Preparing to let go is a delicate, complicated process that anyone would struggle with alone. The end of a person's life is regarded in many different ways by different cultures across the world and varies from person to person. Many ancient cultures had a version of what we now call end of life companions, death doulas or soul midwives and those practising the craft today are reviving an invaluable tradition. 

An end of life companion can allow you to better prepare for death, and make sure you do not have to go through any stage of the process alone. They have a unique understanding of the whirlwind of emotions that a person experiences when faced with death. End of life companions offer a range of services and resources and are guided by the needs and preferences of the person using the service. An example of these could be blessings, ceremonies and rituals, counselling, help with planning and even grief support for families after the person has died.

Compassionate Accompaniment offers end of life support and grief support so that every person involved can receive the help they need. As your grief companion Misty recognises that grief has many different faces whether it be reaching the end of your own life, the loss of a loved one or pet, the breakdown of a marriage, even losing a house. She is dedicated to taking the time to create personalised rituals and practices to ensure the process is tailored to meet your needs. Misty can also work with you on the physical manifestations of grief, including learning to understand our bodies by listening and tracking sensations, and learning where it is that we store stress in our body and how to relieve it. 

The difference between what the medical world would call an end of life practitioner and an end of life companion lies in the type of support provided. An end of life practitioner is there to make sure you are comfortable and take care of your medical needs whereas an end of life companion would assist you in a more emotional and spiritual way. The two often work together in forming the easiest path possible for the patient in question. 

Compassionate Accompaniment offers a free 30 minute consultation for you to ask questions about end of life accompaniment or grief support. This gives you an opportunity to chat with us about the kind of support that would be most beneficial to you. To arrange your consultation please use our connect form.

Photo by: Todd Kent