Doula Profile: Brianna Kocka
Brianna Kocka is a Minnesota native who received her bachelor of arts from St. Stephen’s University, where she focused on literature and philosophy. She also received her certificate in worship studies and spiritual formation from SSU. She is a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory, a psychology assessment that helps individuals and organizations measure their cultural competency, and she trained as an EOL doula through INEDLA in early 2021. She is married and lives in Minneapolis with her spouse and their husky mix, Denver.
Q&A with Brianna
When and why did you decide to become an end-of-life doula?
I decided to become an EOL doula after two significant people in my life passed away. The first was a man I was dating, who died young from complications due to cancer, and the second was my paternal grandmother. Being near during these two deaths profoundly changed me and opened in me a desire to better understand and support those navigating end-of-life choices, planning, and emotional support.
How long have you been doing this type of work?
I trained via INELDA a few years ago and have been taking clients and teaching workshops for the last three years.
What type of environment do you work in?
I have a very small practice and only take on a few clients a year, as this is not my main source of income, but rather important, vocational work. I like working with clients in their homes, and I really enjoy teaching workshops to the general public.
What do you do before you meet with a new client?
I like to ground myself and regulate my nervous system by making sure I am well fed, and do some deep belly breathing before reviewing any meeting notes or plans that may be relevant to our time together.
Can you share a short anecdote or insight that changed you?
The writing and work of Ram Dass changed me significantly after the death of a loved one in 2019. I had spent much of my life in anxious overthinking, and when confronted with his spirituality philosophy while in my own grief, the idea of “be here now” meant so much to me.
Who has been one of your teachers or mentors?
The practitioners who are part of the Minnesota Death Collaborative have been invaluable to me.
What do you wish you had known when you started as a doula?
I wish I had known how challenging building a practice can be—it takes time, patience, and gumption!
Do you have any words of encouragement for fellow doulas?
Continue to consider and reconsider what you want your practice to be, and learn to create appropriate goals for getting there.
What is your dream for your practice or doulas in general?
I dream of a day when the work of EOL doulas is the norm as people navigate their end-of-life choices.