About the Conference

The Collaborative Doula Conference aims to unite those who support individuals and families through all of life’s transitions—from birth to end-of-life and everything in between. By bringing together caregivers from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and experiences, we foster community, professional growth, and shared learning. Through open dialogue, education, and collaboration, we strive to build a stronger, more inclusive network of support that honours the full spectrum of care.
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What's Included

Students will have expanded course material available online through our School's portal, in addition to material from the in-person, one-day intensive. All presentation slides, reading, recorded lectures, and resources will remain available to you after the training.

  • In-Person One-Day Intensive

    This is an in-person one-day intensive led by Cole Imperi. It's the ONLY in-person training offered by the School of American Thanatology in Canada in 2025.

  • Thanabotany is Exclusive to the School of American Thanatology

    Thanabotany is exclusive to the School, and you'll learn directly from the person leading the field. If you are interested in tangible ways to support meaning, ritual, and spirituality juxtaposed against the study of death, dying, grief, and loss--this is the training for you.

  • The Grove

    The School has a private, online community called The Grove. It is only available to past and current students, and is included. Also, join us on Fridays at 1pm PT for our co-working session. These are also included (and optional, of course) and are only for students and alumni.

Course curriculum

    1. A Note from Cole

    2. About the School of American Thanatology

    3. Where We're From

    4. Course Syllabus

    5. Intro Survey

    6. Meet the Eyris

    7. Video: Welcome!

    1. Week 1 Presentation Slides

    2. Read: Terms—Thanabotany, Thanabotanical and Thanabotanist™

    3. Read: Roots in Different Places: Botany, Thanatology and Ethnobotany

    4. Read: Other Fields of Study You Should Know: Horticulture, Linguistics, Horticultural Therapy, Gender Studies, Genealogy and Permaculture

    5. Watch: Video Lecture 1

    6. Discussion: Who Are You and Why Are You Here?

    1. Read: It's Violet Week!

    2. Week 2 Presentation Slides

    3. Video: Collecting a Thanabotanical Specimen in the Field - The Violet

    4. Read and Discuss: Thanabotanical Research

    5. Read: All About The Violet

    6. Video: Collect and Quick-Press Violets With Me!

    7. Read: The Violet -- In Depth

    8. Video: How to Make Violet Syrup for Tea, Desserts and Drinks

    9. Download - Viola Tricolor Botanical Illustration from 1887

    1. Read: What We're Learning in Week 3

    2. Week 3 Presentation Slides

    3. Read: Who Uses Thanabotany?

    4. Read: Why Do People Use Thanabotany?

    5. Read: Rosemary and Thanabotany

    6. A Real-Life Example: Thanabotany and Funeral Homes

    7. Download: Flora's Lexicon Book from the year 1855

    8. You Are Officially Invited: Join the Thanabotany Community

    1. Read: It's Daisy Week!

    2. Watch: It's Daisy Week!

    3. Week 4 Presentation Slides

    4. Read: A Daisy Deep-Dive

    5. Listen: Why is the Daisy Thanabotanical?

    6. Read: The Daisy and Celtic Legend

    7. Resource: Botany Plant Game

    8. A Peek At What's Ahead: Your Final Project and Final Exam

    9. Download: The Final Project (Preview)

    1. Read: What We're Learning in Week 5!

    2. Week 5 Presentation Slides

    3. Watch: How I Research and Where I Store All That Research!

    4. Challenge #1: Archaeological Discovery

    5. Challenge #2: Oral Histories

    6. Resource: International Plant Names Index

    7. Download: Species Plantarum by Carolus Linnaeus in 1753

About this course

  • $399.00
  • 64 lessons
  • 0.5 hours of video content

Course Instructor

This course is taught by Cole Imperi who is pioneering the field of Thanabotany

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.

What Students Say

Our programs have been running for 5 years, with students from 30 countries.

5 star rating

Powerful Education

Victoria Davis Lyon

In societies that are afraid to talk about death and dying, and struggle with grieving this class is a throughway to deeper understanding. People love plants and flowers and when we can be inclusive with rites and rituals that include plants, it a...

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In societies that are afraid to talk about death and dying, and struggle with grieving this class is a throughway to deeper understanding. People love plants and flowers and when we can be inclusive with rites and rituals that include plants, it allows people a deeper connection to their grief and that of others. I'm deeply enjoying this class. It has made a difference in not just my career path, but also my day to day life. I can't think of anyone that wouldn't benefit from this class.

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5 star rating

Intro Review

Anna Barger-Niemz

Love that teachers are interested in our personal goals, super informational, set clear expectations, and slacks looks like a great platform.

Love that teachers are interested in our personal goals, super informational, set clear expectations, and slacks looks like a great platform.

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