End-of-Life Care & Education
End-of-Life Care & Education
Where Death Is a Teacher, and Companioning Is a Calling
Carla Archuletta Consulting is a division of Carla Archuletta Counseling.
At the end of life, presence matters more than perfection. My work as an end-of-life doula and educator is rooted in the simple yet profound truth that dying is not only a medical event—it is a deeply human passage. I companion others with compassion, clarity, and steadiness, creating space for meaning, ritual, and healing.
About Me
I am a practicing end-of-life doula, Fellow in Thanatology (FT), educator, and faculty member in the University of Vermont’s End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate Program, where I also earned my End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate. In addition to my formal training, I completed an in-person death doula apprenticeship in Nashville, Tennessee, an experience that provided invaluable hands-on learning, mentorship, and bedside practice.
My professional background spans counseling, grief support, serious illness care, trauma-informed practice, and end-of-life education. For more than a decade, I have worked alongside individuals and families facing illness, loss, caregiving responsibilities, and life’s most profound transitions.
Today, my work focuses on education, companioning, and community engagement. Through teaching, speaking, consulting, and end-of-life doula support, I help individuals, families, caregivers, and professionals approach death, dying, and grief with greater understanding, confidence, and compassion.
I am an active member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) and have been recognized as NEDA Proficient and After-Death Care Educator Proficient (ADCE).
Ways We Can Work Together
Education, Training & Speaking
Workshops, presentations, keynote talks, and continuing education for clinicians, healthcare professionals, hospice teams, doulas, faith communities, organizations, and community groups seeking to deepen their understanding of grief, serious illness, caregiving, dying, and end-of-life care.
- Professional trainings
- Conference presentations
- Keynote speaking
- Community education
End-of-Life Doula Support & Companioning
Non-medical support for individuals and families navigating serious illness, caregiving, advance care planning, legacy work, vigil planning, end-of-life decision making, and the dying process.
- Advance care planning support
- Legacy projects
- Vigil planning
- Family support and companioning
Mentoring & Consultation
Guidance and consultation for end-of-life doulas, counselors, healthcare professionals, educators, and caregivers seeking to deepen their knowledge, strengthen their confidence, navigate professional growth, or thoughtfully integrate grief, serious illness, and end-of-life care into their work.
- Doula mentoring
- Professional consultation
- Program development support
- End-of-life and grief education guidance
Community Programs & Conversations
Public programs and community discussions designed to normalize conversations about death, dying, grief, caregiving, and what matters most.
- Death and dying education
- Grief and bereavement programs
- Library and community presentations
- Facilitated discussions
Educational Resources & Self-Guided Learning
Practical, compassionate resources for individuals, families, caregivers, and helping professionals seeking to better understand grief, serious illness, dementia, caregiving, and end-of-life care. Explore available resources at courses.carlaarchuletta.com.
- Articles and guides
- Recorded educational content
- Downloadable resources
- Self-paced learning opportunities
Guiding Philosophy
- Death is part of life. When we face it with openness, we create opportunities for peace, connection, and love.
- Grief is not a problem to solve. It is a natural response, unique to each person, and worthy of respect and care.
- Care is communal. No one should walk this path alone. Together, families, caregivers, and communities can companion one another with strength and tenderness.
- Learning transforms. Education empowers us to move from fear into presence, and from uncertainty into trust.
An Invitation
Whether you are preparing for your own transition, caring for a loved one, or seeking to deepen your professional practice, you are welcome here. Together, we can reclaim death as a natural part of life, and companion one another with wisdom, courage, and compassion.
Understanding End-of-Life Doula “Certification”
Many people ask whether end-of-life doulas are certified. It’s an important and understandable question. Families want to feel confident in the experience and skills of the doulas who serve them, and professionals often look for familiar markers of training, like licensure or certification.
Unlike nursing, counseling, or other regulated professions, there is currently no universally recognized accrediting or regulatory body—local, state, or federal—that certifies or licenses end-of-life doulas. Some training programs offer what they call an “in-house certification,” which acknowledges completion of their specific curriculum. While this can demonstrate a level of training or accomplishment, it is not required in order to practice as an end-of-life doula, nor does it equate to licensure by an independent third-party certifier.
In short: doulas may hold certificates of training or “certification” from particular programs, but there is no single national or state certification that governs or licenses end-of-life doulas at this time.
If End-of-Life Consultation or support sounds like exactly what you’re looking for, pick up the phone and call me at (615) 852-5055 or complete the form below for more information.