Laboring Out of Life: A Death Doula's Approach to Intentional End Life Care

A modern foundational guide to death doula work The demand for death doulas continues to surge as more people seek alternatives to medicalized dying. Laboring Out of Life is a professional guide for death doulas ready to deliver skilled, intentional support to the dying and their families while building a practice that sustains them personally and financially. Laboring Out of Life covers the full scope of death doula practices, including facilitating grief support, guiding families through hard conversations about funeral planning, living wills, and last wishes, and how to maintain a sustainable business while avoiding emotional burnout. This is the ultimate invaluable resource for anyone seeking a more intentional approach to end-of-life care. Combining personal anecdotes from the author’s own practice with actionable professional guidance, it’s an especially valuable resource for aspiring and practicing death doulas and hospice workers, as well as nurses, social workers, therapists, chaplains, and other end-of-life care professionals. An expert guide for providing empathetic end-of-life care for death doulas and related professionals Death doulas – trained, empathetic professionals who provide companionship, comfort, and guidance to the dying and their loved ones – are becoming increasingly common around the world. Their invaluable expertise is increasingly recognized as capable of transforming a deeply distressing experience into a still painful, but more manageable, one. In Laboring Out of Life, registered nurse and death doula, Kacie Gikonyo, delivers a comprehensive guide for aspiring and practicing death doulas. She walks you through the responsibilities of death doulas and how they differ from the expectations placed on other deathcare professionals. Gikonyo also explains the essential skills you’ll use on the job, like facilitating grief support to understanding the biological processes of dying. Inside the book: Advice for building a sustainable business practice that’s financially successful How to practice self-care and avoid emotional burnout Strategies for walking families through hard conversations about funeral planning, living wills, and last wishes Filled with personal anecdotes from the author’s extensive experience as a death doula, Laboring Out of Life is a must-read guide for practicing death doulas, healthcare workers trying to get into the role, and hospice workers. It’s also invaluable for nurses, social workers, therapists, chaplains, and other professionals who deal with the end of life.