Humans have cared for their dying since the beginning of time. The modern doula movement is a remembering of what we’ve always known to do.

I use the term “death doula” here as it has become more identified in the lexicon. My work is that of a companion and a witness.

I am a certified death doula. My experience includes doula training at Emberlight: Center for Conscious Living and Dying, certification as a Death Educator with David Kessler, and most importantly, lived experience supporting the dying and their loved ones.

What is a Death Doula?

INELDA (International of Life Doula Association) defines doula as a “nonmedical companion who provides personalized and compassionate support to individuals, families, and their circles of care as they encounter and navigate death, loss, and mortality. An end-of-life doula advocates self-determination and imparts psychosocial, emotional, spiritual, and practical care to empower dignity throughout the dying process.”

How can I find a death doula?

There are multiple directories to find Death Doulas, including INELDA, NEDA (National End of Life Doula Alliance), Alua Arthur’s Going With Grace directory.

You can also find a doula through community death care groups. I am an active member of Birmingham Community Deathcare.

What is your work as a death doula?

The focus of my doula work now is creating spaces for conversations around grief, death, and dying. In 2025, with Birmingham Community Deathcare peers, I helped launch Birmingham’s Death Cafe, which meets quarterly and provides a space for people to talk openly about any topics related to the above.

I’m also involved with fostering conversations between community death care (including doulas) and clinical professionals. It’s tricky — modern day doula work was created as a response to the “medicalization” of death. Doula, by their very nature are non-medical. But I believe the heart of doula work can occur in all settings.

Grief education is woven into all I do, and the focus of my efforts.