LEVEL 1 — FOUNDATION: CORE COMPETENCIES OF A DEATH DOULA / END-OF-LIFE GUIDE

Who this level is for professionals in palliative care, social services, volunteering, and chaplaincy; those who already support families but need a unified professional framework; people who feel they have the capacity and empathy to be present at the end of life and want to do this professionally. We welcome both experienced practitioners and those entering the field for the first time — the program is structured to provide a solid foundation from zero. After completing Level 1, participants will understand the role of a doula / guide within the wider support system (family — medical team — spiritual leaders — psychologists); follow ethical standards and confidentiality principles; be able to enter a family in a state of tension without escalating conflict; know core models of grief and explain them to families in clear, accessible language; maintain professional boundaries and keep minimal documentation. Level content includes history and contemporary approaches to end-of-life support; role distribution within an interdisciplinary team; ethics, boundaries, and the risks of “crossing over” into the family system; an overview of core grief models: E. Kübler-Ross, W. Worden, the Dual Process Model (Stroebe & Schut), and the concept of continuing bonds — with an emphasis on how to apply them in family support; safe, respectful language for discussing death and loss; communication skills for both offline work and social media (public communication about death); a practical case analysis: “a family under tension, a client at the end of life.”