About
I'm Sally, an end-of-life doula and guide based in Brooklyn, NY. I came to this work through my own experience as a caregiver, and I built Going Your Own Way around the kind of support I wished my family had. You can read that story below.
I'm trained through INELDA, Going with Grace, and the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance, with additional training in affirming care for LGBTQ+ individuals and families, and in dementia care. Before becoming a doula, I spent more than 20 years in Human Resources. I volunteer in hospice settings and serve clients across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and virtually throughout the U.S.
How I Got Here
Going Your Own Way started with one of the most important experiences of my life: caring for my mom in her final weeks. When she transitioned to hospice care, I left my job to become her full-time caregiver. For six weeks, I managed her care, coordinated with hospice, and navigated countless medical decisions, all while holding space for her and my family. It was a deeply challenging time, yet something surprising happened: my mom, who spent her life as a hospice nurse, noticed that I seemed happier and more at ease than I had been in years. One day, she gently suggested, “Maybe it’s time to think about a new job.”
Her observation stopped me in my tracks—how could I be happy while my mom was dying? But as I reflected, I realized she was right. The care, support, and presence I was providing to her felt natural and intuitive, even though it was incredibly hard. There was a deep sense of purpose in what I was doing. I learned that when you’re engaged in work that truly utilizes your skills and talents, it can be rewarding even in the hardest moments. That realization changed me forever.
My mom had always hoped I’d follow in her footsteps as a nurse, recognizing my calming presence and natural caregiving ability. But I’d long ago ruled out medicine—I’m comically bad at science! Becoming a death doula, a non-medical support person, felt like the perfect way to honor her legacy while forging my own path. Those six weeks of caregiving, alongside her encouragement, inspired me to create the kind of support I wished we’d had during our journey together. That’s how Going Your Own Way began.
Although this work is vastly different from my career in Human Resources, the skills I honed there, clear communication, emotional support, and navigating difficult conversations, remain at the heart of what I do. In HR, I helped people through challenging transitions, ensuring they felt heard and understood. Today, I bring those same skills to end-of-life care.
I know what it feels like to sit with uncertainty, to wrestle with overwhelming emotions, and to want the very best for someone you love. That's what I bring to this work, alongside the training to actually help.
Whether you’re planning ahead or navigating this path in real time, I’m here to walk beside you. If any of this sounds familiar, I'd love to talk. Book a free consultation and let's figure out together what support might look like for you.
