End-of-Life Planning and Doula Services
What kind of training and credentials do End-of-Life Doulas have?
There is no government body that oversees and certifies end-of-life doulas.
Professional organizations such as the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) provide credentialing to doulas who can show (via testing) that they have the fundamental knowledge and skills to carry out doula work.
Julie has been credentialed by NEDA for Doula services and as an After Death Care Educator. Julie has also successfully completed doula training with the University of Vermont (professional certificate for both humans and animal companions), and doula training with Sacred Crossings' Olivia Bareham.
What kind of training and credentials do Home Funeral Guides have?
As with end-of-life doulas, there is no government body that oversees and certifies home funeral guides.
An important part of the philosophy behind home funerals is that anyone and any community can hold them. We believe that after death care is a right and rite that anyone can help facilitate.
That said, those of us working as Home Funeral Guides recognize that some people and families are more comfortable with a Guide walking them through the process and providing education and information beforehand and/or along the way.
Many experienced practitioners provide detailed training on the work of being a Home Funeral Guide. Julie has trained as a Guide with Jerrigrace Lyons of Final Passages and Olivia Bareham of Sacred Crossings. Julie is also a trained Funeral Celebrant and a member of the national organization the National Home Funeral Alliance (NHFA).
What training do you recommend?
Choosing a training program for End-of-Life Doulas or Home Funeral Guides is a very personal choice. Different training programs can take very different approaches. I recommend that you identify what your goals are for the training, do your research on multiple different programs, talk to the instructor before registering and, if possible, speak to students who have completed the training.
While there are many wonderful trainings out there, I have completed and can recommend the training programs held by:
Interested in talking with me about how to become a doula or home funeral guide? I'd appreciate a small donation to support my work with families in need! You can 'buy me a coffee' (see link below), or find me on Venmo @TheRitualBough