Contemporary society has tried to push death and dying out of mind, out of sight, and out of our conversation. As a result, care of the dying has been outsourced to medical professionals, leaving those with a terminal diagnosis and their loved ones unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster of the dying process and its intense caregiving demands.
But there is a deep historical and spiritual tradition of doing death differently—of supporting and guiding the dying and their caregivers in a way that allows for inner engagement with the richness of their lives, and often, a more peaceful death. This path of service goes back thousands of years and has been revitalized in the modern end-of-life doula movement.
This end-of-life doula training course from the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA) immerses you in a profound approach to helping people through their dying process. You will learn the foundation for doula work and come to understand the philosophy and spirit of service that underpins INELDAs approach. You also receive an intensive and thorough grounding in the powerful tools and techniques end-of-life doulas use as they serve.
In this training, you learn:
- The end-of-life doula model of care
- Deep active listening
- Common issues in facing death
- Meaning and legacy work
- Vigil planning
- Guided imagery
- Signs and symptoms of dying
- Rituals and ceremonies
- Reprocessing the dying journey
- Early grief work
- Self-care for doulas
- Next steps to serving as an end-of-life doula
Included in this workshop:
- Prework—video segments and exercises to prepare you for the weekend
- INELDA educators presenting the material and responding to students
- Small group and paired exercises—to practice doula skills
- A printed training manual with full written explanations and resources
Graduates of INELDA's end-of-life doula training may choose to serve the dying as part of a hospice program, in a hospital or care facility, through a community program, in a private doula collective, or independently.
