I am a member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance, and have met their proficiency requirements. I was trained by Alua Arthur and the incredible team at Going with Grace, and am also completing the University of Vermont’s End-of-Life Doula certificate.
As a well-trained and certified Death Doula, I can say for certain that one of the few universal truths is that we all must deal with change. Some of those changes are ones we seek out. These we generally welcome, and prepare for. Others are changes that come upon us unexpectedly. Death is one of the most deeply feared and staunchly avoided changes we will all face. No matter what the change, the stories we tell ourselves will affect how we deal with it.
Changes we face are those related to aging, illness, and death can be some of the hardest to talk about. Wherever you are in that process – and we are all somewhere in that process – we can work together to clarify your goals, confront your fears, and locate the resources you need to live your fullest life in the face of mortality. This way, you can navigate the changes related to aging, illness, and death with dignity and self-determination. This work can include:
- Prioritizing bucket lists (and anti-bucket lists, too!)
- Tending to important relationships
- Completing documents like living wills and advance directives
- Formulating legacy plans, engaging in life review, creating an ethical will
- Imagining and planning memorials, drafting obituaries (yes, you can write your own!)
- Preparing and forming care networks for yourself or for others
If you are in the midst of a life-limiting illness, in addition to the work described above, I can also offer:
- Companioning and sitting vigil
- Providing emotional support for your caregivers during your life and after your death
- Connecting you to useful resources related to your specific needs
- Assisting your circle of support after your death with post-death rituals and wrapping up your affairs.
Elizabeth Anne Wood, Ph.D. 