The most straightforward but often the most valuable services we can provide each other are our presence and our time. Doulas will sit at bedside in whatever manner the client requires. Some days it will be in silence, some days with family or members of the client's circle, and some days in relaxed companionship. Our job is to stay present with the client, see to their comfort when needed, and remain alert to their changing needs. A doula will often have resources to share for various services the client may need throughout the process, so never hesitate to ask. For example: I have experience with and am happy to help you & yours navigate end-of-life paperwork such as your DNR or Advanced Healthcare Directive. I am not an attorney, however, so I will help you find any outside resources you may need. As a doula, I want to make sure that if I don't have the answer or if it's outside the scope of my services, that I can point you in the right direction. 

Doulas are trained to ask questions that allow client (and family or close circle members) to explore experiences and feelings more fully than they may have before. This is a trauma-informed practice, and client is in full control of these sessions. If a person craves deep discussion, a doula is there for them. If a client doesn't have the emotional bandwidth, a doula will never press. Clients can feel safe and be assured of confidentiality regardless of how each session goes. Sometimes a client may want certain members of the family or their circle in these discussions, separate or together, and a doula is there for them. It is very important to me to provide inclusive & intersectional support. I try to seek education from communities I will serve but I will also closely attend discussions with my clients to tailor my approach to their specific cultural & interpersonal needs.

If the client requests this service it can be greatly beneficial and soothing - a balm to the soul & a way to quiet the mind. Through consultation and discussion, a doula will learn enough to guide the client (and/or others) through a mental visualization that can provoke peace and sometimes quite emotional responses. With a few tips, doulas can teach the client how to revisit this place in their minds, guiding themselves in wakeful hours, or to think more fully on the meaning they associate with their "mind walk." This is different than meditation as the client can have full control over where we go and how we exist in the space. Always tailored to individuals, this is a safe mindful practice.