FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is an End-of-Life Doula?

End of Life Doulas are frontline caregivers who offer healing vs. curative care to families and patients during critical illness and the dying process.

They work individually or in teams, being available around the clock, filling the care gaps before, nearing and during death. The compassionate presence of an End-of-Life Doula increases quality life moments of the families and patients they serve. Their presence at bedside assures that families and loved ones can focus on what is most important throughout the dying time. They inspire positive change in end-of-life care.

What is a Conscious Dying Coach?

Like the Professional Coach and Nurse Coach, the Conscious Dying Coach focuses on supporting clients and families to identify a clear life fulfilling vision which shifts them from an unsatisfactory current reality to whole health care, well being and peace. Unlike therapists and counselors, the coach focuses on the present and future vs. the past, allowing the past to be what it is and supporting clients to create steps to achieve a beautiful living and nearing death experience.

They specialize in listening skills and are way-makers in their communities for change in end-of-life care.

Do I need to be a nurse or clinician in order to be a Conscious Dying Coach or End-of-Life Doula?

No, about half of our students are caregivers, healers, coaches, or non-clinical professionals. All you need is an open heart!

What Makes Our Coaching Program Unique?

The self-development of the coach is a key differentiator in our program. We do our own ‘deep dive’ in order to be fully present with others in challenging conversations about death and dying. The certification course gives students coaching structure, community experience, personal development, and the coaching tools they need to befriend death as well as inquire and deeply connect with what people desire most during serious illness and death.

Do I need to have had direct experience of death and dying prior to taking either of these courses?

No. Whether you have direct experience or are simply called to this work, this course will deepen your healing and transformation, and your relationship to death. #BefriendDeath #DeathIsOurTeacher

What is the difference between an End-of-Life Coach, and an End-of-Life Doula?

Simply put, an End-of-Life Doula provides hands-on care to patients and families nearing and during the dying process, whereas an End-of-Life coach provides end-of-life care planning through the Best Three Months coaching process and tool. An End-of-Life Doula might sit vigil or provide bedside care in addition to end-of-life care planning, whereas a coach might facilitate healing conversations and planning sessions to patients and families as they prepare for death.

What credentials or certificates do I get from completing these courses?

As a graduate of our online end of life doula course you will be a certified Sacred Passage End-of-Life Doula and a certified Conscious Dying Coach. This is not yet an internationally regulated certification, but we do abide by the values and standards of NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance) and INELDA (International End of Life Doula Association).

Can I receive continuing education credits for this course?

Yes, we offer CNEs for our online end-of-life doula and conscious dying coach courses as follows. Both courses are approved by the Arizona Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

  • End-of-Life Doula Certificate program: 111 hours
  • Conscious Dying Coach Certificate program: 71.5 hours

How do End-of-Life Doula graduates typically utilize their certificates post-graduation?

Many of our End-of-Life Doula grads go on to provide care and work with people in their communities. This course is also great for anyone wishing to befriend death for their own journey or to better support loved ones and families during end-of-life transitions.

How do End-of-Life Coach graduates typically utilize their certificates post-graduation?

This course equips people with the skillset, tools, and confidence to serve as an End-of-Life Coach. This certificate program provides a framework for working with community clients and supporting end-of-life care planning, and knowing what to expect in the field when doing this work. It is also a great skill set to add to other healing occupations such as life coaches, therapists, massage therapists and medical teams.

How are your courses structured?

Our Sacred Passage End-of-Life Doula program is 100% online and includes Course 1: Conscious Dying Coach which includes Principles and Practices, focusing on online coaching study (reading, writing and discussion assignments) and live video conferences with our faculty. Then, doulas-in-training continue with a virtual practicum where students gain hands on experience with the Best Three Months (B3M) Practicum. From there, students complete Course 2: End-of-Life Doula - Five Domains of Life, where they deep dive into each of five domains of life and healing modalities for each domain to support those at end of life.

Our End-of-Life Coach program is 100% online and includes Course 1: Conscious Dying Principles and Practices, which focuses on online coaching study (reading, writing and discussion assignments) and live video conferences with our faculty. From there, coaches-in-training continue with a virtual practicum where students gain hands on experience with the Best Three Months (B3M) Practicum.

What is the virtual practicum?

This virtual practicum is an opportunity for you to practice using the Best Three Months (B3M) coaching tool with a partner in class, and with two community members. You will use the communication skills you have learned in the course to coach others and create Vision Maps with them for the Five Domains of Life. Working with your course partner a Vision Map will also be created for you. It is a deeply moving process to partake in, and can be transformational.

How long do the programs take to complete from start to finish?

Our online End-of-Life Doula course takes approximately 6 months to complete, with slight variations depending on enrollment date and how you pace your readings and assignments. The Conscious Dying Coach course takes approximately 4 months. Our Enrichment Courses vary in length depending on the topic.

Are there any prerequisites for your programs?

There are no prerequisites to become a Conscious Dying Coach.

To become a Sacred Passage End-of-Life Doula, you must complete the Conscious Dying Coach program. By registering for the Sacred Passage End-of-Life Doula Program, you will automatically be registering for the Conscious Dying Coach Program as a prerequisite.

In order to become an End-of-Life Educator you must have completed the End-of-Life Doula OR the Conscious Dying Coach program.

Once I graduate, what additional resources or graduate offerings do you have?

We offer a business development package to jump start your practice with business card designs, website badges and a listing in our online EOL Doula / Coach directory (free membership until January 2025).

Graduates may also participate in regular graduate web conferences to share best practices, successes, stories, challenges, and be in support of their graduate community. These calls are hosted and facilitated by CDC staff, and occasionally include guest speakers depending on the interests of the group.

We also offer enrichment courses of which some are exclusively available to graduates. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media for updates on the current enrichment courses offered. 

If I take the Conscious Dying Coach program, can I continue on to become an End-of-Life Doula?

Yes, students who complete their online coaching course can elect to continue their education to become a Sacred Passage End-of-Life Doula. Students simply pay the difference in pricing ($1350) and upon registering will receive continued support in online modules to complete.

Is there required homework for this program?

Yes, homework consists of readings, writing and reflection assignments, videos, and online discussions. Coaches and Doulas will also complete a virtual practicum. Completing your assignments on time is a requirement for graduation and receiving your certificate, and takes approximately 4 months (coaches) - 6 months (doulas) to complete. Our graduates estimate they spend between 7-10 hours for the Coaching Course and 5-7 hours for Course 2.

Do I need a computer and internet to complete this course?

Yes. Assignments are completed through Canvas, an online learning platform, so access to internet is a must for this course. Basic understanding of how to operate a computer (NOT an iPad/tablet) will also be extremely helpful as you move through the program.

How much do the programs cost?

  • Our Sacred Passage: End of Life Doula Certificate program costs $2,650 USD (Conscious Dying Coach + End-of-Life Doula Training).
  • Our Conscious Dying Coach Certificate program costs $1450 USD.
  • Enrichment courses vary in cost.

Do you have payment plans available?

Yes, please contact info@consciousdyingcollective.com to inquire about your options.

Do you have scholarships available?

We award 4 half scholarships per program cohort. Scholarships are typically in the amount of $1350 per awarded student. These scholarships are only available for the End-of-Life Doula program, and are not available for other programs.

Applications are reviewed by a scholarship panel based on merit.

What is your refund 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.

FAQ