grief and death care

In addition to my work as a massage therapist and educator, I am a NEDA-certified death doula (EOLD). Doula work is professional, nonmedical, holistic support for individuals and families facing end-of-life transitions. This includes emotional, spiritual and practical care, assistance with planning, decision-making, and creating meaningful experiences during transition. My approach centers on community engagement and empowerment, helping families reclaim their right to participate actively in death care for their beloved. I believe that tending to our dying and deceased loved ones is a profound act of care that belongs in the hands of families and communities, not solely within institutional settings.

I was trained through the Peaceful Presence Project based in Bend, OR, and one of their key philosophies is this: “in our culture we talk about death as a medical event with a social component, when really it is a community event with a medical component.” Through education, guidance, and hands-on support, I help demystify the practical aspects of home and hospice-based death care, family-directed funerals, and after-death care, empowering you to make informed choices that honor your values, traditions, and relationships. Whether you're seeking support for advance planning, vigil sitting, hands-on palliative body care, home funeral guidance, or creating personalized rituals and ceremonies, I walk alongside you with compassionate presence and practical knowledge to help you navigate this sacred passage with confidence and intention.

I am a member of the Portland Grief House Death Care Collective, a network of skilled practitioners in a number of complementary modalities, from funeral directing and cemeterian work to social work and energy healing. As a practitioner, I lead and co-facilitate workshops on living with grief, caring for dying loved ones, and tending to our affairs as a means to work toward acceptance and preparedness, even as healthy young people.

For more information about the collective or to get in touch with a member of the network, click here.

To schedule a consultation call with me before we begin our work, click here.