Faqs

As a death doula, I provide compassionate support to individuals and their families during the final stages of life. From the diagnosis of a terminal illness to final breath, I offer non-medical guidance, comfort, and practical assistance. I help families navigate emotional and logistical challenges, ensuring that the dying person's wishes are honored and their journey is peaceful and dignified. I help create a comforting and supportive environment, fostering a sense of peace and acceptance during this sensitive time.

End-of-life care has been a deeply personal journey for me, rooted in profound experiences that shaped my path. Since sitting bedside with my grandfather during his passing in 2016, and facing my own fears of death triggered by a pregnancy loss in 2018, I've embarked on a transformative path. The birth of my son in 2019 and a life-threatening health emergency when I was postpartum with my daughter in 2020 shifted my perspective on death even further. Having experienced a blood clot in my neck and bilateral vertebral artery dissections amidst navigating life with a newborn and a toddler, I felt the enormous weight of mortality. This journey led me to explore death, volunteer with the dying, and ultimately, become a compassionate support for others. It has changed not only my life but also my understanding of fear, resilience, and the beauty in accompanying others through life's most vulnerable moments. Through exploring my spirituality and views on death, and incorporating practices like Reiki and guided meditations, I found a path out of the constant state of fight or flight that had gripped me. These healing modalities helped me regain a sense of peace, grounding, and purpose, empowering me to embrace my role in guiding others through their own journeys with grace and compassion.

I hope so! I would be honored to share that moment with you and your loved ones. However, every death is different and unpredictable. When we sense your loved one is in the active stage of dying, we will work together with myself, your hospice team, family, and friends to make sure someone is there around the clock for the vigil. We can discuss this in your care plan. Some people choose to go when they are alone, and some families prefer this moment to be more intimate.

I received my Death Doula training with Olivia Bareham through Sacred Crossings: The Institute for Conscious Dying and Alternative Funeral Home in Los Angeles, California. I have completed the Reiki Master Certification and successfully attained Master Reiki training and attunement in the Usui Natural System of Healing in accordance with the Usui Shiki Ryoho tradition through Windsoul Wellness Center.

I graduated Cum Laude and with Honors from Scripps College in Claremont, California with a B.A. in Anthropology. I received a M.A. in Education from Claremont Graduate University the following year. I am currently a trained volunteer with a hospice organization in Massachusetts.

Relevant Workshops, Trainings, and Webinars

• Miracles Happen: The Transformative Power of Past-Life Memories with Brian Weiss at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY

• David Kessler and Julie McFadden webinar “Dealing with Death and Anticipatory Grief”

• An Introductory Course on Grief Support: Supporting Children, Teens and Young Adults - The Dougy Center Grief Education and Training

Upcoming Webinars

• Too Young to Grieve? A Dougy Center Children's Grief Awareness Day Webinar November 2024

Yes.

Death doulas do not offer medical or clinical services. We cannot sign any paperwork related to your medical care. All medical care decisions should be discussed with your hospice and medical care team. I work closely with your team of experienced healthcare professionals. I am here to offer support and guidance as part of your care team, complementing the services provided by hospice care.

I currently serve most areas of the North Shore and Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts (Amesbury, Andover Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groveland, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Merrimac, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Reading, Peabody, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Topsfield, Wakefield, Wenham, West Newbury, and Woburn). I am available for virtual visits as well.