Your path to becoming an End-of-Life Doula, starts with Befriending Death.

End-of-Life Doula | Certificate Program

Registration is Open!

Course Dates: 2/4/25 - 6/24/25 (Live Sessions on Tuesdays 4 - 6pm MT)

Cost: $2,350.00 $2,250.00 EARLY BIRD PRICING (USD)

Befriending Death ($850) is a prerequisite for the End-of-Life Doula Training ($1,600). Pay in full for both courses and save $100.

Course Schedule

Befriending Death

Week 1  2/4/25 - Join Learning Platform

Week 2  2/11/25 - Welcome & Overview (Zoom)

Week 3  2/18/25 - Physical Realm (Zoom)

Week 4  2/25/25 - Integration (Zoom)

Week 5  3/4/25 - Emotional & Spiritual Realm (Zoom)

Week 6  3/11/25 - After Death Care & Documents (Zoom)

Week 7  3/18/25 - Integration (Zoom)

Week 8  3/25/25 - Community (Zoom)

Doula Training

Week 9  4/1/25 - BREAK

Week 10  4/8/25 - Overview of the Doula Role and Physical/Environment of Care (Zoom)

Week 11  4/15/25 - Self-study/Complete assignments

Week 12  4/22/25 - Emotional/Spiritual (Zoom)

Week 13  4/29/25 - Self-study/Complete assignments

Week 14  5/6/25 - Integration (Zoom)

Week 15  5/13/25 - Vigil/After Death Care (Zoom)

Week 16  5/20/25 - Self-study/Complete assignments

Week 17  5/27/25 - Rituals/Ceremonies/Bereavement (Zoom)

Week 18  6/3/25 - Self-study/Complete assignments

Week 19  6/10/25 - Integration (Zoom)

Week 20  6/17/25 - Community Death Care/Using the North Star Tool (Zoom)

Week 21  6/24/25 - The Professional Doula/Graduation/Next Steps (Zoom)

REGISTER

Early Bird Ends 12/6/24

Cost: $2,250.00 (EARLY BIRD)

REFUND/CANCELLATION POLICY: WE DO NOT OFFER REFUNDS. IT IS OUR EXPECTATION THAT STUDENTS COMPLETE THEIR COURSEWORK AND GRADUATE WITH THEIR COHORT IN ORDER TO EARN A CERTIFICATE. IF YOU HAVE PAID AND NOT YET ACCESSED THE COURSEWORK, YOU MAY CONSIDER OFFERING A ONE-TIME GIFT OF YOUR ENROLLMENT AS A SCHOLARSHIP TO A STUDENT IN NEED.

The End-of-Life Doula Pathway is comprised of both the Befriending Death Course and the Doula Training Program. 

  • A 5-month program weaving together self-paced study, LIVE online Zooms with faculty and peers, a transformative practicum, and ongoing support from the Collective community.

  • Where scientific and evidence-based learning meets spiritual and ancestral wisdom. 

  • 24/7 access to a simple online learning platform contains a robust program and comprehensive curriculum.

  • Developed and taught by our faculty who have years of experience in the fields of nursing, hospice, social work and doulaship.

More than just becoming an end-of-life doula, this journey reveals that death is not an endpoint but a sacred part of the human experience that touches all aspects of LIFE. Participants will take a deep dive into personal, transformative inner work, which they will then learn how to share with their communities. They will gain the knowledge and skills to provide end-of-life coaching and bed-side support using the North Star Tool. In addition, our curriculum covers important topics such as ritual/ceremony, bereavement, vigil, after-death care, and professional development. 

Whether you are looking to deepen your relationship with your own mortality or support others as a professional end-of-life doula, we look forward to welcoming you to the Collective!

WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR?

Our program supports frontline clinicians, clinical leaders, educators, home and family caregivers, healing arts professionals, and volunteers. People who have attended our programs in the past are Para and Legal Professionals; Massage Therapists and Healing Arts Practitioners; Physicians, Nurses, PAs, NPs, PTs, Hospice and Palliative Care Professionals; Directors of Nursing Education; Nursing Students; Children and Families facing death or loss of loved ones; Directors, Staff, Activities Directors, Residents of Senior Care Communities; Psychologists, Chaplains, and Social Workers. Regardless of background, this program is designed for anyone interested in exploring their own life and death and how to bring their wisdom in service to others facing critical illness and death.

OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES YOU WITH THE SKILLS TO:

  • Accept that we are whole persons who live and die within the model of community care, where death is a natural and sacred part of life.

  • Compassionately guide individuals through the process of planning and contemplating end-of-life.
  • Integrate practices of healing—such as forgiveness, gratitude, and letting go—as essential life skills.
  • View the dying process as an opportunity for profound healing, spiritual awakening, and becoming more present and loving at the end of life.
  • Foster safe space for rituals and practices that celebrate both the life that has been lived and what is to come, providing comfort and continuity for the dying and their community.
  • Recognize grief as a natural response to loss, unique to each individual.
  • Surround the dying with a network of love and support, ensuring that they do not walk this journey of life and death alone, but within a context of shared responsibility, compassion, and connection.
  • Embark on the path of community death care as a professional end-of-life doula. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION / CERTIFICATE:

  • Complete the practicum using the North Star Tool.
  • Participate in readings and self-reflective writing assignments.
  • Explore your own end-of-life desires, beliefs, and wishes.
  • Complete your own end-of-life vision and care plan utilizing the North Star tool.
  • Work with peers and community members to put your knowledge into practice with the North Star tool.
  • Experience caring, healing, and transformational practices.
  • Participate in live virtual sessions with our faculty.
  • Interact with your classmates in thought-provoking discussions.

What does it mean to be a certified doula?

Certification for doulas is not mandated by any government authority, as this is a self-regulating profession without a centralized regulatory or accreditation body. Consequently, claims of "national" or "international" certification by training organizations don’t carry a standardized meaning. Most doulas operate as independent contractors and may choose whether or not to pursue certification.

In the doula community, certification indicates that an individual has fulfilled the requirements set by a specific training program. At its core, certification ensures that a person identified as an "end-of-life doula" has:

  1. Completed a professional training program.
  2. Demonstrated knowledge and competence in essential aspects of the field.
  3. Agreed to adhere to a specified Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics. (The Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics found on the NEDA and INELDA websites are 

We believe that imposing extensive certification requirements and fees is not essential for training well-qualified, proficient doulas to serve families in their communities. Therefore, we have incorporated certification into the training costs and developed a professional curriculum that is robust and accessible.

What is the North Star Tool?

A Guide for Living and Dying with Purpose.

We chose the name "North Star" for our practicum and workbook because, throughout history, this celestial marker has been a powerful symbol of guidance, constancy, and direction across many cultures. The Vikings, for instance, referred to it as leiðarstjarna, or the guiding star, using it to navigate treacherous seas, while in Hindu culture, it is tied to the story of Dhruva, a symbol of unwavering devotion and steadfastness. The Lakota Sioux saw it as "The Star That Does Not Move," and a symbol of Wakan Tanka, or “the great spirit” or “great mystery”, a spiritual guide offering constancy and hope. Ancient Egyptians linked the North Star to immortality, and Chinese emperors considered it the center of the heavens, representing cosmic order. These rich, cross-cultural meanings align with the mission of our guide: to provide individuals with a constant point of reference as they navigate life’s deepest challenges and find their purpose in both living and dying, just as countless generations have turned to the North Star for direction in their physical and spiritual journeys.

Dive deeper into the powerful symbolism of the North Star and explore further connections between our journey through birth, life and death:

Norse and Viking Cultures

  • The Vikings called Polaris "Leidstjarna", meaning the “leading star” or “guiding star.” It was crucial for navigation during sea voyages across the North Atlantic, helping the Vikings to traverse long distances with accuracy.
  • In Norse mythology, the North Star is associated with the world tree Yggdrasil, with the star thought to represent the center of the heavens.

Ancient Egyptians

  • The Egyptians associated the North Star with immortality. It was seen as a constant, unmoving point in the sky, symbolizing eternal life.
  • Some scholars suggest that the pyramids may have been aligned with the North Star or other celestial objects for religious purposes, linking the pharaohs' afterlife journey to the cosmos.

Native American Tribes

  • Many Native American tribes used the North Star as a spiritual guide and as a symbol of constancy and hope. The star was often viewed as a fixed point that helped guide the soul or served as a reminder of the unchanging truth.
  • For example, the Lakota Sioux referred to Polaris as "Wicahpi Owanjila," meaning "The Star That Does Not Move," emphasizing its reliability in navigation and its spiritual symbolism.

Chinese Culture

  • In Chinese astronomy, the North Star was called "Bei Ji" (北极), meaning the Northern Celestial Pole. It was believed to be the pivot point around which the heavens revolved, symbolizing the Emperor as the center of the kingdom and the cosmos.
  • The North Star was also seen as the residence of the heavenly emperor, with ancient palaces and temples often oriented towards it.

Greek and Roman Cultures

  • Ancient Greek navigators used the North Star, referred to as "Kynosoura", which means "dog's tail," due to its position in the constellation Ursa Minor. The Greeks recognized its value for navigation in the Mediterranean.
  • In Roman culture, it was viewed similarly, serving as a celestial anchor in the heavens and a vital tool for sea voyagers.

African Cultures

  • Some African cultures, particularly those near the Sahara, used the North Star as a guiding light for travelers crossing the vast desert. It symbolized stability and direction in the ever-changing sands of the desert.
  • The Tuareg people of the Sahara referred to the North Star as a spiritual guide that helped them navigate at night.

Hindu Cultures

  • In Hindu cosmology, the North Star is associated with Dhruva, a prince who, through his deep devotion and asceticism, was granted the honor of becoming a star fixed at the celestial pole. The North Star, thus, represents steadfastness, devotion, and constancy.

European Medieval and Renaissance Culture

  • During the Age of Exploration, European explorers heavily relied on the North Star for navigation across vast oceans. It symbolized adventure, exploration, and discovery.
  • It also carried spiritual connotations, representing divine guidance, unwavering faith, and constancy in a changing world.

Islamic Culture

  • In Islamic culture, the North Star was important for helping travelers determine the qibla (the direction of Mecca) when no other markers were available. It symbolized guidance, both in physical and spiritual journeys.

Symbolism in Literature and Modern Culture

  • In modern times, the term "North Star" is often used metaphorically to describe someone’s guiding principle or goal, signifying purpose, direction, and constancy.
  • The North Star is frequently invoked in literature, art, and popular culture to represent an unchanging force or a guiding light through difficult times.