Continuing the Journey… Together!
When it comes to helping people on their journeys through end of life and/or grief, no matter howmuch you already know there will always be more to learn. Every person you work with will havesomething to teach you. But it is also your responsibility to show up prepared, with as much knowledgeas possible—your clients will […]
Lisa Pahl and Death Deck
When it comes to helping clients and families through the end of life process, whether you’re just planning or assisting someone who is in active transition, the most difficult part of the process can often be just opening the conversation. Getting people to talk about death and dying isn’t always easy, especially when it’s a […]
Birthday Bash 2025
The beginning of a new year is always a great time for personal assessment. Even though we know it’s possible to evaluate, plan, and make changes in our lives at any time, there’s just something about that new number on the calendar that makes New Year’s feel like the right time to quit that bad […]
Building Confidence and Habits as an End-of-Life Doula
The journey of an end-of-life doula is a unique one, marked by profound emotional experiences, compassionate service, and the privilege of supporting individuals and their loved ones during life’s final chapter. Whether you’re just starting out or have been practicing for years, building confidence and developing sustainable habits is essential to providing the best care […]
Accomplishment Journal
The holiday season is here again, and for those who celebrate, it’s just about time for Thanksgiving. This is a good time for people to consider all the blessing in their lives, and what they are grateful for. Taking time to express gratitude on a regular basis, for example by keeping a gratitude journal, has […]
Graduate Spotlight – Lee Malecki
For this week’s blog entry, we turn the spotlight over to IDLM graduate Lee Malecki. She shares in her own words about the journey that led her to end of life work and to IDLM. We are so proud to have Lee as a member of our community and feel honored to be able to […]
Finding Purpose in Life’s Final Moments: The Journey of an End-of-Life Doulaof an End-of-Life Doula
At the age of 15, I began volunteering at a local hospital. A simple act of service helped me find my true calling in hospice. This early experience laid the foundation for what would become my life’s work, caring for individuals in their final stages of life, a journey that led me into hospice care […]
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 […]
Meet: The Hospice Care Plan & Linda McDowell
When people learn you work in end of life care, they say things like, “That’s so interesting,” or “I could never do that.” Sometimes the reaction is positive and sometimes it’s negative, but in both cases there is often an unspoken question—why on earth would you want to do THAT? There are lots of reasons. […]
