What Is an End-of-Life Doula?
“End-of-life doulas provide non-medical, holistic support and comfort to the dying person and their family, which may include education and guidance as well as emotional, spiritual or practical care.”
– National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA)
Doulas offer Non-Medical Guidance and Support both Practically, Emotionally and Spiritually. We serve terminally ill patients and their families.
“Remember that my life is but a breath”
Job 7:7
Lisa Petgrave-Nelson, DSW, LMSW, OSW-C
End-of-Life Doula
At an early age, my family and I experienced the deaths and tremendous loss of three family members. It was then that I became all too familiar with the pain of loss while witnessing first-hand the effects grief had on the emotional wellbeing of a family. Due to cultural reasons, my grief was left unresolved, leading to years of tremendous anger and sadness.
It was with time and much soul searching that I was able to come to terms with those losses. What I’ve come to understand is that “trusting the process” opens the door to healing and acceptance of dying and grief.
I became an end-of-life doula to to alleviate the fear surrounding death and to offer a comforting presence during an emotionally sensitive time.
I am privileged to offer guidance and support to individuals in the final stage of life, helping them and their loved ones approach this time with peace, dignity, and acceptance of death as a natural part of life. Whether through home visits, phone calls, or virtual meetings, I am committed to accompanying each person on their unique end-of-life journey.
Lisa’s career is grounded in her passion for working with terminally ill patients and their families, with a focus on palliative and end-of-life care. A Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Certified Oncology Social Worker, she has over twenty years of experience supporting chronically ill adults, including the past decade in acute inpatient and outpatient oncology settings.
An INELDA-trained End-of-Life Doula, Lisa provides compassionate guidance to patients and loved ones navigating serious illness and life’s final stages. She holds a Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) from Wurzweiler University and is a NYU Zelda Foster Palliative Care and Leadership Fellow. Lisa currently supports patients and their families in the South Atlanta area.
Lisa is actively involved in professional leadership and has served on committees with the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA) BIPOC Council, and as a member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA).
She is a dedicated advocate for healthcare and death equity, with a particular focus on underserved communities. Through this work, she seeks to challenge cultural narratives and reduce the societal fear surrounding death and dying.