Deathwalker: an Apprenticeship in Death Midwifery
I believe that death midwifery is an ancient and sacred tradition honored through lineage. My goal, as a death midwife, is to teach my craft to those called to learn it in individualized mentorship. The foundation of our work together will be transparency, integrity and connection. Through these values, we will pass my lineage of death midwifery into your hands to serve your community.
The Goals of the Deathwalker Apprenticeship:
For each student to feel prepared to walk alongside death, in their own life, families and greater communities,
To build an honest and supportive community of deathwalkers that educate, advocate and companion our communities through end of life landscapes,
To provide a foundation for a private-practice death doula craft,
To join the growing numbers of deathworkers proficient in the standards of modern deathcare according to the National End of Life Doula Alliance,
To deepen our understanding of the complexities of how death and grief impact our communities,
For each of us to develop self-care practices and professional boundaries to maintain integrity that allows us to sustainably offer this craft to our communities.
Specifications of the Deathwalker Apprenticeship:
There are a number of excellent courses available where you can download videos and learn in a large group. If that is the standard death doula training course, then this is intended to be its antithesis.
We will meet, virtually or in-person in Middle Tn, in one-on-one 90-minute sessions to unfold each of eleven topics. These topics will be paired with hand selected readings from experienced practitioners (excerpts from ~12 books), listening exercises (podcast, song, interview, etc.) and videos (YouTube, TedTalk, documentary, etc.). Each unit will contain exercises to help you integrate this knowledge into practice and be paired with Case Studies as appropriate.
As you move through the self-paced course, you will record your own notes into a Death Midwifery Handbook and send me an email with your summary of the unit. We will also chat via phone or Zoom once per unit to address any questions/needs/concerns as they arise. My goal is to build a relationship with you that supports you as you do this work and I want to be available as you need it.
Upon completion of the 11 units, you will be fully prepared to successfully complete the NEDA proficiency exam, will have a basic private practice business plan developed and be ready to offer your unique gift to your community. Most importantly, you will have begun an incredible journey into your own relationship with death and grief that will continue to unfold as you bring this self-knowledge to serve your loved ones and community. I will continue to be available to you as you begin your work for mentorship sessions on an as needed basis.
Pre-requisites to Apprentice with Jade
For those who wish to work with Jade in-person, you MUST be an active volunteer with our local non-profit hospice. This ensures that any person Jade introduces you to will be protected by the hospice volunteer requirements (TB testing, background check, at least 2 references) and have completed at least your basic hospice volunteer training. This also gives us opportunities to work side-by-side as volunteers, even if Jade does not currently have a death midwifery client who is open to an attendance by an apprentice.
Additionally, every person considering the apprenticeship should have first completed the Death Doula 101 webinar. This gives you a taste of Jade’s teaching and speaking style to see if it would be a good fit for you. This also introduces you to some background information on death midwifery and recommends other training programs for your consideration.
Investment
This course offers 11 units of individual instruction with compiled materials, excerpts to complement each unit and suggested audio and video recordings. Additionally, case studies and hands-on opportunities to work alongside Jade will be available as often as possible. Each unit will also include a video or phone call to support your understanding of the material. For this offering, each session is $300, with additional sessions available for $150 to discuss further or provide supplemental information (home funeral guidance, grief support, etc.). The total investment for the 11-topics of the Deathwalker Apprenticeship is $3300.
This course is completely self-paced and you can pay as you go. If you stop training at a particular topic, Jade trusts that you are where you need to be. There is no deposit or commitment required up front, though successful completion of the entire 11 units is required for a certificate and to promise passage of the NEDA Proficiency Exam.
There is discounted pricing available to those who will be serving marginalized populations upon completion of their work. If this is you, please reach out.
The 11 Topics of the Deathwalker Apprenticeship:
Why are you called to be a deathwalker?
What are you already carrying for death?
What gifts do you offer to death?
How do deathwalkers prepare for death?
How do the body and soul journey toward death?
When is death traumatic?
What value does the deathwalker add at the deathbed?
How do deathwalkers fit into the hospice care system?
How do deathwalkers honor the body after death?
Why is grief tending so necessary for deathwalkers?
Where is death calling you next?
