Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Doula Support for individuals and families in the Bass Coast region of Gippsland, Victoria, as well as online.
Welcome.
(Annetrin) Jytte Thompson
End-of-Life Doula
Whether you are living life to the fullest, approaching old age, or you or a family member or friend are facing a life-limiting condition, my mission is to help you gain clarity on your wishes and values, and to advocate for your decisions, to ensure that you receive the support, care, and treatment you desire – in life and in death.
The choices are yours.
Advance Care Planning
Most people know that they should prepare a Will, and maybe you’ve heard of an Enduring Power of Attorney – but are you aware of the significance an Advance Care Directive can have for your life? It protects your interests, and saves your loved ones from having to make near impossible decisions.
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Mortality Conversations
Talking about death or dying can be hard. On the other hand, not having these conversations robs us of two valuable experiences: of continuing to live our life until the very end in alignment with who we are as a person, and of enjoying the singularity of life in the face of our mortality.
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Carer Support
Are you caring for a loved one approaching the end of their life? Some days can feel exhausting, overwhelming, or lonely. Maybe a walk, a chat, or a hot meal sound just like what you need to keep going? Let’s talk about out how I can support you while you continue to do the amazing work you do.
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Vigils, Wakes, Funerals, Memorials…?
Is a casket burial right for you, a green burial in a shroud or in a wicker basket, a cremation, or an aquamation? Are you planning to hold a vigil or a wake, and will there be a memorial or a life celebration? Let me help guide you through your options.
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About me
I trained as an end-of-life-doula at Claudia Cardinal’s Sterbeammen Akademie in Germany, and with the Australian Doula College. I am a mother, a Lifeline crisis support worker, and a palliative care volunteer.
I am convinced that we can live – and die – better once we accept that our lives will eventually come to an end.
We then have the opportunity to ensure that we remain aligned with our beliefs and values – even and especially when we are no longer able to fully advocate for ourselves.
I am passionate about Advance Care Directives – legal documentation that ensures not only that our decisions regarding future medical interventions are respected, but also regarding accommodation, company, spiritual support, and after-death care.
Why work with me?
Non-judgmental:
There are no right or wrong answers or attitudes.
Non-denominational:
Religious? Spiritual? Atheistic? On the fence? Welcome.
Inclusive:
Supportive of all ages, all genders, and all neurotypes.
Multi-cultural:
Aware and understanding of different cultural backgrounds.
Strength-based:
You know you’ve got this – but you do not have to do it alone.
Is this the right time?
Yes.
But I am not dying.
Ah, yes. But this is for those of you who will fail to live forever.
I had never heard of Advance Care Planning before I attended my first session with Jytte. I left feeling empowered about the choices I can make now for my end of life, even though I hope to live for many more decades.
Jytte holds a warm and welcoming space, in the less travelled conversation about one’s mortality. I highly recommend Jytte and her services. She’s extremely knowledgeable, wise and compassionate.
Fleur Lacey, Inverloch
Advance Care Planning
Jytte guided me with gentle grace and wisdom through the development of my Advance Care Directive. She created a safe and caring environment in which to discuss the process of my own dying and death, this allowed me to give deep thought to how I would like this point in my life to be for me and for those around me. The sessions were very insightful and powerful.
Jytte’s ability to explain medical concepts relating to end of life and what they might look like for me gave me greater insight into my choices and treatment options which in turn allows me to guide my family to meet my needs at a time when they need it most.
Liza Horsburgh Price, Wonthaggi
Advance Care Planning
Having known Jytte for over 10 years I had the privilege of seeing her develop her unique approach to counseling in end-of-life-topics. Her way of approaching mortality with curiosity for the individual topics and deep respect for the person has always impressed me.
As someone „from the field“ for 25 years now, I wholeheartedly recommend her work.
Dr. Matthias Gockel, Berlin
Consultant Palliative Care
Resources
Information
that will help you decide what’s right for you
A personal selection of articles, videos, and books on everything end-of life-related.
What is an End-of-Life Doula?
Maybe you have never come across the term before – so here you can find out about what end-of-life doulas (can) do.
View
General Resources
Some beautiful documentaries on end-of-life, some general information on the Australian funeral industry vs. your funeral rights, as well as a collection of information on alternative, green, community-led death-care.
View
Local Resources (Gippsland)
So you live in Gippsland and are finding that your end-of-life and death-care options are not exactly plentiful? You would not be entirely wrong, but there are still quite a few options for you to choose from.
View
Books I Love
I love reading, and I love reading about people who are making a difference in the end-of-life field, and whose experiences we can all learn from, marvel at, and be inspired by.
View
Start your journey
My offers and packages can be tailored to your needs; whether you are looking for one-off advice or ongoing assistance.
Find out how I can best support you.
Read my blog
Over time, I will be adding more blog posts on everything life, end-of-life, and death-care related here, so please visit again!
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On Blogging
I have not added any blog posts for a while. Why? I have been focusing on my Instagram (www.instagram.com/sevenravensdoula), and by extension Facebook (www.facebook.com/sevenravensdoula), these last few months; and that’s where I’ve shared my thoughts and ideas on all things end-of-life. So, unless I’ll feel inspired to share a longer essay that sits here more…
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On Bodies (and Wakes)
* Trigger warning: This post discusses human decomposition – in very mild and general terms. Please decide whether that’s something you’d like to read about. * The other day I was invited to visit a mortuary in one of Melbourne’s bayside suburbs. The mortician-embalmer had generously offered to discuss her experience with dead bodies over…
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What’s Gone is Elsewhere
“My gumboots are gone!” “Bunny is gone!” “My phone is gone!” These are some of the panicked statements I hear at home almost every day. “Well, if it’s not here, it will be elsewhere. Let’s have a look together”, I say. And of course that’s true. When something is “gone”, that does not mean that…
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On Wisdom and Productivity
On a long plane-journey recently, I watched the David Bowie documentary “Moonage Daydream”. Unlike for many other people, Bowie’s music and iconography had never played a large role in my life, despite the fact that he’d spent a few years in my chosen hometown of Berlin, and his footprints still felt tangible in places when…
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On Gratitude
This week, a remarkable person died: Käthe, our family’s old neighbour in Marburg, Germany. She was 102 years old. Käthe was generous in her appraisal of others, always seeing the best in people, or, where that was not always possible, she sought to understand the reasons behind others’ failings, and could easily forgive them. A…
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On Being Brave
If you had only a limited time left to live, would you change aspects of your life or keep everything as it is? Are you regularly experiencing moments of joy and satisfaction, or have you been “doing the hard yards” for quite a while now, in the hope that something good will eventually be waiting…