Death Doula Certification

The Sacred Path of the Death Doula

Accompanying a person through the "surrender stage" of crossing over is an extraordinary privilege. This curriculum is crafted to pay tribute to this journey, equipping aspiring doulas with essential tools for end-of-life support. Whether you are a care professional looking to expand your practice or an individual wishing to support a loved one, this course offers a comprehensive foundation in compassionate service.

Core Curriculum & Topics

The program balances ethical guidelines, physical care, and emotional intelligence. Key areas of study include:

  • Foundation & Ethics: Understanding doula roles, responsibilities, and legal frameworks.

  • Communication Mastery: Active listening, empathy, and facilitating difficult discussions regarding end-of-life wishes and advance care planning.

  • Holistic Support: Recognizing the physical, emotional, and spiritual signs of the dying process.

  • Practical Care: Hands-on techniques including comfort measures, positioning, bathing assistance, and symptom management.

  • Cultural Sensitivity: Honoring diverse perspectives, religious beliefs, and rituals across all age groups (pediatric to geriatric).

  • Grief & Bereavement: Supporting families through the complexities of loss and conflict resolution.

  • Sustainability: Self-care strategies and resilience-building to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue.

  • Professional Development: Marketing a practice, managing client relationships, and collaborating with hospice and medical teams.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this certification, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify the physical and emotional stages of approaching death.

  2. Provide compassionate presence and expert communication to patients and families.

  3. Deliver culturally sensitive care tailored to individual backgrounds.

  4. Execute physical comfort measures and symptom management.

  5. Build a professional doula practice while maintaining personal wellness.

Complementary "Care Track" Modalities

This certification integrates seamlessly with other specialized training programs at Body Wisdom:

Oncology & Critical Care Massage Learn to provide safe, effective bodywork for patients in critical care settings and communicate effectively with medical teams.

Geriatric (Elderly) Massage Specialized training for the aging population, including a hands-on field trip for real-world experience.

Hospice (Palliative) Care Massage Focuses on pain management and emotional support for patients of all ages and their families during the end-of-life journey.


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Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School

Touch is the key to getting back in touch - not only with ourselves, but with all of life!

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Let’s Talk

Ready to start your journey? Our admissions team is here to answer your questions about curriculum, schedules, and financial aid options.

Office Address:

8401 Douglas Ave STE 2, Urbandale, IA 50322

© 2026 Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School All Rights Reserved.

Header Logo

Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School

Touch is the key to getting back in touch - not only with ourselves, but with all of life!

Header Logo

Let’s Talk

Ready to start your journey? Our admissions team is here to answer your questions about curriculum, schedules, and financial aid options.

Office Address:

8401 Douglas Ave STE 2, Urbandale, IA 50322

© 2026 Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School All Rights Reserved.

Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School

Touch is the key to getting back in touch - not only with ourselves, but with all of life!

Header Logo
Header Logo

Let’s Talk

Ready to start your journey? Our admissions team is here to answer your questions about curriculum, schedules, and financial aid options.

Office Address:

8401 Douglas Ave STE 2, Urbandale, IA 50322

© 2026 Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School All Rights Reserved.