End-of-Life Doula Certificate Program

Certified CareDoula® is the Premier End-of-Life Doula Training Program in the United States since 2010.

Are you a holistic minded person who’s inspired to care for people during the dying time and have a unique End-of-Life Service in your community without working in healthcare?

Do you think to yourself...

Who am I to do this end-of-life work? I’m not medical.
I know I’m good at this, but I don’t know business.
I need help pulling my interests & skills together.
I’m so tired of not doing what I’d love to do.

Would you be surprised if you could do this without…

  • Working full-time in hospice first.
  • Figuring out (by yourself) which of your many interests & skills should be a part of your practice.
  • Knowing all about business before you begin serving people.
  • Self-promoting, learning social media, or asking for money.
  • Wasting more precious time not serving people because you don’t know how to get started.

Yes, this is a ‘thing!’ Imagine yourself…

  • Finally being that person people can call.
  • Being deeply grateful knowing you're prepared & ready to serve how you've always wanted.
  • Knowing exactly what you need in order to have your own practice.
  • Being part of the thousands of active trailblazers all doing your part to reduce suffering at the end of life.

If you would like to talk to Deanna, begin here:

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Real Life Results

Does Certified CareDoula® really make a difference? There's only one way to find out: by seeing what our students have to say about how they have benefitted from our program.

1000's of People Served Since 2005.

"I have felt the ability and strength to do this work most of my adult life but now, after taking this beautifully designed course, I know I was made to do it. I’ve had the tools the whole time, but your experience and direction has offered a structure to put all the technical details in order. I’ve mentioned before that I am not a technical person so this course has helped me tremendously. I feel I have a foundation to build upon now rather than standing in a murky pond knowing what I need lies beneath the surface but not able to see it. It’s so much clearer now. It gives me great comfort knowing I have the section material and my responses at my finger tips for reference to easily and often refresh myself."
- Sara W. 
"I love how this course integrates the medical, the alternative, the compassion-based, the intuitive, and the spiritual sources. I have loved the readings…and the other resources. The case studies…have given me more "experience," even though it is not on-site. Of course, what is underscored is the uniqueness and preciousness of each individual. Everyone is distinct, but there are still general guidelines I can follow when being with/accompanying a patient and his/her caregiver(s)…I love the thoroughness/rigor of the program." 
- Lee F. W. 
"I think your authenticity and transparency is invaluable as a leader. You are so available to us “students” whenever we need you and that says oodles about YOU. You are truly here on earth to serve. I can feel you and I see you.  Working with you has helped me to align myself with that feels right to me in this work. You confirmed in me what my passions and gifts are. Getting validation from someone with your knowledge and experience in this field has changed me forever. I truly mean that. I didn’t know being a “Death Doula” was even a thing. I now know 100% what my purpose is. Thank you for all of your time and the energy you put into this program. You are changing lives."
- Tiffany Anne R.
“This time with you has really helped me appreciate where I am as a Doula…Time to make a new vision board to reflect my growing income and client base.  I’m on fire because you lit it.  I feel empowered, inspired, and ready to go!! Thank you, thank you!…Deanna, you are a creator, business developer, master-minder, saleswoman, coach, trainer, Doula, mentor, manifestor and more! Super talented!...”
- Esther M.
"I was uncertain if I was able to take on such a task. Your class gave me the tools I needed to serve the dying, and the confidence to be able to serve. Starting a business is a bit scary but I am now confident I can succeed. Working with you has been a pure joy! It has truly changed my life."
- Burneace D. 
"My life is so naturally flowing and completely full right now. Thank you for your guidance through this new birth of my path.  The most important part of your course for me has been the self care part. If I hadn't done that work, I would be spreading myself quite thin now. I am a recovering 'Yes' person, and although sometimes I feel like I should be helping more people, I feel really good and energized when I wake up in the morning."
- Janet M. 
"All I knew before I began Deanna's programs was that I felt an intense yearning to be of service at the end of life. I had very little experience in this realm and wasn't even clear what this work looked like. Deanna saw my earnest desire and welcomed me into what has become deep and meaningful work. Being mentored by Deanna has been a life-changing gift! I watched my skills and intuition in this work, grow, deepen and flower. Serving my community as a death doula and grief coach I see how those of us working at the threshold are shaping our collective experiences with death and grief. Deanna is a fierce and loving warrior in this cause and I am honored to be with her on the path."
- Simon F.
"I recently retained Deanna to provide some professional guidance for me regarding my thoughts on moving forward toward developing my own business. I have a broad background, but lack the many varied seemingly qualifying letters such as RN, PhD, LLC, etc. I trust Deanna and was immediately heartened when she said 'Sarah, no more qualification is needed. Your credentials and experience are enough!' Within our hour together, she helped me to narrow down and focus on the viable business paths I have to pick from, but which I was unable to see and arrive at on my own. I highly recommend anyone who is in need of professional guidance to retain Deanna. My money and time was wisely invested in Deanna and I will continue to work with her as I further develop my business and services."
- Sarah L.
"I like the teleconferences and stories from personal experience, all the well researched reading material, and Deanna's coaching and 'pep talks'. I think the Accompanying the Dying course is very well organized...and even though it's a LOT reading, at least I have all the links at hand when I want to go back and reread them later. Some I've only been able to skim thru now, with the intention of going back over them. It's a much wider body of info than I first imagined. And there's so much to think about. This course has certainly raised my awareness...and I thought I already knew a lot! Thanks to visionaries like yourself, I think our culture is finally dealing increasingly better with the many death and dying concerns."
- Kathryn W. 

Meet Your Doula Mentor & Guide

Deanna Cochran, RN, Creator of the Premier End-of-Life Doula Certificate Program in the U.S.

 

It is Deanna's highest honor serving the dying and their families since 2000. As a Palliative Consultant, Community Educator, and End-of-Life Doula since 2005, she is in the forefront of educating families, advocates, hospices, and palliative care organizations about this new role around the globe.

As a founding member and 1st Vice President of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance, her decades-long vision of unity within our grassroots movement began to manifest. Her one phone call to the NHPCO, the oldest and largest hospice trade organization, resulted in an invitation to doulas for a special council, for the purpose of educating over 6,000+ member hospices and palliative care organizations about utilizing doulas. She also led the Council’s first project, ‘Doula Grief Support,’ in response to the pandemic in 2020, giving one-to-one support to people affected by the pandemic.

Many years in the making, her #1 Amazon bestselling book, “Accompanying the Dying: Practical Heart-Centered Wisdom for End-of-Life Doulas and Healthcare Advocates,” guides advocates and practitioners through the advanced illness time period, dying, death and through early bereavement. It has become the ‘go-to’ resource for practical aspects of accompanying the dying.

Our CareDoula® Certificate Program supports our free education and our dedication to ensure people have equal access to the information and guidance to care for each other through dying. Know that your study with CareDoula® supports dying well all around the world. And, you will learn to serve others in 'The Doula Way.'

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