How will this training help me become a bereavement doula ?
Develop trauma-informed care skills – Training teaches you how to recognize trauma responses, hold space safely, and avoid causing further emotional harm.
Learn effective emotional support techniques – Training equips you with practical tools for active listening, validating emotions, and creating a calming presence during times of intense grief.
Navigate hospital policies and medical procedures – Training helps you understand common medical interventions, terminology, and institutional processes that families may encounter.
Connect families with resources – Training prepares you to share information about support groups, mental health professionals, and community resources for continued healing.
Understand grief theory and cultural variations – You’ll learn about different grieving styles, cultural and spiritual practices, and how to honor each family’s unique experience.
Build confidence in difficult conversations – You’ll learn sensitive communication skills for interacting with bereaved families, healthcare providers, and loved ones.
Provide guidance for siblings and family members – You’ll learn strategies to support parents in talking with children and extended family about loss.
Enhance your professional credibility – Completing bereavement doula training demonstrates a higher level of expertise and compassion, making you a trusted resource for families and healthcare providers.
Ready to join us?
What is needed for this training:
This course is considered an advanced course so basic knowledge of physiological and emotional aspects of birth and postpartum are needed. It is suggested to have a labor doula or postpartum doula training before taking this course, but it is not required.
You just need to have a passion for birth and want to help families through this crucial time in their life. There are no prerequisites and no requirements of college or background in birth.
Where and how long is this training:
Depending on which training you sign up for this training can be in person, or live via zoom. We are based out of Florida however, we travel and train in person all over the country! From Alaska, to Hawaii, Florida , California and the northeast! If you don’t see a location close to you or that you want to travel to, message us to find out how we can come to you.
The In person training is 6-8 hours, the virtual ones vary depending on class size and if you are doing it at your own pace!
What is included in this training:
This training will include handouts, pamphlets, and resource guides in addition to the training content.
What does this class cover?
Module One
Role of a Bereavement Support & Ethical Considerations
This module explores the vital role of a bereavement doula in supporting families through loss with compassion and professionalism. You’ll learn how to hold space, provide emotional and practical support, and navigate sensitive situations with cultural and spiritual awareness. We also cover essential ethical considerations—maintaining clear boundaries, respecting confidentiality, and ensuring trauma-informed, nonjudgmental care for every family you serve.
Module Two
Understanding Grief & Loss
In this module, you’ll learn to recognize the many signs of grief—emotional, physical, and behavioral—and gain insight into the different types of grief. We’ll also explore the various types of loss families may experience, from miscarriage and stillbirth to neonatal and infant death. This knowledge will help you better understand each family’s unique journey and respond with empathy and informed support.
Module Three
Cultural, Spiritual, & Individual Grieving
This module dives into the many ways grief can be expressed, shaped by cultural, spiritual, and individual beliefs and practices. You’ll discover how grieving can look different for each person and family, from silent reflection to outward rituals of remembrance. We’ll also share a range of resources and community support to help families navigate their healing journey in ways that honor their values and traditions.
Module Four
Practical Guidance for Bereavement Support
This module offers clear, compassionate strategies for supporting grieving families in real-life situations. You’ll learn how to hold space, offer comforting words, provide practical assistance, and gently guide families through immediate decisions after loss. We’ll also cover ways to support siblings and extended family members, collaborate with healthcare providers, and create meaningful keepsakes or rituals. These hands-on tools will help you feel confident and prepared to offer truly healing support.
Module Five
Timing of Loss & Medical Aspects
In this module, we explore how the trimester and timing of a loss impact both the physical and emotional experience for families. You’ll gain insight into the medical and physiological aspects of loss, including procedures, postpartum recovery, and how lactation and breastfeeding can be affected after loss. Understanding these details will help you provide compassionate, informed support and guide families through the unique challenges they may face during each stage.
Module Six
Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
This module focuses on the foundations of trauma-informed care, ensuring you can support grieving families with sensitivity and awareness. You’ll learn how trauma affects the body and mind, how to recognize triggers, and ways to create a safe, compassionate environment for healing. By understanding these core principles, you’ll be better equipped to provide support that honors each family’s emotional needs without causing further harm.
Module Seven
Supporting Partners, Extended Family & Moving Forward
This module teaches you how to extend compassionate care beyond the parents, offering meaningful support to partners, siblings, and extended family members who are also grieving. You’ll learn strategies to help families honor their loss while gently guiding them toward healing and moving forward at their own pace. We’ll explore ways to foster connection, provide resources for ongoing support, and help families find hope after heartbreak.
Module Eight
Self-Care & Boundaries for the Bereavement Doula
This module emphasizes the importance of protecting your own well-being while supporting grieving families. You’ll learn how to recognize signs of compassion fatigue, set healthy emotional and professional boundaries, and create self-care practices that sustain you in this deeply meaningful work. By caring for yourself, you’ll be better equipped to provide steady, compassionate support to the families who need you most.
Frequently Asked Questions
about bereavement doula training, birthwork, & more
Questions about the bereavement training:
The bereavement doula training is 6-8 hours depending on class size.
You’ll be able to support families through miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss with compassion and confidence. This training prepares you to offer bereavement doula services, work alongside hospitals or community programs, and guide families with resources and healing practices.
Grief is unique for everyone – No two families grieve the same way; your role is to hold space without judgment or expectation.
Silence and presence matter – Often, the most powerful support is simply being there, listening, and honoring the family’s experience.
Boundaries are essential – Protecting your emotional well-being helps you remain a steady and compassionate presence.
Cultural and spiritual sensitivity is vital – Families may have different beliefs, rituals, and traditions around loss that must be respected.
You are a guide, not a fixer – Your role is to support and empower families, not to take away their pain or make decisions for them.
We offer both Private mentoring and online virtual mentoring. Virtual mentoring is a go at your own pace set of modules that are added to every year. Private mentoring can be purchased in packages and are based on the time that Ruth has available. Enquire directly with us to find out costs and availability.
Absolutely. I often have people who aren’t sure if they will even be able to do this work and if it is a good time for them. You can reach out and let us know your concerns and we will help brainstorm with you and make sure you understand everything. It is important you feel safe and understood when signing up for such an important workshop.
General questions about trainings:
Once your registration is complete, if you haven’t paid online you will be contacted to pay how it works for you. Once paid, you will get a welcome letter with details about the course within a week as well as what you need to know before the course.
We travel and train all over the country. We have gone to Alaska, California, Hawaii, Montana, Georgia, Illinois, Arizona, Florida, Virginia, Connecticut and New York! We are always looking to expand!
You can check the schedule if there is something close to you, if there isn’t and you want to bring a training to your area, reach out to the office and let them know what training you are looking at, your location and if you have an idea when you would like the training to come to you.
Yes. Currently, we offer four different options to take the training.
1) In person at different locations around the country
2) Virtual training done via Zoom
3) Prerecorded trainings where you watch videos at your own pace
4) Private training where you schedule with the trainer virtually or in person when it works for both of you.
Questions about the investment:
Community Calling Inc is a non-profit 501 (c )3 that when funding is available offers full or partial scholarships. Sometimes we have funding specific for BIPOC, Military, Location based etc.
If we don’t have funding at the time, you are put on a waiting list until some arrives. If you are in need, you can go to www.communitycallinginc.org.
Yes we do. You can apply with Paypal for financing, as well as Affirm and Klarna. If you need a specific payment plan, please reach out. Take note, ALL payment plans must be paid before the beginning of class.
We offer 25% off for all BIPOC in any location of any workshop type who need the discount.
We frequently run specials around holidays, refer a friend, sign up for more than one class at a time, early bird options and more. If you have questions please check in with us to see if we have any specials at the time.
Questions about certification:
Certification with us is as easy as taking a test. That is all that is required. After each workshop, you are sent a link for the test which is done online. You have to pass with an 80% or higher for certification. If you fail, you can retake the test for a small fee.
We believe that getting out there and getting hands on experience is the best way to learn about this work. So the sooner you start working, the more you will learn. We offer mentoring to help you along the way and a group online to ask questions in a safe place.
At this time, we do not require recertification. Once you are certified you keep the certification unless you have a grievance filed with us and we find you were out of line. Unless regulation becomes mandated and I am required to change that rule, it will stay this way.
We do however highly recommend that you do Continuing education to stay up to date in the profession and your line of work.
Absolutely. If you are trained or certified with another organization, you can cross certify with any of our programs at 50% off (proof of prior training required).
What do I do if I have more questions?
Always reach out and ask. It is important to us that you are comfortable with us and you know your voice matters and is heard when taking any of our workshops.