“What does it mean to hold space for someone else? It means that we are willing to walk alongside another person in whatever journey they’re on without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact their outcome.”
— Heather Plett
About Me
I have lived in Pasadena for most of my life, with a few detours. I have had the pleasure of raising three young adult children and stay involved in my community.
For more than a decade I have been trying to figure out how to help people face end of life more beautifully, wanting to focus on both the person nearing end of life and their trusted inner circle.
When my younger brother Burley died from cancer in 2009, my mother and I had been at his side during hospice, but we did not have a clue about what to do, what to say. We did not know to actually say goodbye each night. I was truly paralized with uncertainty until my brother’s birth mom Pam came to visit. Pam’s impact on me was profound to say the least, and I knew then that I wanted to help families experience death in a more beautiful way.
I emailed Pam soon after Burley’s death “You were like an angel at his bead side. You taught me so very much about how to treat people in need. I will never ever forget how you loved, caressed, and talked to so lovingly to Burley in his last days. I will remember you and try to be like you towards others for the rest of my life.”
My path meandered until it lead me to the community of death/end of life doulas, and my lifework became clear. I would be honored to help you make meaningful decisions during this transitional time from life to death. It can be powerful, beautiful and must be lived on your own terms.
To be true to my quest, I obtained my Masters in Social Work from USC in 2014. I next studied under the mentorship of Jill Schock of Death Doula LA. As a full-time death doula and advocate, her guidance and expertise helped foster a growing skill set so that I may serve the dying efficiently, and curate the necessary resources to deliver ultimate care.
I have also studied under the School of American Thanatology, taught and founded by the innovative Cole Imperi. I obtained an End-Of-Life Doula Professional Certification Course through the University of Vermont. Currently I am also obtaining a Certificate in the Art of Dying through The Open Center in NYC. It is my ongoing goal to understand end of life issues from as many different experiences as possible.
The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is out attention. A loving silence often has far more power to heal than most well-intentioned words.
― Rachel Naomi Remen
Education & Experience
Volunteer Work and Continuing Education
The American School of Thanatology
2020 Certificate in Art of Dying: Integrative Thanatology
2021 Introduction to Thanabotony Course
The University of Vermont Continuing Education
2021 Death Companioning Course and Certificate
2021 End of Life Doula Certification
The Open Center Center, NY
Spring 2022 Enrollment Certificate in the Art of Dying: Integrative Thanatology
Death Doula Los Angeles Mentorship
2019/2020 Jill Shock intensive one-on-one mentoring program, resource facilitating, and ongoing weekly discussion groups with other Doulas. Death over Drafts peer groups.
Huntington Hospital Pasadena
2018/2019 Patient Services Volunteer.
Season’s Hospice Volunteer, Pasadena CA.
2014 Patient visits and interdisciplinary team meetings for patient review.
Cancer Support Community Pasadena,
Board Member 2015-2018
Current Member of the CSC Guild Member
University of Colorado
Bachelors in Psychology - May 1988
University of Southern California 2014
Masters in Social Work
Concentration in “Adult Mental Health and Wellness,” and “Military Social Work”
CITY OF HOPE NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, Duarte, CA
Social Work Intern 2013/2014
600 Supervised Hours
Supported hematology cancer patients hospitalized for bone marrow transplants
Engaged with patients and families as they faced their “new reality” of an illness
Various interdisciplinary team experiences, including the Palliative Care Team
Comprehensive patient assessments, and biopsyhosocial intake evaluations
Discharge planning detail work
Sought out stipends for cancer patients, and other community resources
Utilized evidence based interventions to facilitate patient coping
CITY OF SOUTH PASADENA SENIOR CENTER
Social Work Intern 2012/2013
(400 Supervised Hours)
Facilitated group and individual therapy programs, incorporated client goal setting
Information and referral; including triage for client housing, insurance; legal and physical and mental health needs
Created and facilitated Depression and also Holiday Blues workshops
Documented and preformed intermittent psychosocial assessments for clients
Community outreach and resource gathering
Utilized Adult Protective Services, Ombudsman, Medicare, Medical, SSI & SSD
THE CAPITAL GROUP
Capital Guardian Trust Company
A.V.P. Client Relations and Marketing
(1991-1996)
Worked with Corporate, Endowment, and Foundation Pension clients across the Southeast and California.
Brought in new large pension fund clients and maintained long-term client relationships
COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL
(1989 –1990)
Regional Training Program; Sales Associate in the Commercial Office Building Specialty. Downtown Los Angeles, CA.
(California Real Estate License 1989 – 1993)