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Compassionate Presence End of Life Guidance

We all need guidance and support through life's big moments and arguably, death is the biggest moment of all. As an End of Life Guide, I provide comfort and support, helping navigate the dying process as a grounded presence. I also support friends, family, and community by providing an understanding of what's happening along the way, giving them the confidence to be fully present and supportive.

Why is hiring an End of Life Guide one of the best ways you can support yourself and/or your loved one?

Generally, humans aren’t versed in how to navigate the end of life. How could we be? As a culture, we generally keep death pretty far out of our consciousness. So when death comes, through no fault of our own, we aren’t prepared. It’s a very confusing and uncertain time. Add high levels of fear and emotion to that uncertainty, and truly, it’s an almost impossible scenario to navigate on one’s own. As an End of Life Guide, I can help provide information, clarity, and counsel about everything that’s happening, thereby lessening the uncertainty and helping to reduce fear for all involved.

This is not a new role, although it may seem new right now. Throughout time, Doulas have assisted in all our various life transitions from birth to death and everything in between. Different than say, the wonderful support of Hospice, EOL Guides provide non-medical support. Being supported through death is your birthright.

More specifically, I can help by

Simply being present for whatever is needed or arises. This is called space holding. And while this may sound like “doing nothing”, it’s actually one of the most valuable supports I can provide. Holding space for you, as the dying person, and/or your loved ones. It’s often comforting and helpful to have an objective third party - someone separate from your close inner circle - present to simply be.
Offering you an opportunity to and the mechanisms for exploring the meaning of your life and your impact on others
Assisting with the ideation and creation of a leave-behind gift commonly called a Legacy Project
Helping prepare for the last days by creating a plan for how your space looks and feels; the music or sounds; readings and rituals, and much more. There’s a comfort and a confidence in knowing your space will be exactly as you prefer.
Being your advocate when you are unable to advocate for yourself, helping ensure that things progress as desired and your needs and desires are met.
Facilitating post-death ceremony or honoring rituals
Coordinating post-death care
Providing grief support post-death

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About Me

Compassionate Presence is Kristen Elliott

I am a trained end-of-life guide, providing sacred space holding and support for the dying. I am an educated and intuitive presence through all aspects of the end-of-life process. I am passionate about bringing ritual and ceremony back to the death care process and helping ease fear through education, communication, and presence. Whether assisting with Legacy projects, helping design and carry out wishes for the last days or post-death or simply space holding, I am humbled and honored to be on this journey with you.

I am trained through the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) and A Sacred Passing. I regularly attend workshops and take courses to deepen my knowledge.

In addition to my personal practice, I am part of the Stone Circles Collective in Seattle, WA. The Stone Circles Collective believes in the authenticity of each person’s unique experience and the power of final transitions. I am also a Navigator with Near - staynear.co - personalized one-on-one end-of-life navigation.

GET TO KNOW KRISTEN

What lead me down this path?

In my mid-thirties, and in a very short timeframe, I was a sacred witness to the death of both of my step-parents. One death was unexpected, sudden, and traumatic on many levels. The other was expected, happened over time and no less traumatic.

In both cases, I remember thinking, there must be a better way to die.

To me, a better way means less fear, more understanding of the body’s process as it dies, more peace, more acknowledgment of and conversation about death itself and thus, more chance to say the things that want to be said, have control over those last days and how they’re experienced, more reverence and ceremony and more presence with the body post-death.

I’m here as your guide, to help you have the death you want to have, every step of the way.