“What Is A Death Doula?” Lecture and Discussion

Join me, Melissa McClave, on Wednesday, February 18, at the San Diego Oasis Rancho Bernardo campus for an educational lecture and discussion, “What Is A Death Doula?” about what Death Doulas are and how they fit into the modern end-of-life care.  This 90-minute class delves into the history of end-of-life doula support, how dying and death practices have shifted in the U.S.A. since the 19th century, and what our role is in today’s death care.

The format of the lecture is a slide show that begins with defining the role of a death doula. Next, I will briefly cover the history of doula support in caring for the dying and the rituals surrounding burials and mourning. Following this, I will briefly cover the changes in death care since the Civil War and the advent of modern medicine. Next, I will discuss what your current end-of-life options are and how to access resources. Finally, my lecture will end with how I practice as a Death Doula from educational outreach through to legacy work.

The class will end with a question-and-answer discussion that is open to any of the topics covered or other thoughts that may come up. Participants will leave the lecture with an extended knowledge of modern death care, as well as workbooks and handouts of local and national resources.