A death doula or end of life planner provides compassionate, non-medical care and support to people preparing for death and their families throughout the process. Also known as death midwives or end of life guides, this role has existed for as long as humans have been living and dying.

Practices vary widely: some doulas focus on bedside presence, others assist with practical end of life planning, and some offer spiritual guidance or support with home funerals. No matter the approach, this work is about journeying alongside others with care and professionalism, offering meaningful support in one of life’s most profound transitions.

It is not necessary to have a particular educational background to begin being with dying.  Realistically, you’ve already got most of the skills you need! Kindness, compassion, creativity, patience, and deep listening go a long way when supporting people for death. However, it is important to possess some other knowledge in preparing people for death. 

You can learn it all in this program, and gain experience in the field. Find a hospice program near you and sign up to volunteer. Not only will you gain practical experience, but you will also build connections and support a crucial component of end of life care.

There is currently no certifying body for end of life professionals nor is there a singular standard of education in the field. Currently, the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) is the only body that offers a micro-credential for death doulas. When you complete this course, you will be prepared to take the assessment to gain your badge of proficiency, which you can use in your marketing and as evidence of your capacity as an end of life doula. 

As you select a program, it is important to choose a facilitator that you resonate with, as this facilitator will be teaching you end of life care as they deem it effective. Trust not only your intuition but also the success of the facilitators in their chosen fields. And remember that this learning experience should deepen your own understanding of death and dying while increasing your capacity to be effective for others.

You have three ways to join us in the End of Life Training Program:

• Online Self Study (learn at your own pace with 2 modules released each week)
• Online Group Study (join a community of fellow learners)
• In-Person Retreat (an immersive, deep dive experience)

• Online Self Study – $1495.00 with monthly payment plans available* (includes non-refundable $25.00 application fee)
• Online Group Study – $1895.00 with monthly payment plans* and limited scholarships available (includes non-refundable $25.00 application fee)
• In-Person Retreat – $3975.00 with monthly payment plans* and limited tiered scholarships available (includes non-refundable $25.00 application fee and non-refundable $500.00 deposit)

*A 2.9% processing fee is added to payment plans.

Begin today by applying HERE! Applications for our Self Study Program are rolling, and you can learn more about the application and enrollment windows for our Online Group Study and In-Person Retreats HERE. We ask that you give our team 4-6 weeks to thoughtfully review your application and respond.

Your application is valid for one year from the date of submission. We get it—life changes. After one year, we kindly ask that you resubmit so we have the latest updates on your journey.

Enrollment is not guaranteed. If your application is accepted, you’ll receive a “Congrats!” email with the juicy details you’ll need to enroll. Our online group training sessions cap at 60 students, and each in-person retreat caps at 44 to preserve the quality of the experience. Enrollment is first-come, first-served, so we recommend securing your spot as soon as possible. If your preferred session fills up before you enroll, you’ll have the option to join a future online group session, switch to our online self-study program, or reapply for a future retreat.

Enrollment closes the Friday before the course starts or when all spaces are filled—whichever happens first. 

We have a limited number of scholarships available for our End of Life Training Program. To learn more, please email our team at support@goingwithgrace.com, and we would be happy to support you.

For now, death doulas and other end of life professionals are private practitioners and entrepreneurs raising awareness about the work and paving the path for this field to become an institutional standard for end of life care. Developed to meet the emerging needs of society discovered through the practice, this course will teach you all the elements of effective non-medical end of life support. This work can be easily integrated into your current practice: estate planners, massage therapists, teachers, caregivers, the list goes on! Use this course to enhance your current offerings or create a new path. The opportunities are endless.

Going with Grace envisions a death doula or end of life planner position available in a cross section of industries as society’s needs for competent end of life support increases. Culturally, we’ve undergone a shift in how we relate to birth, and we believe the same is possible for death. For now, we are committed to creating standardized levels of education and competencies to ensure that the training programs can prepare people to professionally support at the end of life and receive compensation to do so.

You will have access to the program materials in the curriculum for 6 months after your course begins. You are also able to download the End of Life Training Handbook, including exercises, assignments, resources, and more, if you choose to do so.

We understand that enrolling in the End of Life Training Program is an important and personal commitment, and we want you to feel assured in your decision. Here’s what you need to know about our refund policy:

For Online Self-Study:

• If it’s within 30 days of your purchase and you’ve only completed up to Module 1, you’re eligible for a 50% refund.
• If it’s been more than 30 days or you’ve gone beyond Module 1, refunds, unfortunately, aren’t available.

For Online Group Study:

• Up to 14 days before the course starts: You can receive a full refund, switch to another Group Study session, or transfer into the Self-Study Program.
• If you’ve only completed up to Module 1: You’re eligible for a 50% refund, or you can defer to a future Group Study or switch to the Self-Study option.
• If you’ve completed past Module 1 but not beyond Module 3: No refund is available, but you are eligible to defer to a future Group Study or transfer to Self-Study.
• If you’ve completed past Module 3: Refunds, unfortunately, aren’t available.

We understand that life circumstances can shift, and we’re here to support you in staying connected to the learning in a way that works for you. If you have any questions about your specific situation, reach out to support@goingwithgrace.com

Yes, you can! We allow a one-time deferment to a future Group Study cohort that’s currently open for enrollment.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• You can only defer if you haven’t gone past Module 3 in your current course.
• If you’re on a payment plan, your payments will continue on the original schedule.
• Refunds aren’t available for deferments.

When you’re ready, just email us at support@goingwithgrace.com with the future cohort you’d like to join, and we’ll take care of the rest.