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, 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.