What is an end-of-life / death doula?

“End-of-life doulas provide non-medical, holistic support and comfort to the dying person and their family, which may include education and guidance as well as emotional, spiritual or practical care. We value a cultural environment that encourages the potential for healing exchanges between doulas and the dying, the family, and the healthcare team as part of the life-death process.We embrace the need for ethical, compassionate care for all, and emphasize empowering, non-judgmental support to maximize the self-determination of the individual and honor significant others and family as part of the circle of care.”

- National End-of-Life Doula Alliance

Is this a new service/offering?

Not at all. The work of a death doula has existed as long as humans. Historically, the family, alongside the community, have taken care of all aspects involved in death, including after care of body. Only in the last 100 years have we begun outsourcing, and disconnecting from, this process. Our hope is to remind families and communities of their vital role and advocate for their involvement.

How is this service different from hospice?

Hospice provides an invaluable interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, social workers, clergy and more. The role of a death doula is to provide more curated one-on-one time with clients, discovering ways in which we can support them in living with their dying. This may be holding space for them to share their wishes, concerns, fears, and needs, pursuing holistic activities such as reiki, meditation, and mindful movement, or simply spending time together. Further, we ensure their end-of-life preferences are realized to the best of our ability. We help foster a cohesive relationship between the client, loved ones and any existing care team, offering additional support by way of organizing, informing, guiding, empowering, and comforting.

What services do you not provide?

We do not offer medical or legal services, and do not take the place of licensed therapists. We have a curated referral list of local palliative and hospice care options, as well as professionals such as grief counselors, estate lawyers, and those who specialize in work with children, to name a few.

Do you offer your services virtually?

Yes. Most of what we offer can be done virtually.

When is the right time to contact The Art of Dying?

Sooner than later. Whether you’re interested in early planning or facing a life-limiting illness, we offer different services for different stages of life.If you are given a terminal diagnosis, we recommend reaching out as soon as possible so we can help to guide you with your affairs and prioritize your next steps. You can contact us at theartofdyingfw@gmail.com.

What if I want your services for a loved one but they are not interested?

While we cannot serve anyone who is not interested in our services, we understand there may simply be some apprehension and/or intimidation around this work. We can offer a complimentary phone consultation so we can introduce ourselves, chat with your loved one, share what we offer and how we might be of support, as well as answer any questions.

Do you bring a religious philosophy or a certain faith into your work?

Though we have our own spiritual practices and draw from them, we absolutely refrain from imposing our beliefs on others. We are committed to continually educating ourselves on various faiths and cultural traditions so we can better serve our clients.

As death doulas, do you advocate for a more natural approach to death and dying?

Though we cannot speak for all death doulas, we fully support whatever the client chooses. This can be a more medical approach, a holistic one, or a combination of both. We recognize the dying process has become highly medicalized, and many aspects of ritual and after care have been outsourced to funeral homes. We seek to inform individuals about what their options are and advocate for their preferred choices.

What is the death positive movement?

People who are death positive believe that it is not morbid or taboo to speak openly about death. They see honest conversations about death and dying as the cornerstone of a healthy society.

How does someone become a death doula?

There are many training programs that offer in house certification which attest to successful completion of study although this is not required to practice. People have done this work throughout time and requiring certification could disenfranchise many people in their own communities from doing this as a labor of love or cultural practice. Most programs take about 6-12 months to complete and require exams as well as volunteer hours with a local hospice which itself involves training, background checks, and other requirements. There is a micro credential available through NEDA (National End of Life Doula Alliance) that provides a level of assurance to families that a fundamental knowledge and skill level is met.

Do all death doulas charge for their services?

No. Some choose to do this work voluntarily, others charge for their work on a case-by-case basis, and others charge according to the service. We chose the latter and set our rates based on balancing accessibility alongside high quality, individualized attention in all of our services.