Doula Care for Dying

03/29/2026

Yesterday’s Spring Threshold retreat is still sitting with me, in the best way.

I started the day with a short reading from You Can Help Someone Who’s Grieving by Victoria Frigo, Diane Fisher, and Mary Lou Cook. The passage reminded us that none of us has all the answers when it comes to death, grief, or care. And that, perhaps, isn’t the point.

Instead, we are surrounded by teachers.

“You may feel like you don’t have enough experience to handle the circumstances associated with death… But none of us has all the answers. Fortunately, you are surrounded by ordinary people who possess special wisdom based on their life experiences… We can call this curriculum ‘intentional learning.’”

That idea stayed with me all day.

Because what unfolded in that room was exactly that, intentional learning. Not from one voice, but from many. Stories shared. Questions asked. Quiet reflections. Moments of recognition.

I felt so honored to be in a space with such a rich group of teachers.

And while the authors call them “ordinary people,” I have to say… this group felt anything but ordinary. The insight, care, honesty, and presence each person brought was something truly special.

Thank you to everyone who showed up; with your experiences, your questions, your willingness to be in community at this threshold between seasons.

Spring is here. And something is growing.

02/22/2026

Spring is a natural threshold; a time to pause, reflect, and notice what’s emerging.

In death work, we often hold space for others during moments of transition. This March, I’m creating space for a few of us.

On Saturday, March 28th (10:00 am – 4:00 pm), I’m hosting an intimate, in-person planning and reflection retreat in Springfield, VT.

This is not a training or certification. It’s a thoughtfully structured day for death doulas and death care workers to:

• Look back on the past season
• Reconnect with the values that ground their work
• Gently plan for the growing season ahead
• Sit in community with others who understand the realities of this field

We’ll move through guided reflection, individual planning time, small-group witnessing, and a closing community ritual.

I’m intentionally keeping the group small (12–18 people) to support depth and connection.
Cost is $55 to help cover space and materials.

If you’ve been craving space that’s structured but not hustle-driven, reflective but not isolating, this may be for you.

Registration link in the comments. I would love to gather in this season with you.

With great care,
Kasey

01/29/2026

Things are still hard.
And many of us are carrying more stress than we realize.

Between the news, caregiving, grief, and the quiet vigilance of loving people in uncertain times, our bodies often stay stuck in “alert mode.” Even when we step away from the headlines, the stress doesn’t always leave.

I wrote a new blog post about the stress cycle—what’s happening in our bodies during chronic stress, why caregivers are especially impacted, and simple, evidence-informed ways to help the body come back toward safety.

None of this fixes the world.
But it can help us keep showing up—for ourselves, for the people we love, and for the work that matters.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, activated, or worn down, this is for you. 💛 https://www.doulacarefordying.com/blog1/things-are-still-hard-completing-the-stress-cycle-in-uncertain-times

12/21/2025

🌿 New on the Doula Care for Dying Blog 🌿

If you’ve ever cared for someone who is dying, you know the emotional journey isn’t always serene, predictable, or “peaceful” in the way we expect. End-of-life emotions can be layered, shifting, and even contradictory—and that doesn’t mean something is wrong. It means we’re human. 💛

In my latest post, When Peace Doesn’t Look Peaceful, I share a story and insight into how acceptance, grief, clarity, confusion, joy, and longing can all exist at the same time—and how true peace often looks like the freedom to feel it all.
End-of-Life Support

Whether you’re supporting a loved one now, thinking about your own future, or simply seeking deeper understanding, this piece is for you.

👉 Read more: https://www.doulacarefordying.com/blog1/when-peace-doesnt-look-peaceful-understanding-end-of-life-emotions-and-contradictory-truths

And if this speaks to you, you can sign up for my newsletter to have future writing delivered straight to your inbox. If you're looking for other ways to support this work please like, comment, or share— nobody should have to navigate these emotions alone. 💫

If you are caring for someone who is dying, you’ve probably discovered that the emotional landscape at the end of life is not simple. Many caregivers expect a kind of serene clarity—a gentle...

12/12/2025

🕯️ A few spaces still available — January After-Death Care Course 🕯️

There are still a handful of openings in our upcoming After-Death Care: How to Legally Care for the Dead in Vermont three-part workshop series, happening this January.

This course is for anyone who wants to better understand what’s possible after a death — caregivers, death doulas, clergy, health workers, community members, or anyone feeling called to reclaim this deeply human act of care.

✨ Course Details
Online sessions (Zoom):
• Wednesday, January 7 | 6:00–7:30pm
• Wednesday, January 21 | 6:00–7:30pm

In-person, hands-on workshop:
• Saturday, January 31 | 10:00am–2:30pm
• St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Northfield, VT

Together we’ll explore:
• What after-death care includes
• Vermont legal considerations for families and doulas
• Planning, preparation, and communication tools
• Hands-on body care, rolling, and shrouding
• How to build a support team and involve funeral directors when needed

This series is grounded, practical, and community-centered — with space for questions, reflection, and connection. No previous experience required.

🧡 Sliding-scale pricing available
Because access to this knowledge matters.

👉 Learn more + register here:
https://www.journeywithcompassion.com/afterdeathcarecourse

If you’ve been curious, feeling called, or wanting to be better prepared for yourself or others — we’d love to have you join us.

12/12/2025

You Are Not Doing the Holidays Wrong: Caregiver Burnout, Grief, and the Weight of This Season

The holiday season is often described as joyful, magical, and full of meaning. And for many caregivers and death-care workers, it is also exhausting, emotionally complex, and heavy in ways that can be hard to explain.

If you’re feeling worn down, overwhelmed, or burned out this time of year, you are not alone—and you are not doing anything wrong.

The holiday season is often described as joyful, magical, and full of meaning. And for many caregivers and death-care workers, it is also exhausting, emotionally complex, and heavy in ways that can...

12/12/2025

There are good - and not so good ways to explain the dying process. While this nurse dramatized here is enthusiastic (and perhaps not reading the room as well as she might) she does give good information. And she’s not making things unnecessarily scary.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D9HqSQsXB/

12/08/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ANuYiXd3N/

12/02/2025

*When Peace Doesn’t Look Peaceful: Understanding End of Life Emotions and Contradictory Truths*

If you are caring for someone who is dying, you’ve probably discovered that the emotional landscape at the end of life is not simple. Many caregivers expect a kind of serene clarity—a gentle settling, a sense of emotional completion. But real end of life emotions are rarely tidy.

https://www.doulacarefordying.com/blog1/when-peace-doesnt-look-peaceful-understanding-end-of-life-emotions-and-contradictory-truths

11/15/2025

Cats out of the bag! Michelle Hogel Acciavati of Vermont Forest Cemetery, Lindsey Warren of Journey With Compassion and I are offering a workshop series for those who want to learn the skills of after death body care in January. If you're interested in green burial or caring for loved ones details will be coming soon...including how to sign up.

11/01/2025

If you’re wondering how to choose an end of life doula that’s a good fit for your family I put together a brief guide that has a list of questions you can use. Spoiler, the guide does not say “hire me” it outlines categories of questions to ask to find the right fit for you. 🪷

Doula care is deeply personal, you’ll want to choose someone you feel comfortable with and who respects your wishes. But how do you do that? I've created a free guide that includes six themes to...