Session 355: The Work of Death Doulas

Therapy for Black Girls

It is guaranteed that everyone on this Earth will eventually die, and yet, the process is made difficult with considerations such as appointing an authorized representative, leaving dependents behind, and other bureaucratic formalities that can be outright cruel to deal with when you’re already experiencing grief. Stepping in to help with these considerations are death doulas, who work to make this monumental transition as smooth as possible for both the dying and their families.

To talk with us today about what it means to be a death doula, this week we're joined by death doula and newly-published author of the memoir ‘Briefly Perfect Human,’ Alua Arthur. Alua is the founder of Going with Grace, a death doula training and end-of-life planning organization that exists to support people as they answer the question, “What must I do to be at peace with myself so that I may live presently and die gracefully?” During our conversation we discussed the training and certifications required to become a death doula, how death doulas assist both the dying and their families in making end-of-life decisions, and how dying means becoming comfortable with the idea of leaning on our community for support.

About the Podcast

The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.

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