End of Life Doula Services

Grief + Loss Support

“Preparing for death is one of the most empowering things you can so. Thinking about death clarifies your life.”

— Candy Chang

“You see, love and grief are two sides of the same precious coin. One does not—and cannot—exist without the other. They are the yin and yang of our lives… Grief is predicated on our capacity to give and receive love. Some people choose not to love and so never grieve. If we allow ourselves the grace that comes with love, however, we must allow ourselves the grace that is required to mourn.”

— Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph. D.

Grief + Loss:

Human life inevitably brings gain and loss, joy and sorrow. Grief is one of the heart’s natural responses to loss. When we grieve we allow ourselves to feel the truth of our pain, the measure of betrayal or tragedy in our life. By our willingness to mourn, we slowly acknowledge, integrate, and accept the truth of our losses. Sometimes the best way to let go is to simply grieve.

It takes courage to grieve, to honor the pain we carry. We can grieve in tears or in meditative silence, in prayer or in song. In touching the pain of recent and long-held griefs, we come face to face with our genuine human vulnerability, with helplessness and hopelessness. These are the storm clouds of the heart.

Together we welcome a willingness to let go with grace… we will explore grief, what it means, how it comes in all varieties, how to honor and move through your experience, and tools to help in your healing process.


We also delve into End of Life work; meditating on death, making preparations for our final rite of passage (as we never know what that will come), learning tools to help those we love to do the same, and how incorporating daily death contemplations can enhance how we LIVE NOW!


Consider that, we are not exploring death to be “dark”, but we look and meditate on it as a means of preparing for our death, and to help us really look at our lives clearly NOW. Death makes us pause, and look at the moments we have and ask ourselves:

  • How do I make this moment come alive?

  • How can I make the most of the time I have here?

  • What matters to me most?

  • What can I let go of?

  • Who do I need to say “I’m Sorry”, “I Forgive you”, and “I Love you” to on a daily basis?

So, if you leave your body tomorrow, you will have no regrets.

Caregiving for a soul nearing death means journeying with our dying friend or family member through the final stage of their earthly pilgrimage. Our sacrifice of love in joining our loved one's final journey has benefits to our life experience as well. As we travel with a dying loved one through his or her last days, we clearly see the stages of detachment through which we will need to pass in our own life before being prepared to die.


Thinking of death clarifies our life. The hard truth is: it’s painful coming into this world, and it’s painful leaving this world (birth AND death).


Life is precious and extremely fragile. From one moment to the next, we have no guarantee that we will remain healthy or safe. When our life or the life of a loved one is threatened, we may reflect:

  • Who am I?

  • What was this life all about?

  • What is death?

  • Is there life beyond the demise of my body?

  • Who or what is God?

  • Will I be judged for my deeds?

  • Am I a good person?

  • Does anyone truly love or care for me now that I’m dying?

  • How can I find the way to inner peace amidst this confusion and chaos?


Philosophers and prophets have examined these questions over the ages. The Vedic sages of India believe that death is feared only when left hidden in the shadows of our ignorance. Death-when exposed to the light of wisdom- can be understood, even embraced, in the service of peace, maturity, and enlightenment. 


We will approach Death through the lens of the ancient Vedic/Yogic teachers, which resonate with the great teachers and elders of all faiths. A common theme among these teachings is to see birth and death as doorways into and out of the great journey of life. In this way, life is seen as an adventure, a pilgrimage with joys, trials, and tribulations but certainly with a great purpose writ large behind the changing scenes.


I support those who are actively dying (have a terminal illness), those who are supporting someone who is preparing for death (families, friends, and loved ones of the dying or deceased), and those who desire to prepare for their own death (which is coming for all of us, at a time unknown to us). 


Rather than approaching death through a lens of fear and suffering, we can change the lens through which we view the dying stage of life itself. We can consider two ways to view death and two ways to die. We may view death as an unknowable, frightening phenomenon in which we ultimately lose everything of value. Or we can view death as a rite of passage. We may then approach death in one of two ways” unprepared, in denial, and vulnerable to suffering, or consciously prepared to "ride the tiger of fate" through our final life passage.

“Grief is love.

It’s present when our heart breaks open.
When we allow ourselves to open to the flow of life.
Sometimes it pierces the heart so intensely.
Sometimes it unfurls the heart so gently.
Often, it brings up all the unresolved trauma from the past, which makes it overwhelming to contend with if we are not skilled in her ways.”

— Dr. Mia Hentenyi Grief Doula & Clinical Psychologist

It would be an honor to serve you in this way.

To explore end of life and grief work together, click the button below to email me.