Courageous Goodbyes® is a registered trademark of
1977215 Alberta Ltd
Courageous Goodbyes® is a registered trademark of
1977215 Alberta Ltd
Providing practical, spiritual & emotional support to those courageously saying goodbye to health, independence or life
Providing practical, spiritual & emotional support to those courageously saying goodbye to health, independence or life
About Us
Hello & welcome to Courageous Goodbyes®
Are you curious about what a Doula is and does?
The word doula is derived from the Greek and means "a person that serves." It's more commonly associated with birth and now also with the end of life.
Courageous Goodbyes® defines the word doula as "a non-medical person who serves and journeys alongside others." Therefore, our doula services focus on the needs of individuals and families facing or enduring life limiting challenges, isolation caused by health conditions, terminal illness, the golden years or the end of life transition.
As a result, we are deeply humbled to be welcomed into lives and homes during such an intimate and overwhelming time. We are blessed to be their trusted companion who they can rely upon to support them in the practicalities of daily living.
We are especially honored when we are invited to companion the dying and their loved ones through the end of life transition. Empowering them to create a sacred space to share final memories and prepare for their courageous goodbyes.
Beverley
Our Vision
Support and encourage all those we are privileged to serve to courageously live their best day according to their interests and abilities.
Be a trusted and supportive companion that brings light and joy into their day. Ensure they never feel isolated or alone while we have the honor of being invited to serve them.
Be the reliable and trusted resource for a family's loved one during the times when the practicalities of daily life, a well deserved vacation or their geographical location makes it impossible for them to be there at all times.
Be the trusted life line to primary caregivers during the times they feel overwhelmed. For them to feel respected and understood. To be ready to step in and take over the non-medical care of the person they are caring for, so they can take some well deserved time for themselves.
Create a positive, sacred and peaceful environment for the person facing death and their loved ones. Support each one of them to overcome the fear of life's final transition and embrace the bittersweet gifts it can bring. Encourage them to share precious moments and continue to make memories filled with joy and laughter until it's time to courageously let go for the final goodbye
What is an End of Life Doula?
At Courageous Goodbyes® an End of Life Doula is a non-medical person who serves, guides, supports and reassures the dying and their loved ones through the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges they face during the end of life transition.
The Doula supports the dying person as they prepare their end of life care plan. This plan details how they want their last days and hours to be lived.
If asked, the Doula will facilitate a meeting between the dying person, their family and other health care providers to insure their end of life care will not be treated as a medical event but as a natural transition according to their wishes.
The Doula will remain present at the side of the dying person and their loved ones throughout the final dying process. Continue to be their consistent, reassuring and supportive presence; offering emotional and spiritual support until the very end.
The Doula will continue to offer emotional support and guidance to the family immediately after their loved one transitions and in the days that follow and beyond.
Who is Beverley Shiels?
Called to be a Doula and so much more!
Beverley is the founder and CEO of Courageous Goodbyes® proudly serving the communities of St. Albert, Edmonton and the surrounding areas. She is Doula trained and certified by the International Doulagivers Institute in Elder Care and End of Life in their award winning Doulagivers® Program. In addition she completed Douglas College's Faculty of Health Sciences End of Life Doula Certificate of Course Completion. She is a certified hospice palliative care volunteer through the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. Has a certificate of completion in Understanding Dementia from the University of Tasmania. She is a Level III Reiki practitioner, has a certificate of completion in pastoral care, a certificate in Pastoral Biblical Theology from Newman Theological College and certified by the Mental Health Commission of Canada to provide Mental Health First Aid.
BEVERLEY SAYS:
Over the years in my professional life and as a volunteer, I've used my coaching skills to be a supportive presence to individuals and families from all walks of life during difficult times. I've honored the trust they place upon me when they openly share their life stories, hopes, dreams, joys, fears and sorrows. They unburden their souls as I listen attentively with a non-judgemental ear. The emotional, practical, physical and spiritual support I am able to provide sustains, uplifts and liberates them as we journey together through their storms and life limiting challenges. It's humbling to make a positive difference during their difficult days.
I've had the calling to be an End of Life Doula for as long as I can remember but couldn't put a name to it until I struck up a conversation with a complete stranger at a conference. We had to pair up and share an unfulfilled dream. After I described mine, she said it sounded like I wanted to be an "end of life doula." My research confirmed, yes indeed, this was the professional title of my calling. "Doula" is a Greek word and means, a person who serves. In talking with my aunt who lives in England and has a similar calling; I was amazed to discover my great-grandmother served her community in the 1920s to 1950s during birth, death and everything in between! I guess you could say this calling's in my DNA!
As a result of making the decision to take action to fulfill my dream, Courageous Goodbyes® was born in 2016. It was important to me to convey and capture in the name of my company, the emotional and physical courage it takes to face life's heartbreaking milestones when having to say goodbye to one's youth, mobility, independence, health and loved ones.
As a result of crossing paths with so many beautiful and forgotten souls in our senior community and encounters with adults living alone with life limiting conditions with a minimal support network; I was called to quickly extend our services to include meeting their daily living needs. It pains my heart to see them suffer in silence, social isolation and in most cases depression too. My passion is to bring a little joy and light to their day through companionship, advocacy and service.
In addition, I have a strong calling to support the tired and overwhelmed primary caregivers of aging parents, adult children, sick relatives or friends. It's such a challenge for the families of today to balance working out of the home, taking care of children and aging loved ones. No wonder they are called "The Sandwich Generation!" There is so little time if any left for themselves. So we are honored to be invited to be their trusted partner who meets them where they are emotionally and spiritually too. We become their life line, willing to step in and take over the non-medical care of their loved one when the practicalities of daily life makes it impossible for them to be there or when they just need some well deserved time to themselves to rejuvenate, catch their breath and simply breathe.
As a result of the intimate journey we take with these families, the authentic bond we develop, the calling continues to expand as we strive to compassionately meet the needs of families or individuals we serve.
