Course curriculum

  • 1

    We Begin!

    • We Begin | Death Companioning Community Crash Course

    • General Discussion & Help Requests

    • Where We're From

    • About the School of American Thanatology
  • 2

    Welcome To The Course!

    • A Note from Cole

    • Survey | We Begin

    • How To Use This Course

    • Introduce Yourself
  • 3

    Module #1: The 411

    • Live Lecture | Saturday, January 25, 2025, 12–2p EST

    • About Module 1

    • Reading | About Death Companioning | The 411

    • Reading | About Death Companioning | Do's and Do Not's and Scope of Practice

    • Reading | About Death Companioning | Are You Coaching, Mentoring, Treating, Counseling or Teaching?

    • Presentation | Module 1 | Live Lecture

    • Download | Death Companion | It's All In A Name

    • Download | Healthcare to Deathcare | Where Death Companions Fit

    • Discussion | Learn From Your Community
  • 4

    Module #2: Uniquely You

    • About Module 2

    • Live Lecture | Saturday, February 1, 2025, 12–2p EST

    • Reading | As Unique As You Are

    • Reading | Death Companions Choose A Client Focus and a Community Focus

    • Reading | Death Companions Choose A Spectrum Point of Care

    • Assignment | How Would You Describe Yourself?

    • Presentation | Uniquely You
  • 5

    Module #3: Chaplaincy, Spirituality & Worldviews

    • Live Lecture | Saturday, February 8, 2025, 12–2p EST

    • About Module 3

    • Presentation | Chaplaincy Module

    • Reading | Chaplaincy—A Primer

    • Discussion | Worldviews

    • Reference | Chaplaincy Qualifications

    • Reference | Verbatim Example
  • 6

    Module #4: Shadowloss

    • Live Lecture | Saturday, February 15, 2025, 12–2p EST

    • Shadowloss | Teaching The Term To Others

    • Discussion | Let's Check In—How Are You?

    • Presentation | Shadowloss

    • Shadowloss | Clinical Technique For Companioning
  • 7

    Module #5: Death & Grief

    • Live Lecture | Saturday, February 22, 2025, 12–2p EST

    • Discussion | Dragonfly Meaning and a Personal Symbol

    • Presentation | Death & Grief
  • 8

    Module #6: Pandemics, Disasters and Crises

    • Live Lecture | Saturday, March 1, 2025, 12–2p EST

    • Presentation | Navigating Pandemics, Disasters and Crises as a Death Companion

    • Video | Home Funeral Guides and Pandemic Care

    • Discussion | Deathcare Industry Resources and Healthcare Industry Resources

    • Resource | COVID-19 Community Mobility From Google

    • Resource | ADEC's (Association for Death Education and Counseling) Statement on Unintended Consequences of COVID-19

    • Resource | COVID-19 Toolkit from the Order of the Good Death

    • Resource | World Health Organization Scientific Paper on Transmission Modes | July 9, 2020

    • Resource | COVID Risk Levels Dashboard

    • Resource: Cell entry mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2
  • 9

    Module #7: The Final Piece

    • Live Lecture | Saturday, March 8, 2025, 12–2p EST

    • Resource | The Wheel

    • References and Continued Reading

    • References | People and Things

    • Survey | What You Learned

    • Reference | Resume Communication

    • Presentation | The Final Piece
  • 10

    Next steps

    • What's Next
  • 11

    Module #8: (Optional) Final Exam and Final Assignment

    • Live Lecture | Saturday, March 15, 2025, 12–2p EST

    • Final Assignment

    • Final Exam

    • Download | All Presentation Slides

Enrollment is limited. Save your spot!

Session 11 Begins Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Learn From A Pioneer

Cole Imperi

Cole Imperi is a 3x certified thanatologist, an award-winning author, and researcher whose work focuses on the use of non-clinical tools in support of those experiencing loss and grief. She is the founder of the School of American Thanatology. Cole is the author of "A Guide to Grief" (for tweens and teens) published by Kids Can Press, and a forthcoming book about grief for adults to be published by Penguin. Cole established the field of Thanabotany, and is a California Master Gardener.