Katie Louise

Cooper

Death Doula / Mortality and Impermanence Coach / Death Educator / Ceremonialist / Ritual & Vigil Curator / Public Speaker

Katie Louise Cooper, Death Doula

Hello

For over a decade as a contemporary art curator in New York City and San Francisco, (Dustin Yellin Studio, Pioneer Works, The Laundry), I investigated how artists navigate loss, memory, and the ephemeral through their practice. Exhibition spaces became laboratories for exploring art's capacity to process profound human experiences, revealing how creative expression translates personal vulnerability into collective understanding.

This curatorial work laid an unexpected yet rich foundation for my current role as a death doula and impermanence guide. My theoretical framework, developed through a master's degree in East-West Psychology and Spiritual Counseling at the California Institute of Integral Studies, synthesizes thanatology, depth psychology, and eco-psychology. This integration allows me to examine how humans create meaning at the threshold of major life transitions, bridging contemplative traditions with contemporary psychological approaches.

While distinct in their practical applications, both curatorial work and death doula practice share a fundamental inquiry: how do humans make meaning of impermanence? In art, we witness creators transforming personal experience into universal dialogue. In end-of-life care, we facilitate similar processes of meaning-making, helping individuals and families navigate their relationship with transience and loss.

The mindfulness component of my approach, informed by my work with the Living/Dying Project, By the Bay Health, and as a member of the Marin Threshold Choir, emphasizes present-moment awareness and deep listening. This contemplative foundation creates space for both practical end-of-life planning and the profound emotional and spiritual work that accompanies mortality awareness.

In my private sessions, both in-person and virtual, I create non-judgmental, nurturing environments that allow for emotional, spiritual, and practical exploration of death, grief, and life's transient nature. By encouraging open dialogues about end-of-life wishes, I facilitate journeys toward finding peace and meaning in mortality, supporting individuals and families in redefining experiences of death and grief as integral, dignified parts of living brightly.

It is my utmost privilege to work within this space. I’m so grateful. 

“My work with Katie has been nothing short of transformative. I have been struggling to process loss and understand grief and all its complexities for a few years, and my body shut down last Fall. I was holding too much.  

Katie is the salve that my soul needed. She has this rare and beautiful gift of tenderly opening you up and providing space to feel seen, understood, met, and fully supported. Her sensitive and empathic nature makes me feel safe and comfortable sharing some of my most vulnerable and repressed parts. Being witnessed and comforted from this place has provided tremendous healing.

Each time we lovingly traverse my inner landscape, some new piece of me cracks open, and there is this powerful release. The places in my body and heart that previously felt locked and shut down now feel more open, honored, and loved. It feels like this alchemization process that I would never have been able to reach without her guidance. I feel held in a way I didn't know was possible, and a fuller and more open me is emerging. Our work together has been life-shaping, and I am so grateful! Katie is a true blessing. ”

—Katelyn

As a Death Doula, I am committed to supporting you and your loved ones to embrace mortality and build a relationship with death. Through compassionate guidance, I offer a space for exploration, reflection, and preparation for end-of-life transitions. I work closely with you to customize an approach that meets your individual needs, providing tools and support throughout the entire end-of-life journey. My aim is to enable you to achieve a dignified and peaceful death, one that is transformative, meaningful, and reflective of your life.

As a Mortality and Impermanence Coach, I guide individuals through a gentle exploration of their relationship with death, helping to identify and understand specific fears around mortality. Through our work together, we carefully examine which aspects of death create the most anxiety - whether it's the physical process, the unknown, leaving loved ones behind, or other concerns. Drawing on my background in East-West Psychology and Spiritual Counseling, I create a safe, supportive environment where these profound fears can be acknowledged and gradually transformed.

By developing a more conscious relationship with mortality, we often discover unexpected pathways to living more fully. This isn't about eliminating death anxiety, but rather about becoming more comfortable with its presence in our lives. Through our sessions, many clients find that facing their fears about death actually opens doors to deeper joy, meaning, and connection in their daily lives.

Together, we'll explore practical tools and contemplative practices that help build resilience and understanding around life's impermanent nature. This journey often leads to profound personal insights and a richer appreciation for life's precious moments.