's never too early to start seeking support and planning. The stigma of it unfortunately weighs heavy on many still today and there is no reason that should delay discussions, planning, and preparations as things change over days and months sometimes quickly. I would especially love supporting those going through this.
Although I completed my Death Doula training in 2022. I decided to take it further with the death midwifery training. The term midwife was used in the training because it includes the after, the final rites, care of the body, infant and stillborn rituals, the funeral, and bereavement period.
This includes holding space for the process and creating rituals for the family and friends to be involved with to honor their own transition, as death changes everyone around. The term midwife in North Carolina applies to those medically trained for births, thus I am not a midwife in the current state definition and use of the term (each state varies).
If you are interested in receiving a free 30 minute consultation call about death doula services for you or a loved one, please complete the contact form at the bottom of this page. After our call, you can discuss with family and decide what immediate needs you have. If you decide this service would be beneficial and a compliment to your existing support, we will then schedule an in-home consultation.
During the initial in-home consultation, we will create a plan to address the emotional, spiritual and physical needs as you the death journeyer or individual navigates the path of the dying process. We will work together to create a schedule of care and we can also include what the family needs during this time. Two hours are allowed for the in-home consultation and introductions. Initial consultation fee: $100.
After the in-home consultation you will receive a detailed outline of the services you are requesting and the associated fees.
Death Doula services range from $25-38/hour depending upon the type of service with a minimum of two hours scheduled. If I can support you while working from my home by making phone calls or writing eulogies, or other things, I do charge for the hour at the lower rate.
Some hours may be for home visits and others may be over virtual conferencing or phone calls, depending upon the needed service.
Packages are available with a reduced hourly rate and will be discussed during the in-home consultation time.
Death Doula services are private pay. We can always add or remove as we go along this journey.
Subsequent visits may be monthly, weekly or daily depending on the needs of the family. I will work closely with the team of doctors, hospice, caregivers, clergy and out-of-town family members to provide comfort, guidance and support for a peaceful transition experience. We all want as beautiful of a death experience as we can have for ourselves and others.
I'll continue to support the family and friends as needed through the bereavement process.
Even if you do not use my death doula services, I hope my blogs bring comfort, ideas, and empowerment to you and your family. I also share on Social Media books I'm reading and links to other folks in this industry and what they are sharing that might interest you and support you.
If you are in the local area, to my knowledge there are four other Death Doula's in this area of NC and more are feeling the call. I'd be happy to connect you to them if they are closer to you and to see if they'd be a better fit for you as well. We have different backgrounds, experiences, and specialties within serving as Death Doula's/End of Life Doula's for our communities, but we are all dedicated to compassionate care.
I am also a NEDA Member.
Copyright © 2024 Sacred Way Ceremonies is a DBA of Amanda Todd, Ph.D., LLC - All Rights Reserved.