End of Life Guide, Funeral Celebrant
and Death Doula
Lisa Potter
Qualified, compassionate & personalised care
~End of life mastery~
DipCouns
BATheatre
GradCertPalliativeCare
Funeral Celebrant - Member of Funeral
Celebrants Association Australia
Former Funeral Director
ABOUT LISA
Quite frankly, I just think we can do dying and death better.
Doing what we've always done, relying on the traditional death care models, not questioning costs and preferences - I think its time we empowered ourselves to do death our way.
And by better, I mean more connectedly, more meaningfully, with more personalised, individual choices and options available, more transparency and education; less emphasis on cost; and far more emphasis on family involvement.
The services that I provide as an end of life guide and companion are not merely a vocation, they are the culmination of a lifetime of experience, training, study, research and hands-on interaction with those at the end of life. My primary intent is to provide my community with education, transparency, valid information, support and OPTIONS around all things related to end of life, dying, death and grief support. I am actively a part of the change, a growing death positive movement that is currently unfolding in communities re-thinking how we do death care practices, farewells, rituals and after care.
So, for you to reach out and ask for guidance around end of life processes? I understand that it can be a tough decision to reach out to others and ask for advice and support at this challenging time in life. This can be due to financial reasons, because you feel reluctant to share your personal 'stuff' with a virtual stranger, or because you simply don't understand what an End of Life Guide or Funeral Celebrant can support you to overcome, achieve or navigate.
I am here to alleviate all of those fears, concerns or questions for you. It simply starts with reaching out and having a real conversation.
In my role, I stand with you as your guide, a coach of sorts, a companion, even a friend, collaborating with you, evaluating each stage together and working on focused outcomes related to specific end of life challenges and options that you or your caregivers require support with. There are various names for this role currently circulating in the end of life community, however I identify with being your guide and companion, working together to navigate your individual path.
A Celebrant is someone who takes part in or facilitates ceremonies, celebrations or rituals, for purposes of revelry or reverence. As a Funeral and Memorial Celebrant my approach is to work co-operatively with families to create personalised, reverent and meaningful farewells; or design individualised and unique rituals to acknowledge significant life markers and transitions. Any transitional event with deep emotional connection can be personalised, honoured, and memorialised. Today, the lack of ritual and connection evident in our lives makes these conscious ceremonies even more powerful, potent and meaningful.
So - who am I as an End of Life Guide and Celebrant? What is my personal style and approach?
Every single person is an unique combination of individual traits, characteristics and skills which influence how we relate to the people that cross our path and the people we choose to serve. And I truly understand and value the importance of finding 'the right 'fit'. Particularly at this emotional and challenging time, there needs to be genuine rapport, relatability and connection.
Those I have supported feed back to me that my presence and approach is warm, relatable, and engaging, thus creating a sense of ease and openness in the relationship. Whilst at times, the conversations and content may be highly emotive, I hold the space with sensitivity, compassion and warm humour.
I personally do not rely upon a set toolkit of questionnaires, templates, activities and forms. I utilise a wealth of life experience, coupled with strong intuitive guidance, to work alongside you in determining authentic priorities and realistic, achievable outcomes. My knowledge and guidance does not rely upon theory alone, it is a skill set created from real, hands-on and lived experiences.
In a nutshell, what I am really good at, is being genuinely on your team.
My role is to be literally and figuratively on your team, in your corner and there to support your current and ever evolving needs.
My 'toolkit' draws upon a diverse blend of formal qualifications, applied life skills and diverse life experiences. This includes being hands on in the role as a care-giver to a loved one with a terminal illness; authoring a book on my caregiver role; facilitating personal development workshops; working creatively as a drama teacher and dramatherapist; specialising in grief and loss support and companioning; working in early childhood, primary school and university education; working alongside diverse cultural and religious communities; working as a Life Coach; volunteering with Hospice and chronic illness support; skills obtained as a former Funeral Director in a family business and a branded franchise; more active work in the community as a death doula.
I am always open to questions and conversation, so please feel free to reach out to me at any time, or ask for further information about my services, my methods, my approach or my fees. It costs nothing to chat.
I pose the question – how is it that I can be of service to you?