Our Blog From birth to end-of-life care
Inside the Dementia Journey: What Caregivers Wish Someone Had Told Them (Podcast)
Traci Arieli interviews author Patty Brennan. Comforting Closure—Conversations with a Death Doula is a series of podcasts by end-of-life doula Traci Arieli. Recently, Traci interviewed Patty Brennan for a conversation about her book, Into the Fog: Navigating My Mother’s Journey through Dementia. The book is both a memoir and a guide for families in which…
Your End-of-Life Doula Website: 5 Home Page Must-Haves
Guest blog by Sarah Juliusson. You’re launching your end of life doula business — congrats! But the task of creating a website is feeling very, very daunting — for so many reasons. At the top of the list for many? The home page — a blank canvas waiting the perfect blend of words and images…
Skilled Nursing Facility Assessment Tool
Co-created by Jane Whitlock, Catherine Thiemann, and Patty Brennan. How does your facility support residents and loved ones who are dying? How does the facility help healthy residents prepare for death? How does the facility work with end-of-life doulas? Download this tool as PDF.
A Death Doula’s Guide to a Meaningful End by Jane Callahan (Book Review)
By Patty Brennan. I found myself grabbing the yellow highlighter repeatedly as I read Jane Callahan’s new gem of a guidebook. The author weaves together her own life experience and client stories while synthesizing an overview of end-of-life issues, decision points, and resources. It makes for an informative and engaging read that brings the nitty-gritty…
Palliative Positioning in Hospice Care
By Cindy Spence Tips for Getting Clients Comfortable in Bed at the End of Life Palliative positioning has the power to reduce a pain score dramatically, and it’s a skill that anyone can learn. As a massage therapist working in hospice care, I’ve learned that most of what I do to help people is very…
Medical Aid in Dying, End-of-Life Doulas, and the Doula Scope of Practice
By Patty Brennan Recently, I was conducting a webinar for end-of-life doulas (EOLDs) when someone in the audience shared that Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) clients were her specialty and that she travels to other states to “do it.” As MAiD was not the theme of our webinar, I did not pursue questioning her as to whether she…
Should Doulas Volunteer Their Services?
Part 1 Volunteer doulas and volunteer doula programs have fallen out of favor with an outspoken segment of the doula community who view them as devaluing the role of the doula. The word “demonization” comes to mind as the tone of the criticisms and pushback on social media has become increasingly polarizing. One doula Facebook…
Is mentoring available for doulas?
Are you a newly trained doula? Have you ever wished you could be a fly on the wall and observe an experienced, professional doula at work? Perhaps watch how she/he handles questions during a new client interview, or observe interactions with medical personnel or hospice staff (especially when those interactions are trending adversarial)? It makes…
How to Choose a Doula Training
How to choose a doula training when there are so many options? Which is best? Just as no one doula can be the right fit for every family, no one doula training can be the best fit for every prospective doula. Before you get lost in the Sea of Choices and are tempted to give…
How to Market your Doula Business
How to Promote your Doula Business An initial stumbling block to marketing my doula services involved a deep-seated distaste for selling. I began to feel more comfortable with the idea of selling myself and my services once I understood the importance of articulating the VALUE I bring to my clients. Consider the following questions: What…
How to Create a Doula Contract
#1. Understand the purpose of your contract. It is essentially a tool for communication. Your contract (or “Letter of Agreement”) commits to writing the terms of the doula-client relationship, especially around services provided, fees, and terms of payment. You are seeking to create transparency and mutually agreed upon expectations. #2. Do a little research. Look…
Acupressure in Labor
How can acupressure in labor be beneficial? We will focus on two acupressure points in the body that, when stimulated, help to release the hormone oxytocin in order to start or augment uterine contractions. A common application is as a natural means of getting labor contractions started. Or to help erratic early labor contractions strengthen…
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