End of life and bereavement care

As an end-of-life doula and psychotherapist, I provide holistic care and support to those who are navigating the complicated and emotional end of life stage. I received my end-of-life doula training from the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA), certification in Reiki specifically for end-of-life clients, and hold a post-graduate certificate in Palliative and End-of-Life Care from Smith College.

My integrative approach to end-of-life care focuses on providing companionship, comfort, and gentle guidance through the end-of-life journey to soothe the natural anxieties that many people experience during this time. My services are offered to family members and loved ones as well, and I offer bereavement care after a loss, providing an atmosphere of emotional safety and support that honors each person’s unique way of grieving.

The role of an end-of-life doula is to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support to clients and their loved ones during the end of life process. I focus on creating a peaceful and meaningful experience for people nearing the end of life by helping to soothe their natural fears and concerns and attending to their comfort. By providing this level of comprehensive support, I help clients make this final transition with dignity and an enhanced feeling of readiness and peace.

My approach to end-of-life care prioritizes the client’s individual needs, values and beliefs. I provide comfort and companionship during the final days, and serve as an active listener to whom the client and loved ones can express their fears, anxieties, doubts and final wishes.

I also provide practical assistance throughout the end-of-life journey, tending to many of the clients’ physical needs in addition to their emotional needs. I am experienced in providing physical and logistical care while honoring the client’s dignity and privacy.

I offer a wide range of services for end-of-life clients and their loved ones to assist them through every step of the transition. These services include:

End-of-Life Planning: I help clients create concrete end-of-life plans and share these plans with loved ones. During end-of-life discussions, I facilitate conversations about relevant medical, legal, financial, cultural, and religious/spiritual/philosophical issues. I will also present meaningful, affordable and environmentally sustainable alternatives to traditional practices, such as a green burial.
Family Therapy and Bereavement Care: Families and loved ones facing an impending or recent loss often find themselves in an emotional and overwhelmed place. Therapy can help families work collaboratively to make necessary decisions, settle unresolved conflicts, support each other, make sense of the grief, honor the person’s memory, and forge a new path in the wake of the loss.
Legacy Work: I am available to work on different types of legacy projects, including videos, letters and keepsake boxes.
Reiki: I offer Reiki, a safe and gentle complementary therapy, to end-of-life clients and loved ones. Many find that Reiki aids in alleviating anxiety and stress, the perception of pain, and promotes a feeling of well-being. It is a gentle technique that is suitable for even very fragile clients.
Intermediary Communication: I can serve as an intermediary between clients and other care providers, such as healthcare providers, hospice workers, residential facilities, insurance companies and lawyers. I can also help make sense of medical and legal terminologies for clients and their families.
Vigil and Home Funeral Planning: The time before a loved one passes is a sacred, mystical time, and one in which many need additional support, comfort and guidance. I am available to sit vigil and provide respite in these hours before a loved one passes. Additionally, I am available to assist in home funeral planning and, on a limited basis, I can serve as a home funeral guide.
VSED: Currently, Medical Aid in Dying is not legal in Massachusetts, so some people approaching the end of life choose VSED. VSED (Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking) is when a mentally capable individual chooses to control their own dying by making a conscious decision to refuse all foods and fluids in order to advance the time of their death. As an end-of-life doula I have supported those who have chosen this option, collaborating with local hospice providers. This complicated topic brings about many challenging emotions, both for the client and their loved ones, and the calm, experienced guidance and care of a doula can provide a sense of safety, comfort and dignity.

I am experienced in facilitating open and meaningful conversations about end-of-life wishes and goals with clients and their family members. In doing so, the burden on families is alleviated during these final emotional moments. Weekend intensives are available for those needing longer stretches of time to delve deeper, to gather family members and loved ones, and to leave with a sense of understanding, purpose and comfort going forward.

Most of the work I do as a doula also falls under the role of social worker, therefore I am able to bill health insurance companies, like Medicare, for my services, making it accessible to all. Any work that falls outside of this range is offered on a sliding scale.

Elizabeth’s Approach:

I also provide practical assistance throughout the end-of-life journey, tending to many of the clients’ physical needs in addition to their emotional needs . I am experienced in providing physical and logistical care while honoring the client’s dignity and privacy

Services Provided by an End-of-Life Doula and Psychotherapist:

Supporting Individuals and Their Loved Ones:

Elizabeth recognizes the importance of caring for both the client and their loved ones during the end-of-life transition. In addition to providing end-of-life care, Elizabeth also offers guidance and resources to family members to help them navigate their grief.

Elizabeth’s bereavement therapy sessions create an atmosphere of emotional safety in which family members can honor the person’s memory, work through their grief, and forge a new path in the wake of the loss.

Take the Next Step:

The end-of-life transition is an emotional time for individuals and their loved ones, but it should not be a stressful one. Elizabeth’s role as an end-of-life doula is to provide the emotional, spiritual and logistical support needed to navigate this process with comfort and clarity. Contact Elizabeth today to schedule a consultation and learn more about her end-of-life services.