For those who want to be more prepared for the complex experiences of aging, serious illness, and dying, my Befriending Mortality program engages individuals, couples, or groups in guided practices and exercises designed to help you confront fears while reflecting on your personal values and beliefs. From there we translate those reflections into thoughtful, practical end-of-life plans that align with your wishes and ensure peace of mind for you and your loved ones. You will come away with a complete set of legal documents outlining your end-of-life wishes, empowering you to approach end-of-life decisions and conversations with greater clarity and confidence.

One of the most meaningful aspects of end-of-life care is creating space for reflection. As end of life nears, many people find comfort in looking back on the experiences, relationships, and values that have shaped who they are. Together, we will explore life's challenges as well as the moments that have mattered most - the lessons learned, the values held, the lives touched, and the legacy that will live on through family, friends, and community. These conversations can bring clarity, inner healing, and a deeper sense of peace for both the dying person and their loved ones.

From these reflections, I can help transform memories, stories, and messages into a personalized legacy project that honors the client's life. Whether it's a video, a scrapbook, a collection of letters to loved ones, an audio recording, or another meaningful form of communicating love and values for those left behind, each project is as unique as the individual.

Whether a person has limited support or simply wants the comforting presence of someone who understands the end-of-life journey, I come alongside people on their unique journey, tailoring our time together to their individual needs. Each visit is guided by what feels most meaningful in the moment. Some people want to talk openly about their end-of-life experience, explore beliefs about spirituality and what might happen after death, ask questions about what to expect, reflect on their lives, or share concerns for the loved ones they will leave behind. Others simply find comfort in having someone quietly sit with them, listen to their stories, read aloud, play music, or share peaceful silence.

I also provide respite care for family caregivers. Caring for a loved one at the end of life can be deeply meaningful, but it can also be physically and emotionally demanding. Respite visits give primary caregivers the opportunity to rest, attend to personal needs, or simply take a restorative break, knowing their loved one is being cared for by an experienced, trained doula.

Every person deserves the opportunity to make informed choices about their end-of-life options and to define for themselves what quality of life means. I provide neutral education on legal end-of-life options, including voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED - legal in all 50 states) and Medical Aid in Dying (MAID - currently legal in 13 states and Washington, DC for eligible patients).

For those who choose to legally hasten death, advance planning creates a unique opportunity to shape a meaningful end-of-life experience that reflects their values and wishes. In the case of VSED, careful practical planning and preparation are especially important to ensure comfort, support, and alignment of everyone involved.

The final days and hours of life are a profound and deeply personal time. I work alongside the dying person and their loved ones to create a personalized vigil plan to ensure 24/7 care and the client is as comfortable as possible in their environment, whether at home, in a medical setting, or in a long-term residential care facility. This may include preferences for music, readings, lighting, scents, meaningful rituals, comforting touch, and the extent to which they would like family, friends, and caregivers to be present. For the family, I offer education about the stages of dying, guidance on what to expect, and reassurance throughout the process so loved ones can feel more confident, present, and calm as the experience unfolds.

My role is to provide a calm, steady presence while supporting both the dying person and those who are gathered around them. If we have worked together in advance, my primary focus is to ensure the wishes and intentions expressed in the end-of-life plan remain at the heart of the vigil. If I become involved as the vigil begins, I will gently guide the dying person and their loved ones through the choices and options available, helping them create a peaceful and meaningful environment that reflects the values and wishes of the client.

Although I do not provide medical care, I can assist with non-medical comfort measures such as helping with repositioning, adjusting and changing bedding, providing basic oral care, and offering other supportive comfort care in collaboration with the family and care team.

When desired, I am also available to provide extended support throughout the vigil, ensuring continuity and consistency of care.

Grief often begins well before a loved one dies and can manifest as anger, fear, denial, conflict, or desperation. Even when a dying person has clearly communicated their wishes, family members may struggle to accept those decisions or disagree about how best to honor them. When wishes have not been expressed in advance, loved ones may find themselves facing difficult decisions about medical care, end-of-life arrangements, or unresolved family relationships.

I can facilitate family or inner circle conversations that center the client’s wishes and values (expressed or unexpressed), reduce conflict, and create an aligned path forward that honors the dying person's wishes and priorities.

In addition to exploring the growing options for burial, cremation, or whole body donation, I help clients and families create before- and after-death rituals that honor their cultural, spiritual, or religious traditions and personal values. Some choose to have an exit-party or farewell gathering before they die. Others choose to create after-death care rituals, such as gently washing and preparing the body, anointing with oils, wrapping the body in a shroud, or creating other meaningful rituals of farewell. Whatever your preference, I can help make it happen. I can also serve as a liaison between the family and a mortuary or funeral home and help coordinate after-death funeral or memorial services.

In the days and weeks that follow, I remain available to provide a safe, nonjudgmental space to talk, reflect, ask questions, or simply be heard as loved ones begin to process their loss, navigate complex emotions, and adjust to life without the deceased. When additional support would be beneficial, I can connect families with bereavement services offered through hospice, healthcare providers, faith communities, or other local organizations and community resources that can provide ongoing care.

Death anniversaries can be especially difficult. Up to and through the second anniversary, I can help you anticipate these transitions and create a plan and rituals that honor your heart and soothe your soul.

I also offer private and group Grief-Song experiences that help metabolize and express grief through improvisational voice work and vocal sound healing practices. Inquire about upcoming group or one-on-one sessions.