I’m scheduling virtual death-positive group sessions about issues related to death and dying in an effort to normalize these conversations. Why? Because in places where people regularly talk about death, and dying, and make plans in advance, they’re also much more likely to:
- Experience a good death, in whatever way that’s meaningful to them.
- Live with less fear and anxiety.
- Decrease the burden felt by others.
- Leave behind loved ones who aren’t as likely to fight amongst themselves or experience deep despair.
That’s why I’m offering these group sessions throughout May. All you need is a reliable WiFi connection and a computer.
Join Us
These sessions are a great way to learn more about end-of-life issues in a positive environment, especially if you:
- Don’t like talking about death
- Feel deep grief or regret about someone’s death
- Worry about your own death
- Want to reduce your own end-of-life fears and anxiety
- Need to write out advance directives or final wishes
- Are curious about the dying process
- Want a good death
- Want to learn about eco-friendly burial options
- Want to discuss your advance directives with loved ones but don’t know how
- Would like support while caring for a dying loved one
- Want to learn more about death doulas
- Will die someday
You don’t need a one-on-one session with a death doula to get the support or information you need. That’s what group sessions are for!
On Wednesdays and Fridays in May, I’m hosting group sessions from 11:30 am – 1 pm, central time. Choose as many topics as you like. We’ll have informative, fun, and helpful discussions with a Q&A at the end.
Registration is only $25 per person and the link will be sent to you a few days before the session.
Death-Positive Sessions
Check out our sessions below. Would you like to discuss a different topic? Contact Anitya Doula Services with your suggestion or book a private session on any topic you choose.
What Is a Death Doula? (May 3, 2023)
A death doula provides non-medical care for someone who is dying and/or support for loved ones. And so much more! In this workshop, we’ll review the work of a death doula, the standard services they/we provide, and what brings us to this work. We also talk about the origins of the death-positive movement and what it means to be an inclusive death doula.
What Are Your Fears About Death? (May 5, 2023)
Most people fear physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. We talk about how to reduce those fears along with comfort care for each category at end-of-life. We’ll also talk about death doulas, how they comfort and support people with these issues and more.
What Are Eco-Friendly Options When We Die? (May 10, 2023)
Green or eco-friendly burial options replace traditional options like embalming. You’ll learn about what options you have right now and what options might be available in the future.
How To Make Advance Directives (May 12, 2023)
We’ll talk about living wills, power of attorney forms, and health care instructions. What are their benefits? How do they help our loved ones and us? We’ll go through the actual forms and get this done.
Talk About Advance Directives (May 17, 2023)
Tender talks are when a) someone fills out advance directives, way before a diagnosis, and wants to share that information with loved ones, or b) after a diagnosis, someone calls their loved ones to discuss the care plan. We discuss these two different scenarios and how to have these tender talks.
Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (May 19, 2023)
VSED is the only legal option for hastening death in all 50 states. We discuss the moral implications of this painless, peaceful option. Do religions have anything to say about this? We also touch on Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) laws and options that take people out of the country to die with a physician’s assistance.
How To Get Your Affairs in Order? (May 24, 2023)
We’ll go over a checklist for the dying that includes, among other things, creating a care team, calling an attorney, and pre-planning funerals or memorial services.
What is the Dying Process? (May 26, 2023)
How does our body slow down at the end of life? We’ll discuss common experiences including near-death awareness (or visits from deceased loved ones), terminal agitation, death rituals, and ways to comfort someone while they’re actively dying.
An Experienced Educator
I’ve presented end-of-life workshops at the University of South Florida and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg before relocating to Chicago. Since moving here in July, I’ve led presentations at Fourth Presbyterian’s popular Center for Life and Learning, Council for Jewish Elderly’s Senior Life series, Northwestern University’s “Adulthood and Aging” undergraduate program, and the Winnetka Women’s Exchange.
Countless other organizations, retirement communities, and assisted living facilities have also sponsored my workshops to help their members learn more about death to enjoy a better life.
I also teach a death doula program with a psychedelic component remotely to students worldwide through the Diaspora Psychedelic Society.
Watch a clip of these classes on pre-planning your funeral, sharing advance directives with loved ones, and eco-friendly post-death options.
Everyone is Welcome
I don’t turn anyone away. If you can’t afford the registration, send me a quick message and I’ll sign you up for free. Because everyone deserves a good death and healthy discussions are how we get there.
Hope to see you at one of these death-positive group sessions in May!
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