Ask a Death Doula

Ask a Death Doula Podcast: Death and the Spiritual Body of Energy

in this episode of ask a death doula, I will be talking about one of my favorite subjects the spiritual body of energy and death.

It has always amazed me from the time that I was a very young Hospice nurse the universal language of death, the common themes that would reoccur with my patience from all different cultural backgrounds and religious backgrounds. I would be seeing many of the same things and they would say many of the same things as they headed towards the end of life.

This universal language of death brought me great comfort, healing, an inspiration. I hope that it does the same for you.

We know that death is the number one fear in this world at this moment and I ask you this- does it need to be? Or can death be the greatest teacher that we have about learning how to truly live?

In this podcast I will talk to you about what I have seen at the end of life what my patients have said, and I hope that you too find great comfort healing and inspiration that is there for us all in this space.

In Love and Service,

Suzanne B. O’Brien RN

Mentioned in this episode: Elisabeth Kubler Ross Foundation EKR Education FALL 2021 SERIES: Death and Spirituality: On Life, Death, and Life after Death. 8-week course. Starts on October 21st. More Details: Click here: https://www.ekrfoundation.org/educati...

★ GET THE DEATH DOULA GUIDE ★ Your step by step guide to learn, launch and grow a successful Death Doula Business. Click Here:https://www.doulagivers.com/death-dou...

✉ JOIN MY FREE TRAINING AND MEMBERSHIP SITE ✉ This is a community-supported group hosted by Suzanne B. O'Brien RN, founder of the International Doulagivers Institute for training those who want to be professional End of Life Doulas, Doulagiver Practitioners and for anyone wanting more EOL education Join Here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/44916...

Ask a Death Doula Podcast - Meet Death Doula Jane Whitlock

Jane Whitlock is the new Integrative Care Specialist/End of Life Doula at Providence Place Senior Living (Minneapolis, MN)

Jane will be working with the folks on hospice as well as other residents in need of her services. As an end of life doula, she specializes in talking with people about their fears, and hopes as they face their deaths. In addition, she will be offering integrative therapies such as essential oils, hand and foot massage and guided imagery to all. Previously, she was a middle school teacher, hospice volunteer, CNA, and death educator. Welcome to the team, Jane!

Jane Whitlock BIO:

I am a trained end-of-life doula through Doulagivers out of NYC with Suzanne O’Brien. I am also a trained CNA (certified nursing assistant).I provide practical guidance and support for individuals and families during the end-of-life process. My work nicely dovetails with the work of hospice.

I became an end of life doula after taking care of my husband who died after a 4 month illness with kidney cancer. I learned first hand how I could have benefited from having someone who had been down this path before, to guide me. My husband spent the last 2 weeks of his life at a hospice house. He was fully supported medically for his physical ailments, but we both felt anxious spiritually.

BJ Miller (check out his Ted talk if you don't know who he is) says, "We spend our entire lives avoiding thinking about death, when it finally comes into view, there's a thicket of panic, denial, or disbelief to cut through before people can focus, more mindfully, on the experience and begin to make decisions to improve their last days. " This is the work of an end of life doula. Someone with experience who could create space for him to talk about his fears freely, without trying to "fix" them. On the more practical side I as the caregiver, would have loved having someone prepare me for what to expect as the experience unfolded.

I read the pamphlet that hospice gives you "When death draws near" about 100 times but it didn't quiet the panic inside me. I wished for the gentle, reassurance from someone that we had prepared and that I could handle what was coming, and would have welcomed blessings and poems to enrich the experience. ​

Death has many gifts to offer us. The gift of living our best lives while we face dying. The gift of finding meaning in our lives. The gift of having the opportunity to tell loved ones: I'm sorry, I forgive you, thank you, and goodbye.

★ GET THE DEATH DOULA GUIDE ★

Your step by step guide to learn, launch and grow a successful Death Doula Business. Click Here: https://doulagivers.com/death-doula-g...

✉ JOIN MY FREE TRAINING AND MEMBERSHIP SITE ✉

This is a community-supported group hosted by Suzanne B. O'Brien RN, founder of the International Doulagivers Institute for training those who want to be professional End of Life Doulas, Doulagiver Practitioners and for anyone wanting more EOL education Join Here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/44916...

Ask A Death Doula Interview with Y4T Founder

Today on the Ask a Death Doula Podcast, I am speaking with Y4T Founder Lisa Danylchuk!!

Lisa is a heart centered caring individual that has used her own personal story and journey to create a platform to help others. Get ready to me inspired by this woman and her work.

Lisa Danylchuk is a LMFT, E-RYT is an author, licensed psychotherapist, and founder of the Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery. A graduate of UCLA and Harvard University, her work has pioneered the field of trauma-informed yoga and transformed our understanding of embodiment practices in therapeutic work. More than 300 providers from 25+ countries have completed Lisa’s Yoga for Trauma (Y4T) Online Training Program, the first virtual program to train providers offering yoga for trauma recovery. She serves on the Board and as UN Committee Co-Chair for the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, was elected to the role of Secretary in 2018 and was nominated President-Elect in 2020. She’s written for publications like Good Therapy and the American Psychological Association and was named one of the top 20 Inspirational Yoga Teachers To Follow in 2016. Honored as one Luluemon’s first US ambassadors, her blog has also been recognized as a Top 25 Yoga Blog. I hope you enjoyed this interview as much a Is did! Please make sure to grab your free resources below!

How We can Heal Free Resources for Doulagivers https://howwecanheal.com/doulagivers/

Doulagivers Grief Guide https://doulagivers.com/grief/

More about Y4T @ https://www.howwecanheal.com

Ask A Doulagiver Podcast Interview With Author Jennifer O’Brien

Get your Grief Guide at www.doulagivers.com/grief

Jennifer O'Brien www.hospicedrswidow.com/about

In this episode of Ask A Doulagiver, I have the pleasure of speaking with Author of The Hospice Doctor’s Widow Jennifer O'Brien.

Jennifer O’Brien has helped thousands live and love more fully by recognizing that: at the end of life comes death; family caregiving is both the hardest job and the greatest honor most of us will ever face; and grief is abundant love with no place to go. She is the author of The Hospice Doctor’s Widow: A Journal, an art journal filled with beauty, practical insights, humor, and heart. The book has won a Nautilus silver award in the Death & Dying/Grief & Loss category, a Next Gen Indie Book gold for Relationships, and an Independent Publishers (IPPY) bronze for Gift.

For more than 30 years she has been a practice management consultant to physicians and served as CEO for two large medical practices. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s degree in organization development from Loyola University – Chicago. She lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.

What is a Death Doula? Top 7 Questions

In this episode of "Ask a Death Doula" I will be covering What is a Death Doula and the Top 7 Questions Answered.

 

 You Will Learn:

 

1) What is a Death Doula?

2) What do Death Doulas do?

3) What Holistic support do Death Doulas provide?

4) Are there National Initiatives in place for the Death Doula Practice?

5) If I have a Death Doula, do I still need Hospice?

6) What is the projection for the Death Doula Profession in the future?

7) How do I become a Death Doula?

 

 

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

 

1) International Doulagivers Institute

 

2) NHPCO End of Life Doula Council

 

3) NEDA

 

4) Free Level 1 End of Life Doula Training

 

Ask A Death Doula Podcast With Lisa Zimmer

For more information go to www.doulagivers.com.

Ask a Death Doula: Behind the Scenes of the Death Doula Global Summit

Behind the Scenes of the Death Doula Global Summit 💕

 

Suzanne B. O’Brien here,

As a former Hospice and Oncology nurse, I have been working in the end of life space for a long time. After witnessing so much suffering at the end of life due to the large gaps in care that exist in the mainstream medical system, I created Doulagivers International. The Doulagivers End of Life Doula training was born out of a pure organic need to provide more education and support to both patient and family at the end of life. It has worked beautifully. Helping to support those at the end of life to have a positive passing (we only have one chance to have end of life go well, we cannot go back and do it over) is one of the greatest gifts we can give to one another. We need change and we need it now.

Talking about Death is Talking about Life

If you think that the Death Doula Global Summit is going to be scary and depressing, think again! I have always said that people at the end of life can teach us everything we need to know about living if we would just listen. We are a global family. One of the things that has had the biggest impact on me during my career is how end of life patients would say the same things to me. It did not matter what culture, religion, or socioeconomic status they were from

– many of them would share the same “awareness” with me at the end of their lives.

- Everything was meant for a reason. - We are ALL connected to one universal energy.

- There is no judgment.

These “Universal Laws” and principles have been around for thousands of years. We have all but lost them in our modern society. How profound that these are the words spoken before people leave this world. What would our world be like if we brought these principles back into our everyday lives?

Behind the Scenes of the Death Doula Global Summit

In this episode of “Ask a Death Doula” I take you behind the scenes of the Death Doula Global Summit! This summit has been 8 months in the active working phase, and I am thrilled to say that it is almost here!

All through my years working as a Doulagivers trainer, I have come to know and admire so many wonderful people that work in this space. All around the world, we experience end of life and here is what is so beautiful – we go through and experience many of the same things no matter where we are in the world or what our personal situation is. We are all more similar than we are different, and the end of life shows this truth vividly.

Bringing together the “voices” of 24 speakers from 9 different countries and letting you hear firsthand about their experiences, wisdom, and what is needed for the future is priceless. In this podcast I will take you on a tour of the summit website, show you how to join, and share a bit about each one of the amazing speakers that we are SO incredibly grateful to have be a part of this!

Today More Than Ever

“Let us allow death to be our greatest teacher about life. Let it remind us of just how similar we are, not different. Let death teach us that kindness and presence are the greatest gifts we can give to one another. “– Suzanne B. O’Brien RN

We would love for you to join us for the online Death Doula Global Summit November 16th – 22nd. Tickets are free, click here to join: https://www.doulagiversinstitutefhl.com/death-doula-summit/

In Love & Service,

Suzanne B. O’Brien RN

Ask a Death Doula: Top Lessons Learned From Those at end of Life With Dr. Karen Wyatt

In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, I will be having a discussion with Dr Karen Wyatt on all the beautiful things we have learned working with those at the end of life. Their wisdom is priceless. We will also share the training we are hosting together. Please click the link below for registration details. xo Suzanne "How to be Resilient in Difficult Times" with Dr Karen Wyatt and Suzanne B. O'Brien RN Dr Karen Wyatt and Suzanne B. O'Brien RN Dr. Karen Wyatt of End of Life University and Suzanne B. O'Brien RN founder of International Doulagivers Institute have joined together to offer their combined years of bedside experiences and wisdom working with those at the end of life in an empowering and progressive new webinar series! Top Lessons Learned from Those at The End of Life: How to be Resilient in Difficult Times will uncover the truth of what lifes' journey is really all about and offer ways that we can access the deeper meaning through experiential exercises.

https://www.doulagiversinstitute.com/courses/top-lessons-learned-from-those-at-the-end-of-life-how-to-be-resilient-in-difficult-times-with-dr-karen-wyatt-and-suzanne-b-o-brien-rn

 

Ask A Death Doula Interview With Barbara Karnes, RN

On this episode of "Ask a Death Doula", I have the great pleasure of interviewing Barbara Karnes RN. Enjoy this lively discussion from this expert about "Pain at End of Life" - the title of her latest educational booklet. Barbara has insights and wisdom that every person can benefit from.

 

Barbara Karnes, RN, is an internationally recognized author, speaker, thought leader and expert on end of life care and the dynamics of dying. Barbara was recognized in 2018 as a Hospice Innovator by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and was named the 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year by the World Humanitarian Awards.

Barbara’s experience as a hospice care provider at the bedside of hundreds of people, and as an administrator overseeing the care of thousands, led to the 1985 publication of Gone from My Sight: The Dying Experience. Affectionately referred to in the industry as the “little blue hospice book,” Gone from My Sight has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, is published in 12 languages, and remains the leading resource on the market today educating families on the signs of approaching death.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Barbara Karnes Books

End of Life Care Facebook Group

Something-To-Think-About Blog

Podcast Interview With O Magazine Insider Amy Boyle!

In this segment of Ask a Death Doula's O Mag Insiders Series, I have the fortune to interview the magnetic Amy Boyle. Amy Boyle is the Founder of the 52 Phenomenal Women Project and has been a Brand Ambassador with O, the Oprah Magazine since 2017! A photographer for more than 20 years, Amy graduated from Northwestern University where she received a dual degree in art history and marketing. Her work has been published internationally and includes portrait, theater, PR, as well as fine art photography.

Enjoy this interview with this inspiring woman.

xo Suzanne

You can catch up with Amy Here:

Project: https://www.52phenomenalwomen.com/ #52PWP

Work: http://www.amyboylephotography.com/

Social: @amyboylephoto Email: amy@amyboylephoto.com