Death Doula 101

Formation COURSE

Become a Death Doula

Your Calling Begins Here

Most people who become doulas have experienced something meaningful that opened their eyes to the need for this work.
Some of you have witnessed a good death.
Some of you have seen a difficult or complicated death.
Some of you have witnessed many kinds of deaths across many seasons of life.

No matter what your story is, you’re here because you feel the calling, the pull to support people during one of the most vulnerable and sacred transitions they will ever face. The dying need advocates, witnesses, and compassionate presence. If you feel that truth in your bones, it may be time to begin your training.

What We Offer:

Start Anytime, Go at Your Own Pace

We’ve updated our course structure so you can begin whenever you’re ready. Move through the content at a pace that fits your life. Once you enroll, the course is yours for life, start and stop as needed, and return to the materials anytime.

Live Weekly Support

We’ve kept our live component fully intact. Students now receive up to four hours of live Q&A with Jill every week.
Join as often as you’d like, whether you’re brand new, expanding your skills, or brushing up after months or years.

Ready to Begin?

Everything you need to know about the course is outlined below.

➤ Schedule a Connection Call with Jill
A great way to get your questions answered and make sure this path is the right fit.

➤ Enroll in the Course
Choose to pay in full or select a six-month payment plan. If you’re ready to enter the course you can use this link to PAY IN FULL or this link for the SIX MONTH PAYMENT PLAN

Once in our network you will have access to our LIVE STREAM ARCHIVE and our DEATH DOULA RESOURCE GUIDE for no extra cost.

We’re honored to welcome you into this work and excited to walk alongside you as you begin your death doula journey.

Schedule Appointment " >

Death doula 101:

Course Curriculum and expectations

Curriculum:

  • Grounding and Death Doula Formation

  • Philosophical Approaches to Death and Dying

  • History of Death

  • Common Terminology and Paperwork

  • Advanced Care Planning and End of Life Conversations

  • Spectrum of Options and EOL

  • Tools for Being a Successful Advocate

  • In Depth Look at Hospice Care

  • How We Die

  • Modern Funerals, Wakes, and Dispositions

  • Creating Your Toolkit

  • Small Business Startup Tips, Utilizing Hope, Integrity and Imagination

Course Completion Requirements

To successfully complete this course, you’ll need to:

  • Work through all ten sections of the curriculum and watch all ten video lessons.

  • Attend ten LIVE Q&A sessions with Jill

  • Submit a 500-word case study response directly to Jill.

  • Complete 125 hours of community service related to death and dying.
    This may include hospice volunteering, caregiving, educational seminars, grief support work, or similar service.
    If you’re unsure whether something qualifies, please reach out, we’re here to guide you.

Code of Conduct:

We ask all students to uphold a learning environment grounded in respect, compassion, and curiosity. Every person in this course is on their own path and working toward their own goals, and we encourage connection, collaboration, and community support.

Any expression of hate, harassment, or inappropriate conduct toward another student or community member will result in removal from the network without refund.

Seeking a deeper purpose?

Download our free e-book, "Discovering Your Role As A Death Doula: A Doula's Guide.” This comprehensive guide empowers you to navigate the world of death support with confidence and grace. Whether you're curious or aspiring, this resource equips you with the knowledge and tools for end-of-life care.

DOWNLOAD

FAQs

  • You and the community you wish to serve.

  • We want to make the course accessible and if you are accepted into the course we are open to negotiating payment plans on a case-by-case basis.

  • You will have access to the course forever. Once you pay for it you can always go back in to it.

  • Yes. The course offers a certification at the end once you complete the 12-week online course, 4 weeks of field work and a written case study. After completion of the aforementioned they can also apply for their 200 hours badge once they have completed 200 hrs of practice.

  • We are here to help you with that. We can get you pointed in the right direction. This course will provide you with the basic tools to getting into the business of being a death doula.

  • No! You do not need a medical or science background to become a death doula. Doulas focus on providing emotional, informational, and logistical support, as well as hands-on comfort measures for the families they serve. Doulas are strictly non-medical.

  • No, you do not! This is about humans connecting with other humans. You and I work with your personal experiences to tailor your own niche. Someone who spent their life taking care of their children is just as valuable as someone holding a PhD in chemistry. We are humans helping humans.

  • The course is a total of 16 weeks long. 12 weeks will be spent learning from the course curriculum and the other 4 weeks will be for field work as a death doula.

  • The amount of people will vary from cohort to cohort, but we only allow a maximum of 30 people in each one. We value an intimate learning environment, so you can really connect with your classmates and create bonds.

  • No, you don't need to attend every live lecture, but we do encourage you to try to. We record every lecture and post the recordings on a private channel, so you can access them at any time.

Testimonials

  • "Jill is a solid rock for everyone who seriously wants to learn and understand how to have a good death. She balances experience, professionalism, humor and her own instincts towards improving the quality of one's death. Jill has amassed an insane amount of knowledge and is the real deal. She's been there to support me when my grandma was passing and I've seen her help several other friends in profound ways. Her work is largely pragmatic, but she's been open to entertaining the true mystery's of death. Jill will be my doula when I die."

    Michael Donovan

  • "Jill’s approach and priority is to lead by sharing her knowledge and authenticity. Her passion, understanding and experiences in guiding and advocating for her clients with a terminally illness and their families, working diligently in the deathcare space, and mentoring others on the realities of being an end-of-life doula is quite stellar. As an Eldercare Manager and End-of-Life Doula, I am proud and humbled to continue to learn, grow and partner with Jill."

    Stefanie Elkins

  • "My work with Jill started in 2020 with the mentorship and the program was full of information so I felt like I learned all that I needed to know. As a new business and a career that is still new to many people, there are always new things coming up and it is helpful to have someone to talk with. Even years later when I have questions and I need help, she never hesitates to help me figure out what I need to do for my business or with a client. Plus the community and network of people who work with clients at the end of life are invaluable."

    Jill McClennen

  • “I discovered Jill Schock, Death Doula LA, as I had just transitioned out of the corporate world and it immediately sparked a desire in me to work with the dying. Learning first hand from a professional who has been in this field for almost two decades is invaluable. And through Jill's rich network, I have met so many different sorts of deathcare professionals which only broadens my knowledge and keeps me connected to the various facets of this field. Even though I completed my mentorship in 2020, I continue to receive support from Jill and her network.”

    Natalie Noel, Heavenly Mist Death Doula