Ask a Death Doula

By Suzanne B. O’Brien RNEducation

Ask a Death Doula episodes

May 31, 2023 The Marriage of Death and Spirituality
Date: 6/1/23
The Marriage of Death and Spirituality

When I was just starting my career as a hospice nurse…

the things I witnessed…

the things I learned…

the things dying people shared with me… changed my LIFE!

At the end of life, as someone's physical body is diminishing, their spiritual body is growing and there is one point in the journey that they get all this spiritual wisdom.

This is what they say:

Trust that all the experiences in your life have been lessons to bring you closer to a higher state of being.

I can honestly say that the most painful experiences I have been through turned out to be my greatest teachers.

While working at the bedside, I discovered that this was the perspective shared by many of my dying patients. They were able to reflect on their own experiences from a different point of view to locate the good in them - uncovering the hidden meaning within them and finding the path towards soul growth.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Topic #1 The way that the spiritual body of energy grows as people get close to the time of death. This is where people get their "spiritual wisdom" or "spiritual eyes".

Topic #2 How looking at life with a different lens of perspective- you can see the lessons and gifts revealed in ALL circumstances.

Topic #3 How we can live in a higher vibrational frequency now by using "The R.A.I. Technique".

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

41 min
May 24, 2023 How to Care for Dying Veterans
How to Care for Dying Veterans

Veterans experience extraordinary emotional and mental challenges as they near the end of life due to the experiences and trauma they endured serving their country,” O’Brien explained. “Recognizing their specific needs and providing them with proven techniques to help them on their life journey is a tremendous gift we are delighted to share with military families.

642,000 Veterans die each year in the US

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Topic #1 Why we need specific end of life care for veterans

Topic #2 How the complex trauma that veterans experience prevents them from having a positive end of life.

Topic #3 How the new studies of psychedelic therapies may help veterans at the end of life and life

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula Training Veterans Edition Click here

Free Family Caregiver Resource Center Click here

In Their Honor Click Here

Learn More: Doulagivers Institute Click here

Please make sure to share this podcast with at least three of your friends! This is how we change the end of life- together.

xo Suzanne
20 min
May 03, 2023 How The Death Positive Movement is Giving us Life
Date: 5/3/23

How The Death Positive Movement is Giving us Life

Death is having a rebirth!

People today are going back to their roots with the re-adoption of home wakes and funerals. Centuries ago, this was the common way to handle death. People would die at home and remain there for the viewing and the ceremony to honor their life. In fact, the “living room” was given its name because that’s where those who were still alive congregated before they went into the parlor to pay their respects to the deceased person.

We just forgot- death is not a medical experience- it's a human one.

80%-90% of a positive end of life experience depends on two things:

1) Knowing the truth about end of life.
2) Planning ahead!!!

I learned that no matter who you are and where you live in the world, death is our common unifier in our humanity- and we can change the world with presence, compassion and education.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Topic #1 What is the Death Positive Movement

Topic #2 How by doing these 2 things makes a better end of life experience by 80%-90%.

Topic #3 Why Death is actually our greatest teacher about life.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

End of Life Level 1 Training for Family Caregivers Click here

Death Cafe Death Cafe

Free Family Caregiver Resource Center Click here

Learn More: Doulagivers Institute Click here

Please make sure to share this podcast with at least three of your friends! This is how we change the end of life- together.

xo Suzanne
32 min
April 17, 2023 Zimbabwe: The start of the Death Doula Movement
Date: 4/18/23

Zimbabwe: The start of the Death Doula Movement

I have been a hospice nurse since 2008, but it was on a volunteer trip to Zimbabwe, Africa, that I was taught the true power of our presence as the best medicine there is.

I was reminded that death is not a medical experience- it's a human one.

And I was taught the effectiveness of having someone present and "holding the space" for someone who is dying- and for their loved ones- like a birthing doula.

I learned that no matter who you are and where you live in the world, death is our common unifier in our humanity- and we can change the world with presence, compassion and education.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Topic #1 How a Volunteer Trip to Zimbabwe, Sparked a Global Death Doula Movement

Topic #2 The Great Teachings From Those at Island Hospice

Topic #3 How We are a Global Community

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

End of Life "World Training Day" for Family Caregivers Click here

Island Hospice Zimbabwe Click Here

Free Family Caregiver Resource Center Click here

Learn More: Doulagivers InstituteClick here

Please make sure to share this podcast with at least three of your friends! This is how we change the end of life- together.

xo Suzanne
39 min
April 11, 2023 Caregiver Syndrome and How to Avoid it
Date: 4/13/23

Caregiver Syndrome and How to Avoid It

Brief summary of episode: Family caregivers are often faced with a unique set of challenges as they juggle the demands of work, family and caregiving. From managing complex medical tasks to navigating legal and financial issues, it can be difficult for caregivers to find balance in their lives while providing the best possible care for their loved ones. At the end of life, it is common for a family member (usually an adult daughter) to be suddenly thrown into a position where they are fully responsible for the care of their dying loved one. Although hospice services help tremendously with structuring a care plan and receiving the necessary equipment and medications to provide this care, the family is still responsible for the majority of hands-on care. Because the current system leaves most of the work to unpaid family members, it takes a toll on already stressed and grieving individuals and leads to Caregiver Syndrome - a silent epidemic that is taking place in our country and around the world as a direct result of an inadequate elder and end-of-life care system. We can, and we must do better.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Topic #1 What is Caregiver Syndrome.

Topic #2 Why it's Important to understand.

Topic #3 How you can Avoid it.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Caregiver Self Care Checklist Click here
End of Life "World Training Day" For Family Caregivers Click Here
Free Family Caregiver Resource Center Click here
Learn More: Doulagivers InstituteClick here

Please make sure to share this podcast with at least three of your friends! This is how we change the end of life- together.

xo Suzanne
29 min
February 01, 2023 Sound Healing for Health
SomaEnergetics is a series of Sound Therapy Techniques developed by David Hulse at the turn of the century using the power of the ancient frequencies of the solfeggio. We use the highest quality Solfeggio Tuning forks, which are custom-made for SomaEnergetics by a manufacturer who has over 4 decades of experience developing quality, custom tuning forks. We offer training in live workshops and via Self-Study Online Courses. Our Color Solfeggio Energy Tuners and Body Tuners are available exclusively from SomaEnergetics.
This wonderful quote from Dr. Horowitz and Dr. Puleo’s, book – Healing Codes for the Biological Apocalypse sums up the importance of this work: "Nature and Grace"—the physical and the spiritual—reflect each other and reveal "the great fact" that there is a secret tone scale—or set of sounds—that vibrates at the exact frequencies required to transform spirit to matter, or matter to spirit"
FREE UNIVERSAL LIFE MASTERY MASTERCLASS- Three Steps to Conscious Awakening
Register Here: https://my.demio.com/ref/HIjLO8sw1heZ...
We are on the brink of a personal and collective shift. The world is full of chaos, and we are untethered to our spiritual being part of who we are and why we are here.
In this free webinar, you will learn:
1) How this is the time in our humanity for the big shift to take place. We are being called to go from a world running on fear, power, and wealth to one of love and compassion.
2) How when we raise our individual consciousness, we raise the collective consciousness.
3) How new research in both Neuroscience and Quantum Physics is validating that we can take control of our mind, body, and life to awaken to our highest consciousness.
SAVE YOUR SPOT Here: https://my.demio.com/ref/HIjLO8sw1heZ...
To Learn More About SomaEnergetics CLICK HERE: https://somaenergetics.com/collection...
30 min
January 05, 2023 The VSED Journey- Can it bring people deep, deep peace
39 min
November 30, 2022 Can I Introduce you to Death Doula Network of BC?
I’m thrilled to introduce you to these two heart centered dynamic women.
Karen Hendrickson and Jo-Anne Haun are the founders of Death Doula Network of BC.
They are passionate about making and creating connections throughout the Death industry, communities, and the world.
I LOVE to support people who are doing amazing work and making the world a better place. Here are two of these women.

In this episode of Ask a Death Doula, You will hear:
-How Death Doula Network of BC was born
-The Blessings of COVID bringing global awareness to end of life
-How Doulas are an asset to patients, families and the medical team

We are a global family and Doulas are being used all over the world now to help provide the much needed end of life support to help create a positive end of life.
“With the right education, kindness and support, end of life can be the natural and sacred experience it was meant to be”~ Suzanne

Learn More about Death Doula Network of BC Here: https://ddnbc.com

Take the next FREE Level 1 End of Life Doula Training Here: https://www.doulagivers.com
44 min
November 02, 2022 Forgiveness at the End of Life and Why You Should Not Wait
FORGIVENESS IS THE SECRET KEY TO UNLOCKING AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE!
Join the Free Forgiveness Workshop Here: https://my.demio.com/ref/SF9qKjumP2eHsSx0

Forgiveness is a continued, deliberate decision to release feelings of
resentment, anger, or shame toward a person, group - or even yourself.

Whether it’s a simple spat with your spouse or long-held resentment toward a family
member or friend, unresolved conflict can go deeper than you may realize—it may be affecting your physical health and holding you back from the life you truly want.

Forgiveness will set you free and allow you to create the future exactly the way you want it to be.

In this webinar, you will learn:

1. What forgiveness is & why we must learn to forgive.
2. The two main types of forgiveness.

3. What end of life patients say about forgiveness and its transformative power.

Working with those at the end of life has taught me EVERYTHING about life and about how to live fully. Sharing this information with you is my life’s purpose, and the greatest lesson that I could ever share with you is the transformative power of forgiveness.

If you register for this webinar, it means that you are at a place in your life where you are ready for change. It means you are ready to release things that have held you stuck in an emotional prison and that you are ready to reclaim the pure loving energy that you are so that you can find your purpose and live the extraordinary life you deserve!

Forgiveness is so important because we only get one chance to live this life and avoid the pain of regret.

If you want to go further and learn how you can utilize forgiveness in your life, Join me for my Free Forgiveness Workshop on November 10th at 7pm ET!!

RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE:https://my.demio.com/ref/SF9qKjumP2eHsSx0

Xoxoxo,
Suzanne B. O'Brien RN
46 min
October 17, 2022 Building a Bridge Between Families and Hospice Care
Join the FREE Hospice of Green Country event with Suzanne B. O'Brien RN on October 26th at 6pm EST Below!

Register Here: https://forms.hospiceofgreencountry.org/october-26th-suzanne-obrien-rn/

If your loved one got a terminal diagnosis today, would you know how to care for them?

Unfortunately most people would answer no.

Most end of life experiences are NOT going well today, and it is the lack of understanding about the natural process of end of life and the lack of skills on how to care for someone who is dying that is the main missing piece.

Doulagivers International has created a global platform to change that and it is offered for FREE!!!!

We have been dying for thousands of years, it is only in the last 100 that we have become so far removed from the awareness of death being a natural, sacred part of life's journey.
In this episode, you’ll hear about how Doulagivers is “filling the gap” between families and hospice care to provide the answer to a fragmented medical system and allow patients and families the best opportunity to have a positive passing. And for those of you who are caught in the same place and don’t know the skills on how to care for someone at the end of life — don’t fret, because we have a free live online training for you right around the corner! (Take the End of Life Doula Training)

About Suzanne B. O’Brien RN
Suzanne B. O’Brien RN is an award winning hospice and oncology nurse and proud founding member of NHPCO’s ( National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization) End of Life Doula Council. A Council advancing Doulagivers/Death Doulas and Hospice Care to provide the best possible support to both patients and families.
The Perfect Storm:
9 out of 10 people want to be cared for at home when terminally ill.
Death is the number 1 fear in the world.
People come on hospice services very late in their process.
It is a culmination of these factors that are heavily contributing to end of life not going well for most. It is time to change that.
As a former hospice and oncology nurse, who has had the honor and privilege to have worked with over 1,000 people at the end of life, I can tell you that the answer to end of life not going well is to bring back the truth about death (how it is a natural and sacred experience) and to teach family caregivers the skill of how to care for someone who is dying BEFORE they ever need it.
80%-90% of a positive end of life is planning ahead:
Learning the skills on how to care for someone who is dying changes everything.
If you answered “I don't know how,” then read on - because I’m here to share with you the inspiring story of how Doulagivers is working with hospices to “Fill the Gap” in mainstream medical care so that every person has an opportunity to have a “Good Death.”

I know what it’s like to feel scared and unprepared to care for your loved one at the end of life. I work with families on this everyday. It does not need to be this way. There is free training and support that is available to you right now. Do not wait until it is too late.
30 min

About Ask a Death Doula

From the publisher's feed

Ask a Death Doula Podcast is a weekly show hosted by Hospice and Oncology nurse Suzanne B. O’Brien. Suzanne is the CEO and founder of International Doulagivers Institute. This is a vital platform for discussions and interviews that will bring back death into the natural fold of life. Ask a Death Doula will share vital education on how to care for those who are dying as well as sharing inspiring stories from working at the bedside with over 1000 dying people from all around the world. Please visit www.doulagivers.com to access our free education and resource center.