Tree of Life Spotlight
Fall is in the air, and the International Doula Life Movement Tree of Life Conference is getting closer and closer! Over the past several weeks we have taken time to spotlight many of the speakers we are looking forward to having with us at the conference, all with their own unique specialties and points of […]
Five Stages of Grief
In the 1960s, psychologist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross began a controversial project that would become her life’s work: she conducted a series of interviews with people who had been diagnosed with terminal illnesses, to ask them about their thoughts and feelings regarding their impending death. Many people—including doctors—were unsupportive, and even resistant to the work Kubler-Ross wanted […]
Death in Pop Culture
This past week I was speaking to an acquaintance, someone I have known for a while but don’t know well. Somehow it came up that I work in end of life care and death planning. The woman’s eyes lit up. “Like Swedish Death Cleaning?” she asked. To be honest, I don’t know much about Swedish […]
Benny and Nick Capaul
If you are a part of the IDLM community, you’re probably the type of person who is interested in conversations about death. So you have learned by now, as so many of us have learned, that once you start talking about death, it can be difficult to stop! There is so much to know and […]
Back To School
It’s still hot out, but autumn is right around the corner, and that means back to school time. The tradition of school terms starting in the fall goes back at least a hundred and fifty years in the United States. Schools took summer off because so many of the students came from farming families. They […]
Life Event Rituals
Every human life is filled with rituals, even if we don’t always think of them that way. Small daily rituals like brushing our teeth, weekly rituals of going to church or getting together with friends, annual rituals of celebrating birthdays and holidays. All these rituals, big and small, give shape and order to our lives. […]
Doulas and Grief Work
Those of us who work in end of life care need to be considerate of the fact that while death is certainly the end for the person who dies, for the people who grieve it is only the beginning. But working in death care does not always mean being an expert in grief, and that’s totally okay.
History of IDLM
Later this year, IDLM will be hosting the Tree of Life Conference in San Antonio. We are beyond excited for this event, which will be the first-ever conference held specifically by and for end-of-life doulas. As preparation, over the next few months this blog will host a series of articles showcasing the talents and accomplishments of the fabulous speakers and educators who will be presenting at the conference in November, and we figured the best place to start would be with our own Anna Adams, the founder of International Doula Life Movement.
Doula Tool Kit
One of the most common ways to describe the role of a death doula to people who are not familiar with this type of work is to compare our role to that of being a guide. For our clients, the end of life journey is unfamiliar territory. That’s why they ask us to come in […]
Doulas – Doing More Than Just Delivering Babies
Doulas have branched out – in a wonderful way. Doulas now help people end their lives comfortably, with dignity, and with everything in order.
