Welcome
This is a space of serenity
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End-of-Life Doula Services
I provide emotional and practical support, helping to create a meaningful space for important conversations, offering comfort, advocating and facilitating necessary arrangements for a more conscious and peaceful end-of-life (EoL).
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Artwork
My artwork offers a gentle refuge, a place to pause, reflect, and remain in the present moment. My paintings are deeply personal and explore themes of birth, death and rebirth.
Anne-Catherine Higham
I have spent the last decade in the Boston area, forging a community of friends, connecting with artists and growing a vibrant doula community.
I founded La Doula LLC in 2024 to serve individuals and families preparing for end-of-life, be they facing a terminal illness or simply planning for the longer term.
In 2023, I started The Doula Guild, a network for EoL Doulas and adjacent fields professionals. I lead this community to uplift and connect over 100 participants in person in the Boston, MA area, and online, beyond borders.
In 2022, I completed the University of Vermont EoL Professional Certificate, after volunteering for several years in hospice.
I graduated from McGill (Montreal, Canada) with a Masters in International Relations, and worked in economic development as well as a number of volunteer roles in the US and abroad.
People often describe me as warm and welcoming, knowledgeable and generous, sensitive and attentive, highly organized, and gently introverted.
Client Testimonies
“There is a warmth and a caring that comes through right from your first conversation with Anne-Catherine. Not only because she is so wonderfully articulate, but there is a beautiful energy and intelligence that you’ll find so reassuring.
You’ll know very early on that this is an extremely capable woman with amazing wisdom who will be there for you when you are ready for her.
I feel so fortunate to have found her.”
Rose R.
Summer 2026
“Anne-Catherine delivered an incredibly powerful presentation on End-of-Life preparation-a deeply vital topic when it comes to supporting and speaking with older adults.
The session was exceptionally informative, educational, and interactive. Anne-Catherine brought a wonderful warmth and expertise to a sensitive subject, engaging our staff completely. Our employees gained invaluable insights into end-of-life planning and walked away so inspired by the material that they are already eager to learn more.”
Olive F.
Age Strong | City of Boston
February 2026
“I feel so fortunate and relieved to have had Anne-Catherine’s help with my end-of-life planning. It was a pleasure to spend time with her--discussing important details and making decisions. Anne-Catherine’s communication style is gentle but direct and clear, which made me feel comfortable talking with her about personal and sensitive subjects. Even more important: she is knowledgeable, thorough, and well organized, so I feel confident that we covered all the bases. I recommend her enthusiastically to anyone looking for help with end-of-life planning.”
Ann D.
Spring 2025
“It was such a pleasure meeting Anne-Catherine. Her knowledge and wisdom calmed my fears around death and dying. I know she will be a great help to me when I need to make end-of-life decisions. She will empower me to have the kind of death that I want, calm, intentional, and loving. I feel so fortunate to have met her.”
Brenda M.
June 2026
(Abridged version)
“Anne-Catherine Higham, Death Doula extraordinaire!
Anne-Catherine has been invaluable in more ways than I can begin to describe. She is extraordinarily practical. She oozes competence. She helped us think through questions about the funeral home, cremation, legal issues of all sorts, and financial issues of all sorts – before and after death.
Also, in the realm of practicality: she got M. (my spouse), my two forty-something children, and myself ready for the dying process, for the death process, and for grieving both before and after M’s death. While very much an emotional support for M., she was a lifeline for me.
The combination of practical acumen and emotional sensitivity is rare in any helping professional, and Anne-Catherine had both in spades. She was also a therapeutic presence. She combined empathic resonance with encouraging the maximum of responsibility and agency from all of us.
A few months before M.’s death, Anne-Catherine interviewed her, asking profound questions about her life. The video of that interview provides profound sustenance for my children and myself, as well as many other family members and friends. The cutting to pictures of our garden, the little tattoo on M.’s arm, and the use of music are wonderful. She also had M. write letters to me and both kids a little before she died. M.’s letter to me is one of the most important possessions I have. Anne-Catherine handed me the link to the video, and the letter, one week after she died. Perfect timing.
La Doula has perfect timing. She also has profound dedication. Death Doulaship is a wonderful and very useful thing. Thank you, Anne-Catherine Higham, for your gifts to my dearest M. and the rest of us.”
Bob F.
2024-2026