Curriculum
Two tracks are available for this program:
- For alumni of UVM’s End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate, you have the option to take the 4-week professional certificate knowing the first two weeks are a review from your certificate training or a 2-week specialization for EoLD alumni focusing on companion animal end-of-life care.
- If you are not an End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate alumni, you must take the 4-week program to acquire skills related to doula essentials and compassionate care.
Schedule of Sessions
Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate for Alumni
*This course is for alumni of UVM’s End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate. If you have not taken the Certificate, please see the 4-week Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula course.
| Session | Dates | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Session | 10/25/23 – 11/07/23 | REGISTER HERE |
| Spring Session | 03/20/24 – 04/02/24 | REGISTER HERE |
Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate
*Optional orientation is offered the week before the program starts and it takes approximately one hour to complete.
| Session | Dates | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Session | 09/13/23 – 10/10/23 | REGISTER HERE |
| Spring Session | 01/31/24 – 02/27/24 | REGISTER HERE |
Course descriptions
Weekly Topics
Week 1: Pet Hospice and Palliative Care
- Cultural Trends and Paradigms
- End-of-Life Pet Care
- Quality of Life and Pet Pain
- Euthanasia versus “Natural” Death
- Components of a “Good” Death
- Holistic and Integrative Support
- Veterinarian Stress and Burnout
Week 2: After-Death Options and Support
- Special Considerations: Horses and Exotic Pets
- After-Death Decisions
- Mourning and Bereavement Support
- Children’s Grief
- Memorializing a Pet
Free, Bonus Modules
- Doula Bag, Visit Ideas/Activities
- The Emerging End-of-Life Doula Career (Meetings, Contracts, Business Considerations)
- Role and Scope Revisited
Technology Requirements
We recommend using a browser other than Internet Explorer with our online learning system, Blackboard. Firefox, Google Chrome, or other browsers tend to work more effectively with Blackboard. It’s very important to note that Blackboard will only work with a desktop or laptop computer. It is not designed to be used with phones or tablets (e.g., iPads), so please make sure you have access to a desktop and/or laptop computer for the duration of the class.
Download Sample Syllabus
(PDF, open ins a new window)
Weekly Topics
Week 1: Doula Essentials
- The Role and Scope of an End-of-Life Doula
- Engaged Listening
- Companioning and Serving
- Holding Space
- Non-Judgmental Support
Week 2: Components of Compassionate Care
- Unconditional Positive Regard
- Ethics and Boundaries
- Responding to Suffering
- Caregiving Considerations
- Self-Care
Week 3: Pet Hospice and Palliative Care
- Cultural Trends and Paradigms
- End-of-Life Pet Care
- Quality of Life and Pet Pain
- Euthanasia versus “Natural” Death
- Components of a “Good” Death
- Holistic and Integrative Support
- Veterinarian Stress and Burnout
Week 4: After-Death Options and Support
- Special Considerations: Horses and Exotic Pets
- After-Death Decisions
- Mourning and Bereavement Support
- Children’s Grief
- Memorializing a Pet
Free, Bonus Modules
- Doula Bag, Visit Ideas/Activities
- The Emerging End-of-Life Doula Career (Meetings, Contracts, Business Considerations)
- Role and Scope Revisited
Technology Requirements
We recommend using a browser other than Internet Explorer with our online learning system, Blackboard. Firefox, Google Chrome, or other browsers tend to work more effectively with Blackboard. It’s very important to note that Blackboard will only work with a desktop or laptop computer. It is not designed to be used with phones or tablets (e.g., iPads), so please make sure you have access to a desktop and/or laptop computer for the duration of the class.
Featured Presenters & Contributors
Download Sample Syllabus
(PDF, open ins a new window)