Sunset over the ocean with the sun partially hidden behind clouds, reflecting off the water, with a sandy beach and trees to the left.

Beginning at the Threshold:

Death Doula Foundations

A woman sitting on her knees on a stone surface framed by stone walls, overlooking a coastal cemetery with a view of the ocean and a clear blue sky.

Join Erin Merelli for a transformative online virtual weekend that delves into the profound journey of end-of-life care. This intermediate-level training is crafted for those ready to expand their understanding and practice as death doulas, blending philosophy, practical skills, and personal reflection.

Sailing ship on calm ocean at sunset with colorful sky and clouds.

A single weekend. A lifetime opened

Threshold is where we begin when we feel the quiet tug toward this work. When we aren’t quite ready for the long descent of Deathschool Evolved, but we know we must take a step.

Boats anchored near the shoreline at sunset with a partly cloudy sky and calm water.

This is the virtual weekend version of Erin’s beloved in-person workshop, It’’s a soul-deep, skill-building afternoon for those ready to explore the path of death doulaship more meaningfully. You’ll need some curiosity and courage to enter, but you don’t need credentials, only the willingness to ask: Is this path for me?

Beach scene at sunset with the sun near the horizon, calm ocean water, and palm tree leaves partially obscuring the view.

It’s not an 8-week course.
It’s one weekend.
A small investment that may change your life.

Recorded Workshop | $300 | Coming in April

Join The Waitlist

Enter your name and email, and you’ll be notified as soon as class dates are released. . We don’t spam, just occasional, thoughtful offerings from me to you.

What You'll Learn

  • Philosophy & Phases of Doulaship

    Explore the core principles of end-of-life care.

    Understand the three phases: Preparedness & Legacy, The 11th Hour, and Crafting Funerals.

    Learn to support families and communities with compassion and clarity.

  • Eco-Conscious Deathcare

    Navigate modern funeral practices and green alternatives.

    Understand the environmental impact of conventional methods.

    Discover sustainable options like water cremation and natural organic reduction.

  • Grief as Praise

    Honor grief as a sacred expression of love.

    Study cultural and ancestral grief practices.

    Explore tools for processing unspoken grief and intergenerational trauma.

  • Ceremony & Crafting Meaningful Rituals

    Learn the functions and history of funeral services.

    Receive templates to craft personalized ceremonies.

    Practice creating rituals that provide space for grief and healing.

  • Case Studies & Real-Life Applications

    Analyze real-world scenarios to deepen understanding.

    Design personalized care plans and ceremonies.

    Engage in collaborative breakout sessions to refine skills.

  • Business of Doulaship

    Explore strategies to build a sustainable practice.

    Learn to work effectively with funeral homes and families.

    Develop contracts, set rates, and connect with your community.

Lesson 1: Philosophy & Phases of Doulaship

Discover the heart of end-of-life care

  • the role of a doula in honoring the wishes of the dying.

  • The three phases of doulaship: Preparedness + Legacy, The 11th Hour, and Crafting Funerals.

  • how to work efficiently and compassionately with the family/community of the dying person, including how to educate them on what is coming ahead

  • legacy by preserving stories and create rituals that support the dying and the grieving. 

  • practices like shrouding and  home funerals.

Lesson 2: Disposition Options & Environmentalism in Deathcare

Make meaningful, eco-conscious choices for after death

  • Navigate the modern funeral industry and conventional burial options.

  • the science behind green practices like water cremation and natural organic reduction.

  • the environmental impact of conventional methods and the regenerative, alchemical impact of returning our bodies to the Earth.

Lesson 3: Grief as Praise

Honor the grieving process as a sacred expression of love

  • Research cultural and ancestral grief practices.

    • grief as a powerful, communal act of healing.

  • tools for processing unspoken grief and intergenerational trauma.

Lesson 4: Ceremony & Crafting Meaningful Rituals

Master the art of creating heartfelt ceremonies

  • the essential functions and history of funeral services. 

  • a template to support you in writing your own services. 

  • practice crafting meaningful ceremonies that give grief a place to live.

Lesson 5: Case Studies & Real-Life Applications

Deepen your understanding with real-world examples

  • impactful stories of doulas in action.

  • designing personalized care and ceremonies.

  • in collaborative breakout groups to refine your skills.

Lesson 6: Business of Doulaship

Build a sustainable practice

  • entrepreneurial strategies for end-of-life care.

  • to work effectively with funeral homes and families.

  • contracts, set rates, and connect with your community.

✔️

  • Why This Course?

    This intimate, hands-on training equips you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to provide compassionate, informed support during life’s most profound transition. By learning together in person, we foster a deeply nourishing environment where meaningful connections naturally form. Participants often share common threads. An interest in this sacred work, depth of character, and personal experiences with loss. Creating a uniquely supportive and compatible community.

    Whether you’re seeking to bring these skills into your personal life and community or stepping into the role of a professional death doula, this course offers best practices, profound insights, and the encouragement of an inspiring group of like-minded individuals.

Join The Waitlist

Enter your name and email, and you’ll be notified as soon as class dates are released. . We don’t spam, just occasional, thoughtful offerings from me to you.

In one weekend, we’ll explore the art and practice of home funerals, deepen our knowledge of green burial, learn foundational body care techniques, and dive into the soulwork of ceremony and community grief. Together, we’ll craft funeral rituals that are rich with meaning and shaped by love, while gaining practical tools you can bring into real-life conversations and care with families.


Come ask the question. Come cross the threshold.