Compassionate End-of-Life Doula & Grief Support in Los Angeles

A woman with long red hair smiling, wearing a blue denim jacket and a patterned shirt, sitting on stairs.

Tending the Soul

—Gabriela Böhm, MFA

In 2023, I was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma. In the space of a single conversation, my life divided into before and after.

What I longed for most in those early, terrifying weeks was not more information. It was presence. Someone willing to sit with me in the fear — to ask the hard questions about dying, but also about joy, meaning, and what mattered most. Those conversations changed me. They helped me see my own life from a greater altitude, and they are the reason I do this work.

I became an end-of-life doula and grief educator because I know, from the inside, what it feels like to face your own mortality. And I know what it means to have someone steady beside you when you do.

If you or someone you love is facing serious illness, dying, or loss — you do not have to navigate it alone.

As an INELDA-trained Death Doula and Certified Grief Educator (David Kessler), I offer emotional, spiritual, and practical support for individuals and families navigating death, dying, and bereavement. My work centers on reducing fear and isolation through honest, compassionate conversations and creating a safe, steady space for reflection, connection, and a peaceful transition.

📍 Los Angeles area | 🌍 Worldwide virtual
🌿 English · Spanish · Hebrew

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

gabriela@tendingthesoul.life or 310-487-6460

How I Can Support You:

  • End-of-life planning and guidance

  • Vigil and bedside support

  • Legacy and memory projects

  • After-death care guidance

  • Grief and anticipatory grief support

  • Support for individuals, friends, and families

  • Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) administration

  • Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED)

This Support May Be Right for You If:

You or a loved one is facing a terminal diagnosis or advanced illness

  • You are supporting someone who is actively dying

  • You feel overwhelmed by the emotional or logistical aspects of end-of-life

  • You want help creating meaningful goodbyes or legacy projects

  • You are experiencing grief or anticipatory grief

  • You want support that honors your spiritual, cultural, or personal values

  • You are seeking presence—not answers, fixing, or pressure

What I Am Not

I believe in transparency, so I want to be clear about the boundaries of my role:

  • I am not a medical provider and do not offer medical advice or treatment

  • I do not replace hospice, palliative care, therapy, or mental health services

  • I am not here to fix, rush, or bypass grief

  • I do not impose belief systems, timelines, or outcomes

  • I do not promise a particular experience—only presence, honesty, and care

  • I may not be the right fit for everyone, and I honor that deeply

My role is to offer steady, compassionate witness during a time that cannot be standardized or hurried.

If this resonates, we may be a good fit. If not, I honor your search for the support that feels right.‍ ‍

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Testimonials.

“This offering was a complete gamechanger for me. I knew I needed this kind of support and couldn’t find it anywhere else. I cannot express how grateful I am.”

— Grief Group Participant

“Gabriela is a natural when it comes to navigating emotional territory or when the occasion requires an authentic and caring presence.”

— Rev. Aliah MaJon, PhD, Trauma & SEL Specialist

“Gabriela possesses the best combination of organizational talent with profound presence. She has a true gift of compassion, which she actualizes in her work with people.”

— Linda Blanshay, PhD, Dialogue Facilitator & Social Impact Strategist

My journey has taken me across cultures, professions, and life paths, but the common thread has always been a quest for healing and meaning. Born in Argentina to Holocaust survivors, I emigrated to Israel as a teenager before making my way to New York, where I earned a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and an MFA in Documentary Film. I settled in Los Angeles, built a career as a filmmaker, and later transitioned into educational leadership at the Museum of Tolerance, using storytelling to raise awareness, shift perceptions, and spark meaningful conversations.

That thread — of sitting with hard truths and bearing witness to profound human experience — runs through everything I do now.

Hi, I’m Gabriela

Services.

Schedule a Free Call.

Ready to take the next step toward personalized end-of-life support or grief guidance? I offer a free 30-min consultation call where you can share your story and explore what kind of support may feel most helpful right now.

Whether you are navigating a terminal diagnosis, caring for a loved one, or seeking emotional or spiritual support around end-of-life planning, this call is a gentle space to connect. I will listen with care, answer your questions, and explain how I can support you through compassionate presence, legacy and vigil planning, and ongoing emotional or grief support.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Contact: 310 487 6460

Santa Monica, CA 90403

Email: gabrielabohm@gmail.com

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