Support & Guidance
Counselling and End-Of-Life Doula Care
Support Through Loss
Although grief is an expected and very human response to loss, it can be helpful to share your experience and receive validation, reassurance and guidance in coping from a skilled counsellor.
As a Registered Social Service Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, I bring not only practical education and knowledge but also, more importantly, experience in navigating the oftentimes unrelenting upheaval that accompanies bereavement.
Meeting clients on a foundation of presence and compassion comes from my vast experience in holding space for people in life’s greatest and most devastating moments. My role is not to minimize, change, fix or find solutions to grief. Instead, I offer something radical and unconventional: I create a space of safety and connection so that my clients can give voice and expression to their deepest, primal grief without stifling, avoiding or numbing it.
I deeply trust in each person’s ability to grieve fully in their own unique way. I do not pathologize a client’s grief experience or grief expression and instead, provide non-judgmental support, compassion and guidance to make the necessary journey of mourning bearable.
• Grief and loss (anticipatory, disenfranchised, death and non-death loss)
• Traumatic loss
• Preparing for the dying and after death care of a loved one including medically fragile children
• Navigating the decision to access MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying)
• Coping with the unique grief that follows a MAiD death
• Struggling with witnessing the death of a loved one
• Living with the grief of living losses that comes from caring for and loving a child with medical fragility, disabilities and/or short life expectancies
For those unsure as to what they need or for those interested in learning about death work or talking about anything other than private counselling sessions, I now have a ‘pick your brain’ consulting fee of $100/ hour.
family LeD
Deathcare
The Value and Purpose
Family-led death care is when a family member of the deceased takes over all (or some) of the after death care including transport, documentation (death registration) and body care, without a license and for no charge. In the province of Ontario it is the responsibility of the family to care for their own deceased loved ones. While most families engage the services of a licensed funeral director, some families choose to take over all or partial care of their loved one. If this is something that resonates with you, I am happy to informational support.
A misconception is that family led deathcare or home funerals are chosen because it is a less expensive option to conventional funerals. Although this may have some impact on a family’s decision, it isn’t the biggest reason why people choose family led deathcare. More often than not, it is the psychological and emotional value that comes with caring for one’s own loved one in death just as they cared for them in their life. Slowing down and taking part in this last act of service and love helps immensely with the natural response of grief.
End-of-Life Doula Care
I offer end-of-life doula care to individuals and their families with a focus on those choosing MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying). End-of-life doula care takes place in the home (including longterm care), in hospital and in hospice and may include some or all the following.
Prior to death:
- One-on-one counselling to support an individual who is facing a terminal diagnosis
- Providing education in preparing for one’s death (practical and legal matters)
- Exploring and reflecting on the dying person’s life
- Guidance in legacy projects and writing love letters to the people who loved them most
- Engaging additional care at home (palliative team, family and community support)
- Providing support to caregivers and other family members navigating the dying of their loved one
- Connecting to helpful services
- Providing information about the dying process and specifically about MAiD
- Support immediately before and during the MAiD death
After death:
- Holding space for the family and loved ones of the person who has died
- Providing immediate support and encouragement to those present to slow down and simply be with their loved one. I will put the kettle on!
- Be a consistent and experienced presence
- Offer guidance in these profound early moments following the death
- Initiate and assist in after deathcare rituals for the family to help in the transition of letting their loved one go
- Supportive presence when the funeral home arrives and offering guidance in creating a sacred send-off
- One debrief session within a week following the death plus two grief counselling sessions
Each individual (and their family) has unique needs. Care is tailored after a non-obligatory one-on-one meeting to see if my services can benefit. For this reason, fees range from a base fee of $550 to $3000+. **sliding scale is always an option for those experiencing financial hardship
“Julie is breaking new ground in a neglected domain and has helped me and my family navigate end-of-life territory. Julie embodies qualities of the highest order arising from the perspective of compassion and understanding and there is great value in having her as a ‘guide.’ I am particularly grateful for her sense of humour which has been very helpful in facing the end of my life. I am comforted in knowing she will continue to help my family after I am gone.”
~ J.B. shared these thoughts in February 2024 just a few weeks before his death
