How to become a Soul Midwife
We may all be Soul Midwives at heart, but it takes training and dedication to become one.
Our courses began over twenty years ago, as a pioneering approach to caring for the dying. Since then more than 800 students, women and men, aged from 23 – 84 years have trained with us.
You don’t need formal qualifications to enrol, but you will need dedication, compassion and excellent listening skills.
Our methods are used within the NHS, hospices, care homes and within the community.
And many people simply join our courses for their own personal development and to gain an important life skill.
- Students from all around the world
- Award winning training
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Friendly and relaxed teaching environment
- Links with care organisations
- Testimonials
- Distance training available
- Professional training and exciting CPD programme
Our School
The Soul Midwives School is a place of learning, where Soul Midwives can learn their craft in a tranquil and nurturing environment.
Set in two acres of beautiful gardens, it’s a mile from the lively market town of Bridport and close to the Jurassic coast.
Watercleaves has two classrooms, an outdoor eco classroom, an orchard, lawns, meditation spaces and two self-catering rooms available to students and visiting teachers.
There is plenty of parking and some disabled access.
Inspire, Prepare, Reflect
The intention behind our courses is not only to teach, but also to inspire and prepare, in a reflective way, for the essential work of caring for the dying.
Echoing this, the School follows the principles behind original hospice teachings, where good training, simple food, conviviality and a practical hands-on approach is vital to the learning process.
Students are treated as family on the courses. Simple, wholesome meals are enjoyed and deep experiences shared.
The School day begins at 10.30am and ends at 4.30pm. There is reflective homework set for the first two nights of the Practitioner courses.
We hold our Introductory Days in several venues around the country: details of these are on the Introductory Course Page.
Courses often book up very quickly (spaces are limited as we only teach small numbers at a time), so please let us know if you have a particular date in mind and we will send you booking information by return.
If you can’t attend the School in person, you may like to enrol on our very popular Distance Learning Courses, which attract students from all over the world.
Felicity Warner
Founder of Soul Midwives and Principal of the Soul Midwives School. Author of ‘Gentle Dying’, ‘A Safe Journey Home’, ‘The Soul Midwives’ Handbook’ and ‘Sacred Oils’.
Awarded Care Champion of the Year in 2017 by the National Council for Palliative Care and Royal College of Nursing, Felicity was also named End of Life Doula of 2017 by the Good Funeral Awards.
Felicity teaches on each day of the Level One training and both days of Level Two. She also specialises in teaching psycho-spiritual care of the dying, the last three days of life, and working with Sacred Oils.
Dee Dade
Dee Dade has been practising as a Soul Midwife for over twelve years. She has worked at her local hospice, nursing homes and within the community.
Dee has a background in holistic therapies and in grief counselling, all skills that support her work as a Soul Midwife.
“Teaching Soul Midwives in the art of Gentle touch is a really wonderful aspect of my work: I believe deeply and passionately that the more people who have these skills to support people at the end of life brings us closer to our desire for EVERYONE to have the journey at the end of their lives that they choose.”
Mandy Preece
Mandy Preece is a Soul Midwife, communication coach and ambassador for Macmillan Caring Locally.
After training as a Soul Midwife, Mandy began volunteering at her local hospice and is passionate about enabling volunteers to be alongside patients. In 2013, she initiated a volunteer bedside companion scheme. Volunteers receive her experiential communications training so they can support patients at the end of life.
In 2017 the training received the Princess Royal Training Award for best practice in the workplace. Mandy has now helped other hospices set up similar schemes. In 2019 Mandy was voted NHS Unsung Hero Volunteer of the year and was asked to join a Helpforce Steering Group looking at volunteer roles within the NHS.
Michael Chamberlain
Michael Chamberlain is a highly experienced Sound Therapist, trained at the British Academy of Sound. He uses the transformational nature of sound and harmonics to work subtly to restore a sense of peace and calm.
He teaches both diagnostic and therapeutic use of sound to student Soul Midwives.
