375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States
February 24 - 28, 2025
About this Retreat
Henry Fersko-Weiss is a licensed clinical social worker and a death doula. He has worked with hundreds of dying individuals and their loved ones over a 20-year period. In 2015 he cofounded the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA). As its Executive Director and President of the Board, he spearheaded its growth into the preeminent organization in the field of end-of-life doulas. At the beginning of 2022l he left the organization to return to serving the dying directly and teaching in a more limited and selective way. His book, Caring for the Dying, The Doula Approach to a Meaningful Death, was selected as a best book of the year in 2017 by the Library Journal. In 2020 the book was reprinted under a new title: Finding Peace at the End of Life. Fersko-Weiss has taught extensively in the U.S. as well as internationally. He has spoken at numerous end-of-life conferences been written about in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post and many other print and online publications.
Details of this retreat
Learn from the person who sparked the contemporary end-of-life doula movement.
Death is a reality that all of us will eventually face. How we face it will make the difference between a “good death” and one overshadowed by fear, loneliness, regret, and confusion. In our society, death is seen as a medical event instead of the sacred ending of a precious human life. You can restore a deeper meaning to the dying process by becoming an end-of-life doula and providing your services with genuine compassion. This is a role that is beginning to gain recognition and have a positive impact on how people die.
End-of-life doulas or death doulas give non-medical care to dying individuals, their friends, and family. They make this difficult time more manageable by offering emotional and spiritual support as well as providing informational guidance and presence at the bedside in the days and hours of vigil when death is close. They also offer grief support for loved ones after the death has occurred.
The death doula training utilizes lecture, case stories, guided meditation, discussion, and experiential exercises. These methods are designed to help you discover for yourself, and through engagement with other trainees, what it means to face dying and death with dignity, honesty, and a recognition of its sacredness.
You will learn how various illnesses impact the dying process, how to listen and communicate mindfully, how to use guided imagery, ritual, and structured life review, how to honor culture and differences in identity, and much more. In addition, you will learn how to move into a career as a death doula and build awareness of your services.
Answer the call in your heart to become a death doula and make a difference in lives at the end of their journey.
Schedule
Sunday, February 24
3 - 4 pm Arrival and Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7 - 10 pm Opening Session
Monday, February 25
7 - 7:30 am Meditation
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 am - 12:15 pm Morning session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 5:30 pm Afternoon session
6 - 7 pm Dinner
8 - 9 pm Evening Discussion
Tuesday, February 26
7 - 7:30 am Meditation
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 am - 12:15 pm Morning session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 5:30 pm Afternoon session
6 - 7 pm Dinner
8 - 9 pm Evening Discussion
Meditation: 7:00-7:30
Wednesday, February 27
7 - 7:30 am Meditation
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 am - 12:15 pm Morning session
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 5:30 pm Afternoon session
6 - 7 pm Dinner
8 - 9 pm Evening Discussion
Meditation: 7:00-7:30
Thursday, February 28
7 - 11 am Check-out of Rooms
7 - 7:30 am Meditation
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:15 - 11:15 am Morning session
11:30 am - 12 pm Closing Ceremony
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch & Departure
*Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time.
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