End-of-Life Doula offering non-medical companionship and steady presence for the dying and those who love them, before, during, and after.

An end-of-life doula, or death doula, is a non-medical professional who guides individuals and their families through the dying process: offering presence, support, advocacy, education, and companionship.

An end-of-life practitioner (ELP) is trained as a death doula and then goes further. The difference lies in the depth of education, the scope of practice, and the supervised training behind it. An ELP works side by side with hospice, hospitals, and other care teams, offering practical, psychological, social, and spiritual support for both the dying and the people who love them — helping families cope, bringing meaning to the experience, and restoring a sense of the sacred to dying.

Every ELP is a death doula; not every death doula is an ELP. Because I completed the 600-hour practitioner path — with client hours and a supervised internship — I am a trained End-of-Life Practitioner.

An end-of-life practitioner (ELP) is a comforting, knowledgeable presence who understands the dying process — a compassionate resource for families who may feel overwhelmed and grieving as a loved one nears the end of life. An ELP offers a range of services through this passage, but is, above all, a grounding and dependable presence during a profoundly emotional time.

End-of-life practitioners (ELPs) complement the professional medical care from hospices, hospitals, or senior care facilities. An ELP supports not only the dying person but also their loved ones. Upon request of the person or the family, ELPs can offer vigil sitting, life review, end-of-life planning, legacy work, and grief support — at home, in a care facility, or in the hospital. Many services are also available virtually. In my practice, I am not affiliated with any hospice; my work complements their care. I provide support for your emotional, spiritual, and practical needs before, during, and after a death.

Yes, considerable training.

My initial end-of-life doula training was through the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA). I then completed 600 hours of education, client hours, and supervision to become an End-of-Life Practitioner through The HeartWay.

My additional training includes:

• Reiki Master — Usui System of Reiki Healing
• Yoga Nidra Teacher Training — California College of Ayurveda
• Yoga Nidra End-of-Life Training — California College of Ayurveda
• Aromatherapy in Palliative Care — CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care
• Certified Grief Coach
• Medical Aid in Dying training — American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying

I have served as a volunteer with The HeartWay, Traditions Health, and Salus Hospice. Drawing on a 30-year public relations career, I can also write obituaries. I am bilingual in Spanish and English, and have studied French and Italian.

Spirited Crossings is not associated with any religion or denomination, nor does it have a religious agenda. I respect my clients’ religious beliefs and needs, and will integrate these into our work together whenever requested. I welcome clients of all religious beliefs, and those who have none.

Whenever you feel ready. You don't need a terminal diagnosis to begin. It is never too early to consider what your final wishes might be, or to begin a legacy project. Some clients have come to me a few weeks, or even days, before a death; others I have worked with for more than a year. Wherever you are on this path, we can begin there.