My work as a Death Doula

In my work as a death doula, I support people

with questions
in existential crises and life changes
in preparation
in the last phase of life
in the time between death and burial and
in the time after the death of a person or animal
in other situations that have to do with change and grief

Life, dying, death and grief are not separate phases of life, but interconnected. They are connected as parts of a continuum with fluid boundaries. Our experiences leave their mark and influence subsequent moments in life, as well as the processes of farewell and grief.

I provide holistic, cross-process support for life, dying, death, and mourning.

To me, holistic means

Practical, emotional, and spiritual support
Support across the entire continuum of life, dying, death, and mourning
Supporting personal self-determination, freedom of choice, and the ability to act at all times
Considering structural power relations and the realities of marginalized groups
Resource orientation
Making life as worth living as possible until the last breath.
Creating individual ways and spaces for saying goodbye

For me, cross-process means

Accompanying people on their journey through different stages of life and the associated internal and external processes.
This can be done continuously or intermittently, with intervals of time in between.
Some support focuses on a specific stage of life.
In this case, it means having sound knowledge of the processes that preceded or will follow the respective stage of life. It also means considering and taking into account these past and future processes.

Despite all the challenges involved, I believe that dying and mourning are also processes of development. As such, they can be phases of inner growth. This is a time that can be used to come to terms with death and prepare for an impending farewell, for example.

While not all factors can be influenced, the closer death or farewell aligns with one’s values, the more room there is to explore the non-material aspects of dying and death.

I am convinced that every person, regardless of their social status, should be able to die a ‘good death’. Whether it is possible for a person to have a ‘good death’ is also a question of access to resources. The question of what makes life worth living and what a ‘good death’ might look like is certainly answered differently by each person.

For me, a conscious and respectful approach to life and death involves considering structural power relations and reflecting on one’s own identities and privileges. I strive to deal with the realities of life in a non-discriminatory and trauma-sensitive manner with people who are affected by social exclusion such as racism, anti-Semitism, ableism, classism or homophobia and transphobia. I treat my counterpart as an expert on their own history and experience.

You can find more information about my services here: End of life support and grief counseling, End of life Planning and Queer & End-of-life.

My approach is not based on any particular spiritual or religious worldview, and I welcome people from non-denominational or secular backgrounds, as well as those from various religious or spiritual contexts. I am happy to support those with religious practices in connecting with their community.

Contact me