Reclaiming Deathcare
Become an end of life guide
apprenticeship with death
A state of being with and tending to
This is a program that opens a portal to contemplation and discernment, connecting you with your inner wisdom. Here, you’ll learn to embrace co-creation, step into sacred leadership, and serve with compassion and presence at the end of life. By understanding your own stories and wounds related to death and grief, you’ll develop the clarity and healing heart needed to serve others. The apprenticeship offers the chance to gain wisdom from direct experience and engage in meaningful discussions with peers. Welcome to this transformative journey towards a deeper understanding of sacred deathcare.
apprenticeship with death is for you if:
You seek a more compassionate and holistic approach to end-of-life care
You want to bring sacred deathcare to your loved ones and community
You want to guide others in preparing for the end of life
You want to provide bedside care to the dying
You want to provide guidance about after death options and care
You want to hold space for grief
You want to advocate for end of life issues and policy change
You seek to deeply explore and understand your own mortality
You wish to enrich your life and the lives of others in profound ways
Prerequisites
꩜ daily prioritization and devotion to nurture your wellbeing
꩜ openness to different cultural, spiritual, and psychological perspectives
꩜ willingness to research parts of your ancestral and cultural legacy
꩜ practice self-awareness, healthy boundaries, critical thinking, and autonomy as an adult learner
꩜ responsibility for resourcing someone to process with you if you need additional support
꩜ acknowledgment of historic and current systems of oppression and commitment to transformation
You don’t need a medical background to provide end-of-life care as a death doula, midwife, or practitioner.
End-of-life professionals come from various backgrounds, such as nursing, yoga, hospice, palliative care, social work, spiritual care, chaplaincy, funeral industry, patient advocacy, life coaching, counseling, bereavement coordination, child life specialist, speech-language pathologist, physical therapy, occupational therapy, energy healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and many, many others.
what we cover
Deep listening and compassionate communication skills
Non-judgmental support and guidance
Various cultural practices and perspectives in deathcare
Explore your ancestral lineage
Belief, religion, and spirituality
Mystical aspects, including visions, dreams, and visitations
Grief from a diagnostic lens and as a natural part of the universal human experience
Holding space for challenging death scenarios
End of life planning and advance care directives
Signs of the dying process, pain, suffering, and disease trajectories
Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) & Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)
Advocacy and leadership in holistic deathcare
Rituals and rites of passage in the dying process
Collaborative care model
Boundaries, ethics, and legal responsibilities
program experience:
Ample time for live Q&A and open conversation
Access to a participant-only community portal
A 13-module curriculum with responsive support and easy course navigation.
Active participation and engagement are requested as we learn from and with each other
Experienced facilitators actively working in the end of life and death care industry
Program Structure
- On-demand course platform
- Meet live on Zoom 1 weekend a month for discussion and practices
- Meet live on Zoom 1 time a month for open Q&A
- 15 service hours of your choice in the realm of dying, death, and grief
- 3 day in person retreat
- Meet live on Zoom 1 time a month for group mentorship calls after the retreat
Earning a Certificate of Completion
- 90% live attendance (Must watch the replay if the class is missed)
- Self-evaluation and assessment at the beginning and end of the course
- Completion of each module (3-5 hours per week)
- Final written assessment
- Completion of 15 hours of volunteer service of your choice within the industry
- Completion of course evaluation
Please Note:
Although you can receive a certificate upon completion, this is a training program, not a certification or licensing program. Currently, there is no governing body that regulates end-of-life practitioners, doulas, or midwives. This course will prepare you for NEDA’s micro-credential proficiency assessment if you should choose to seek the NEDA proficiency badge.
If you are self-reporting CEUs, we are happy to support you with any information that will be helpful.
C. Espinosa
I found the Apprenticeship with Death training program very thorough and beautifully delivered. My experience was all that I had hoped for and more, and now I feel very prepared to take my new skills out into my community as a new doula. Rhea is an excellent guide and offers her wisdom and beauty all throughout the process. I gained intimate connections, new friendships, confidence and the inspiration to call on my own unique talents and gifts as I venture forward in supporting individuals and their families in end-of-life care.
Josephine Spilka, M.S., L.Ac
Apprenticeship with Death was a beautiful way to dive into both the personal and professional aspects of end-of-life care. The pace of learning was energizing with all kinds of great links and information while there was also space for integration, questions and contributions from all participants making it a unique and potent learning environment for everyone. A really great place to start on the journey of deathwork.
Deborah Hale
Now I feel much more comfortable and confident in my role as hospice volunteer. And I have a clearer sense of the Death Doula role(s), including which parts I’m most drawn to. Also clearer about my preferences regarding my own death transition and the preparation that will be helpful and needed.
Lisa Ciosek
My experience with the apprenticeship with death course was beyond my expectations. Rhea provided invaluable resources for both personal and professional growth. She has developed a thoughtful, well organized curriculum that provides both structure and flexibility in the learning process. I feel like anyone would benefit from the information and experiences provided in this course. It is far more than a “death doula” certificate program. The insights and experiences you will gain during this course will nurture your soul.
Rituals for tending to grief & death
practices for guiding after death care
Facilitator
Rhea Mader (she/her)
Rhea is a Certified Thanatologist, Interspiritual Chaplain Associate, Life Coach, Instinctive Meditation® and Yoga Nidra teacher. Her personal losses, including the death of her baby and grandmother, along with her professional experiences in residential and medical facilities, ignited her passion for transforming the way we hold space for the tenderness of life and death in the face of trauma, isolation, and deep grief. She says it’s the honor of a lifetime to tend to, to
Questions & Answers
Are there additional expenses for this program?
There has been an intentional awareness placed on not incurring additional costs. In a couple of rare instances, you may be asked to rent a film or documentary. An abundance of resources are provided for you, but they are not required for the completion of this course.
Can I participate if i don't intend on pursuing this professionally
Absolutely. Please join for your knowledge and wisdom experience even if you don’t intend on working as an end of life practitioner.
What are some of the ways I can work as an end of life practitioner?
This depends on your experience, education, training, community connections, and your desire to create opportunities for yourself. End of Life Practitioners come from all walks of life and aren’t limited to medical fields. An end of life practitioner offers nonmedical support and guidance and may have backgrounds in areas such as yoga, nursing, hospice, palliative care, social work, spiritual care, medical care, chaplaincy, funerals, life coaching, counseling, bereavement, holistic healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and more. Even if none of those are you, I encourage you to count yourself in.
Where can I find the course content?
The course content will be available to you through a private online portal accessed with a personal login.
what are the logistical & Time requirements?
The online training requires a reliable internet connection, a quiet environment, the ability to use online tools like Zoom, and a willingness to participate in the virtual space. The estimated time required for the course is about 3-5 hours per week, depending on the week. The course is created so that most people will maintain their full-time work or full-time student schedules. In addition, you get out of it what you put into it.
Still have questions? Email hello@consciouslivingconsciousdying.com to schedule an appointment.