Frequently Asked Questions

Pretty much anything you need me to, within reason!

I support you, your family or friends, offering guidance and assistance at any point on your end of life journey, from first point of diagnosis, through vigiling at point of death, to the days immediately afterwards if required.

We work together to find ways which will allow you to enhance, and take ownership of, your physical, energetic and spiritual wellbeing during this last phase of your life. This can be through the use of holistic wellbeing methods such as meditation, or in practical ways such as providing information and guidance about every aspect of the dying and funeral processes, planning your funeral, or what happens in the days after your death. I can also sit with you if you have no one else, listen to you share your story, talk with you about the hard stuff that no one else will. I advocate for you and your wishes so you feel heard and supported at all times.

My role is to support and facilitate whatever your own, or another’s, uniquely individual death may be.

Pretty much. Death Doula, Soul Midwife, End of Life Companion, End of Life Practitioner, Companion to the Dying; all different names for a very similar role, though we may have trained in different ways.

I trained as a Soul Midwife with Felicity Warner's Soul Midwives School, but have always preferred the term End of Life Companion. The term Death Doula is becoming more well known, and I have heard it used as a generic term for anyone who is an end of life companion. However, many people who refer to themselves as a Death Doula will have specifically trained as such with Living Well Dying Well.

But whatever we call ourselves, we all provide non-denominational, non-medical, non-judgemental practical and emotional support at end of life.

Most things is the short answer!

Common areas of advice/support include, but are not limited to:

·       What the dying process may look like, and what to expect;

·       Advance care planning (also known as a living will);

·       Holding space;

·       Holistic therapies and relaxation techniques;

·       Death planning and how you want this to look;

·       Dying at home;

·       Organ or body donation;

·       Legacy and memory work to create keepsakes for family and friends;

·       Listening and being a 'supportive ear';

·       Keeping your body at home after you die;

·       Traditional or natural burials;

·       Alternative funeral arrangements;

·       Planning your own funeral;

·       DIY funerals;

·       Passwords and social media after you go;

·       Anything else that you have a question about or need support with.

At any time that you need my services! This may be shortly after receiving a diagnosis, as you near the end of your life through illness or advancing years, and at any point in between. Or just because you, or someone close to you, would like to plan ahead and don’t know where to start.  

Yes, I am. I come to you in most areas in the SE19-SE27 postcodes, within walking distance of train stations. However, this radius can be extended if required if you are in hospice, hospital or a care home. Please contact me with details and your location and we can work something out.  

I am currently based in South Norwood (SE25) and primarily work in SE19-SE27 postcodes. I can come to you at home, or in a neutral venue near-by to you such as a local café or park if you would prefer. If you are in hospice, you may well be in one of Royal Trinity, St Christopher's, or Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospices, and I can come to you at any of these. I can also come to most of the local hospitals and care homes as required.

I can be flexible with other locations too, so if you are based elsewhere in London and would still like my support, please head over to my Contact page and get in touch. Alternatively, you can book a free Getting to Know Me call here. For end of life clients, this can be in person, if this better suits your current needs.

I also work on Zoom, WhatsApp video, and over the phone for maximum flexibility.

Initial sessions are 75-90 minutes, while all other sessions are 60 minutes. Sessions can take place in your home, somewhere neutral nearby such as a local café or park, or in a care home, hospital or hospice. Remote sessions can be held by Zoom, WhatsApp video, or by phone, as you prefer.

In our free introductory meeting, we will discuss your needs and what support you think you may want. If we feel we are a good fit and can work well together, we then schedule our initial new client meeting. During this session I will get to know you a bit better, and we will explore in greater detail what support I can offer and answer any queries you may have.

All sessions are tailored to your circumstances and needs. Location and type of meeting can vary from session to session. There is no set format, as we will agree together how we want to work, and what we might want to cover in future sessions, but nothing is set in stone. Content will evolve if your needs change, but is always shaped by you.

If you or a relative is already very close to end of life, I am very happy to take a more flexible approach to our sessions. I will work with you or your relative in the most appropriate way at the time, and can do so at short notice (subject to availability), or without the need for a new client session. Sometimes, you or your relative may only need one session with me to support at a particular moment in time. You can contact me here to discuss your needs. Remember, an initial introductory call is always free, as it is important we are able to work well together at this time.

Yes, of course. I am able to support you and your relative in whatever way is needed. This may be sitting with your person while you go home for a break, providing emotional support to you and other family members or friends at what is an emotionally charged time, or helping you organise the funeral and meeting your relative’s last wishes.

Please contact me to discuss your needs or book a free Getting to Know Me call here.

Our introductory, no obligation, Getting to Know Me call of 20-30 minutes is completely free and can be on Zoom, WhatsApp video, by phone or in person. However, I charge for our sessions after that, as I am self-employed.

Initial new client sessions are £85 for 75-90 minutes; all follow-up sessions are £75 for 60 minutes.

I also offer discounted rates for booking multi-session packs of 3, 4, 6 and 12 follow-up sessions as follows:

-          3 sessions of 60 minutes each - £215 (saving of £10)

-          4 sessions of 60 minutes each - £270 (saving of £30)

-          6 sessions of 60 minutes each - £385 (saving of £65)

-          12 sessions of 60 minutes each - £720 (saving of £180)

If you think you may need a greater level of support than the above options can provide, then please contact me to discuss your requirements. I am very happy to work with you to create an appropriate bespoke package that will best support your specific needs at this stage your life. If the support you need is likely to be more ad-hoc, at short notice, or for a prolonged session, then I am happy to roll sessions together to give a longer block of time. Sessions are payable in advance, although I can offer a payment plan if required.

Please note, if you do require support from me outside of my normal working hours, then an enhanced rate will be charged. This will be agreed in advance with you, and will be commensurate with your circumstances, location and the support required.

If you would like to discuss any of this with me in more detail, please do head over to my Contact page or schedule your free introductory session here.

Absolutely! These days funerals can take many forms, with the ability to customise and personalise in all sorts of ways. Maybe you would like to be buried at sea, or in one of the latest eco-friendly mushroom coffins, or with a leopard-print or motor-bike hearse? No problem! Or perhaps you want something else entirely that is very personal to you and truly reflects the things you were passionate about in life. Maybe you would like a more traditional funeral, but with a very flamboyant 'after-party' to celebrate a life well lived?

Whatever your wishes, I can work with you, and your family and friends, as appropriate, to shape and plan your perfect funeral. I will do all I can to make your last wishes a reality.

I believe that everyone is a unique individual, and everyone's death is uniquely individual to them. There is no right or wrong way to do this journey, your way is the one that is best for you. And that is equally relevant to your funeral and last wishes too.