Journaling prompts for bereavement doulas
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
We know that the health benefits of journaling are myriad. But what are you supposed to journal about? Here are some prompts to get you started.
Before a client
How am I curating my attention right now?
How am I fostering my skills right now?
What kind of client am I eager to serve?
What kind of client do I feel least equipped to serve? Why? Do I want to change that?
Where can I identify the impact of my support system in this season of preparation?
Before a birth
What feelings am I experiencing as I consider supporting this family through the coming birth of their child?
How am I talking to myself about this coming birth?
What resources or tools do I need and lack?
How have I shown my gratitude to myself for my willingness to help this family?
Soonafter a birth
What exactly occurred? What did I see, hear, smell, think, wonder, feel, and witness?
What did I do each step of the way?
Where in this history do I see my strengths?
What did this little one and their family teach me about myself and my skills?
How can I communicate my gratitude to this little one for their existence and the wisdom they have shown me?
Before a memorial/ritual
What aspects of this coming event feel familiar to me?
What tones does that familiarity take, amongst joy, comfort, sorrow, solidarity, loneliness, exasperation, derision, boredom, fear, curiosity, openness, and more?
What do I hope for from this ritual?
What hopes am I ready to set aside?
What do I wish of this for my clients?
How can I participate in a way that feels supportive of my clients and meaningful to me?
After serving a client
Why do little ones die?
What impact has this birth had on me? What do I do or think differently now because of this experience?
If I could rewrite the events of the day, what would I wish for?
What did my support for the family look like?
What is the greatest gift the experience gave me?
What is the greatest gift I gave to the family in my support?
