Honoring your wishes and supporting your rights with compassion.
Rita4Life
Death Doula FAQs
What Is a Death Doula?
A Death Doula is a certified, non-medical professional trained to support a dying person and their loved ones holistically—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—during the end-of-life journey. Death Doulas provide compassionate presence, guidance, education, and comfort, complementing medical care rather than replacing it. Around the world, Death Doulas may also be known as End-of-Life Doulas, End-of-Life Practitioners, End-of-Life Coaches, Soul Midwives, Transition Guides, Death Coaches, Doulas to the Dying, Death Midwives, Spiritual Midwives, or End-of-Life Guides.
Do I have to be dying to work with an End-of-Life Doula?
No. Anyone 18 years or older, at any stage of life, can collaborate with me. In fact, the sooner we begin building a relationship, the better.
Whether you or your loved one is facing an immediate end-of-life transition or simply planning ahead, creating advance directives and having meaningful, sometimes challenging conversations can ease death anxiety and support a more intentional, fulfilling life.
Most importantly, no one has to die alone if they don’t want to.
What if someone is considering the End of Life Option Act / Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)? When should I contact an End-of-Life Doula?
Now. I accompany individuals who choose Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) as their end-of-life option in states where it is legally authorized, including California. Early connection allows for thoughtful planning, emotional support, and a grounded presence throughout the process.
I am trained in Aid-in-Dying for End-of-Life Doulas and Bedside Attendants through the American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying (now known as the Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine – AADM).
It would be an honor to support you on your dying day and to serve as a compassionate member of your end-of-life care team, working alongside medical providers and loved ones.
Do you support clients who choose VSED?
Yes. VSED stands for Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking. Some individuals choose this option to gently hasten the dying process and experience the end of life in a natural way. For many people with serious illness, the body naturally begins to slow or shut down digestion as death approaches. VSED aligns with this natural process for those who make an informed, intentional choice. As an End-of-Life Doula, I provide non-medical, holistic support—emotionally, spiritually, and practically—for both the dying person and their loved ones throughout this journey, while working alongside medical and hospice teams as appropriate.
Do Death Doulas work with hospice?
Yes. Death Doulas often work alongside hospice teams. While hospice staff provide essential medical care, their time with each patient is generally limited due to staffing, budgeting, and care assessments. This is where a Death Doula's support is most valuable. I serve as a compassionate companion, filling in the gaps by addressing holistic, non-medical needs—emotional, spiritual, and practical—while collaborating closely with the hospice team to ensure the dying person and their loved ones receive comprehensive care.
Where do you practice as a Death Doula?
As a Death Doula, I practice wherever I am welcomed, supporting you in the location that feels most comfortable—whether at home, in a care facility, or elsewhere. I also offer virtual support as a Tele-Doula, providing guidance, presence, and resources online. For in-person care, I travel within the USA to accompany clients and their loved ones through the end-of-life journey.
How much does your Death Doula service cost, and how do I engage a contract? Who pays for this service?
Peace of mind is priceless. Death Doula services are private pay and are generally not covered by insurance. Every end-of-life journey is unique, and each care package is tailored to the individual’s needs.
The process begins with a free 30-minute discovery consultation. During this time, we discuss your needs and goals. From there, we:
- Determine the services desired
- Estimate the number of hours required
- Agree upon an hourly or package rate
- Draft a clear, written contract signed by both the client and doula
This ensures transparency, clarity, and peace of mind for everyone involved.
Who certifies or trains Death Doulas?
There are many training programs for Death Doulas, and the field continues to grow. Programs vary widely in length, focus, and cost—ranging from weekend workshops to several months of study, with starting costs around $750 and up. Some trainings emphasize natural burial practices, while others focus on spiritual support, holistic care, or end-of-life planning. Certification depends on the training program and the doula’s chosen focus. I am certified through the International Doulagivers Institute, The Dying Year and hold a NEDA Proficiency Badge, reflecting my commitment to skilled, compassionate end-of-life support.
How do I find an End-of-Life Doula near me? You aren’t in my area.
I also provide virtual support as a Tele-Doula, so distance doesn’t have to be a barrier—please feel free to reach out for a consultation! For in-person support nationwide, I am available to travel, with travel expenses and fees covered by the client. Additionally, there are several Death Doula directories where you can search by state. Please see the Resources page for more information.
Let’s connect—I’d be honored to support you or your loved one.
Certifications & Training
In progress: CPE training through the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy as a Chaplain/Spiritual Care Intern. The mission is to help people find their unique purpose and meaning in the midst of loss, grief, and perplexity.
Doulagivers Specialist Holistic Non-Medical End of Life Practitioner Certification with Suzanne B. O'Brien, RN who founded Doulagivers and the International Doulagivers Institute
National End-of-Life Doula Alliance Proficiency Badge
The Dying Year Certified End of Life Doula
Aid-in-Dying training for end-of-life doulas and bedside attendants from American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying (now called Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine)
Hospice of Amador and Calaveras Volunteer Training
Snowline Hospice Volunteer Training
Journey with a Doula...
End-of-Life Doulas provide non-medical emotional, spiritual and practical support to clients and their loved ones, and fill care gaps before, nearing and during death.
Let’s go on a little journey together, and we’ll show you what navigating death with an end-of-life doula could look like.
Let’s begin.
Starting your journey – Imagine you are walking on a path and you’ve just begun. The fog and mist around you are making it difficult to read the signs and you’re unsure of which paths to take. You have barely started your journey and you’re already completely overwhelmed.
Facing the serious health-related changes of yourself or a loved one can be extremely difficult to navigate. Contemplating mortality is hard enough without the added complicating factors of illness. But you’ve heard about end-of-life doulas, so you take an important step and do some research. You find a doula in your area and after speaking to them, you realize that having their support can help you navigate end-of-life in a compassionate and informed way. So, you make the decision to take the rest of your journey with an End-of-Life doula by your side.
Progress – As you make your way along life’s path with the gentle guidance of a doula, the mist begins to clear around you. You may begin planning and organizing what the rest of this journey could look like, from advanced directives to funeral planning, or even demystifying the dying process. Often, the support of a doula goes beyond just the practical into emotional and spiritual support too. Doulas can help you create a vision map of what matters most to you, your legacy, ceremony, ritual and your social needs as well.
Suddenly, you notice the sunlight shining through the green leaves around you, or the clear water rushing under a bridge. With the help of your doula, you’ve begun to realize how this deep work of contemplating death has given life new meaning that you never expected on this journey. You’ve begun to take action steps toward the things that matter most to you.
Roadblocks & Detours – Journeys aren’t always simple though. You’ve come across a roadblock which can look like inaccessible care or lack of resources. Perhaps your illness has taken a different turn and now it feels like your surroundings are completely different. It can be even more challenging when loved ones in your network don’t understand your choices, even disagreeing and openly defying a choice that is important to you.
Your End-of-Life doula is there to bridge gaps in care support by coordinating with family, friends and other care providers. When it comes to resources, your doula will help you find what you need so you can make informed decisions. They might also help you facilitate important conversations and help you communicate your needs and desires when tensions are running high.
Journey’s End – So, you are nearing the end of your journey. You’ve already planned with your doula what this should look like, who you want present, what comfort measures you want, and even after-death care. You feel at ease as your doula takes your hand and guides you on the path ahead. You don’t stumble. You realize that you have prepared for this moment all your life.
Your doula can’t go all the way to the summit with you, but your path with a doula made the quality of the journey richer, full of healing moments and more comforting than you thought possible when you took your first steps. Your work is done and you reach the summit in peace. Courtesy of Conscious Dying Collective and deathdoulas.com.
Testimonies
"Very Dear Rita,
My heart overflows with gratitude our paths crossed, we spent such high quality time together, and you shared my ultimate journey. Thank you so, so much for all you've done for me! Holy wow indeed! Timeless love."
"Thanks for your support to Jack & Anita, she commented that your 1:1 with Jack meant so much to her!"
"You did so much for Leon. Helping him to do email, games and computer activities. Your love and enthusiasm were so supportive of him."
"Thank you so much for providing comfort and support to Marie. That's a long drive, your visits made a huge difference."
"Your presence was so supportive to Rae, thanks for your caring spirit."
"Thank you for the late night vigil so my father would not have to spend his last hours alone."
Partners
Create "good deaths" by promoting awareness, reducing fear.
Pay it Forward!
Your support and contributions enable me to provide a safe and secure space for discussion and educational events on the subject of dying and death and provide and subsidy for those with limited resources at end of life. Thank you.