A song for passing…
compassionate support for life’s Final chapter
Death doula consultations
Find guidance, a comforting presence, and empowerment to make informed choices during your transition through life, or at the end of life (EOL). Let’s work together to meet death consciously, with beauty and dignity.
I offer virtual sessions, and in-person sessions in Nanaimo and Vancouver Island BC, Canada.
What is an end of life doula?
End of life (EOL) or “death doulas” provide holistic, non-medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support before, during, and after death. They empower clients in their decision-making with guidance, resources, education, and facilitation during the process of dying or death. They also provide support for the bereaved. There’s a variety of ways in which a death doula can support you.
What support caN Look Liken look like
For the dying or bereaved, support can come in many forms. A death doula can hold space and be a comforting presence on your final days, they can provide information on the process of dying, help you find meaning and closure through legacy work. For the bereaved, they can provide information, help prepare you for the passing of your loved one through spiritual/emotional guidance, support you during the funeral or memorial service, or simply hold space and walk with you in the park while you process your loss. in the park for the bereaved… a coffee and chat.
Why Work with a Death Doula?
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Receive active listening, get companionship, psychospiritual, emotional, and informational support, and know that you are not alone during this time of transition. A death doula holds safe, sacred space to address spiritual matters.
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Death doulas can act as a liaison with your healthcare team to clarify and honour your (the dying persons’) wishes, help facilitate courageous conversations, and navigate family dynamics. Get assistance in form-filling and documentation; creation of wish-bucket lists; respite care; other EOL planning; and vigil, ritual or ceremony design, and much more.
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Let’s start a conversation. Death is not something that just happens to us. We can move through EOL with reverence, and deep presence. Receive knowledge and practical tools for navigating the healthcare system, demystification of the stages/process of dying and death, self-care, other non-medical interventions, and grief and bereavement support. Learn about Death Cafe’s and other educational offerings.
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Learn about self-care and non-medical interventions, such as herbal medicine, for managing end-of-life anxiety, including grief and bereavement.
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Prepare advanced care directives and advocate for yourself in the event of mental incapacity or sudden illness. Articulate your wishes regarding medical care, wills, and funeral preferences. Documents can help to clearly communicate with loved ones and healthcare providers, reducing the burden on your family while giving you a say in your end-of-life journey.
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Get help creating a tangible memory to celebrate your or your loved ones life, and leave a lasting impression for future generations. These may include life reviews and legacy projects with video, artwork, music playlists, photo memory books, and much more.
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There are many ways that a death doula can support you or your loved one. Get in touch for more information or resources and support for navigating EOL care.
Death, a natural process, is shrouded by fear and silence in our (western) society. Thanatophobia, is a fear of death, and it manifests in many ways. Let’s work together to overcome this and bring back understanding.
Work with me & Let’s Consciously change how we die
Current research in Canada has found that certain marginalized and immigrant populations are more likely to receive aggressive end-of-life care, have limited knowledge of palliative care, or advanced care planning, and experience challenges accessing culturally safe palliative care. These inequalities stem from power imbalances that are inherent in our healthcare system and require identifying and changing the structures, policies, and practices that perpetuate racism, discrimination, and lack of cultural safety. We all have the responsibility to advocate for the needs of diverse patients and their loved ones as they navigate serious illness and end-of-life.
-Bulle et al. (2023), Current Oncology 30(9):7920-7925
I’m Gita
I came to this work through navigating the death of loved ones, managing grief, and having a lifelong interest in death and dying. I would like to help bring more meaningful conversation and personalized care for the dying in my community. Though it may feel like a dark time, I see beauty at the end of life, and I hope we can find it together. I would be honoured to support you, or your loved one(s), during this meaningful and transformational transition of life. I also volunteer with the Nanaimo Community Hospice Society (palliative care unit).
Services I offer
There are a variety of ways that I can support you. Some examples are to the right. My approach is non-judgmental, client-focused, culturally-sensitive, trauma-informed, and custom-tailored to you, your family or caregiver’s needs. I provide non-medical support, except for the use of plant medicine in my capacity as a medical herbalist.
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Compassionate end-of-life care takes many forms and can include: a legacy project; last will and testament (and choosing an executor); enduring power of attorney; documentation of wishes (for pre-death care and postmortem); notifications of expected death in the home (EDITH) process; application for medical assistance in dying (MAiD); forms for body or organ donation programs; navigation of family dynamics; help with funeral planning and burial arrangements; facilitation of vigils, ceremonies, cultural rituals, and memorials, and much more.
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An advanced care plan (ACP), or advanced heathcare directive (AHCD), can ensure that your wishes are documented, and that a decision maker on your behalf is identified. An advanced care plan will help reduce the stress of decision making (for others), and miscommunication of your wishes, while protecting your dignity and memory.
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I can act as a respite provider for caregivers. I offer emotional and practical support including non-medical bedside care and companionship for the dying (we can play cards, chat, or take walks); running short-errands; and helping with household management. This includes being present in the final days or hours of a person’s life.
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I offer alternative solutions for palliative care symptom management, including support with anxiety or fear around death, or pain management, sleep support, and much more, using a variety of non-medical interventions. These may include herbal plant medicine, art therapy, nature-based or spiritual practices such as breathwork or mindful meditation.
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Honour the sacredness of dying through ceremony, ritual or vigils. Vigils allow a time for slowing down and appreciating a dying or deceased loved one. They help with transitions, bring about grieving, and signify a sacred moment. Death doulas hold sacred space and help create a serene, comforting environment that reflect your beliefs, customs, and preferences. They can aid with designing, planning and implementing bedside vigils during the active phase of dying, post-death vigils, funerals, ceremonies, rituals, and memorials, in a culturally-informed and sensitive way.
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Medical assistance in dying is legal in Canada. I can offer resources and guidance for individuals and families exploring or preparing for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). I can help you navigate the application process, or consider possible alternative forms of palliative care.
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Grief has no timeline, it may resurface months to years after the loss of a loved one. If you are processing grief and pain following the loss of a loved one (no matter how long ago), I offer a heart-centred, grounded, and safe space to talk, feel, or sit and just be. I can help you develop a grief crisis plan or plan for self-care.
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Not all deaths are physical in nature. The living may also experience psycho-spiritual crises resulting in major life changes. I can support you by facilitating a psychedelic plant (psilocybin) medicine journey. Such journeys may help address lifelong struggles with anxiety, depression, addiction, body image, destructive behaviours, or anxiety/fear around death and dying, and underlying traumas. As a (TheraPsil) trained practitioner, I provide support through a three-fold protocol of preparation, journey facilitation, and integration. Currently, legal psilocybin assisted therapy is available for some through Health Canada’s Special Access Program (SAP). This may also be an alternative option for those considering MAiD.
explorE the POssibilities
If you’re interested in working together but need more time. This call can help me determine how I can best support you. You may ask questions and determine if I am the right match for you and/or your family.
Packages
There are no taxes charged (this may be subject to change in the future).
I offer a 15% discount on initial (single) sessions for seniors, students, or anyone unemployed; bundles are discounted rates.
Note: The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit is a one-time payment of $2,500 to the estate of a deceased person who made sufficient CPP contributions. Families may choose to apply this benefit, or part of it, towards death doula services or other end-of-life costs.
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If you’re interested in working together but need more time. This call can help me determine how I can best support you. You may ask questions and determine if I am the right match for you and/or your family.
(20 minutes, free)
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In this dedicated initial session, we can explore your wishes for end-of-life care or grief support deeper. This can be a 1:1 session or a family session, where family members can communicate wishes, fears and questions as a group. You may want help with filling forms or getting started on a legacy project. Prior to the session, you will complete a consent to working together and a client intake form, which will guide our session and highlight your needs or interests.
(60-90 minutes, $95 Cdn)
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After a discovery call or initial session, if you are interested light support, this bundle offers a 15% discounted rate
(3 sessions, 180 minutes total, $250.00)
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After a discovery call or initial session, if you are interested in working together for a longer period, this bundle offers a discounted rate.
(6 sessions, 360 minutes total, $480.00)