We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Bright. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.

Alright, Ashley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I have a back ground as a social worker in skilled nursing facilities. I once had a patient who came to us after having had a stroke that left her without the ability to move or speak, and she was being kept alive via feeding tube. She had a living will that stated she did not want to be kept alive through artificial means, but her two children could not agree on whether to withhold the artificial nutrition or keep her alive with no quality of life. That was a defining moment for me, as I felt there had to be a better way for a person’s voice and wishes to be heard at the end of their life. If a piece of paper containing their wishes was not enough, then how can we safeguard a person’s dignity? After some searching, I happened upon a course through the Conscious Dying Institute where I trained to become an End of Life Doula. I now assist people in determining what their wishes are for end of life, and we work to ensure that the proper things are in place to ensure their wishes are carried out. It can be an emotional thing, thinking about our own impermanence. A doula helps guide people toward meeting the idea of their impermanence with confidence and grace so that they can live a more peaceful life.

Ashley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My passion is ensuring that people have a voice and representation while navigating health care systems. My business partner and I have a combined experience of 40 years in case management. We understand how difficult it is to be the caregiver of a parent or loved one who is entering their Winter Years – it might be territory you have never traversed before and you may feel lost. Health Care systems can be overwhelming and scary to a “new comer” to this realm. My business partner and I, as case managers and health care advocates, help people navigate the health care system, understand insurance coverage and Medicaid programs, and show you how to best care for your loved ones while taking care of yourself. With our background as End of Life Doulas we bring a special component to help people care for their loved ones all the way up to life’s final transition.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is that I don’t have to “fix” everything. As a social worker my job was to find resources in order to “fix” a problem. Most of the time, my clients don’t see themselves or their situation as a problem to be fixed. Rather, it is more effective to help them see that they have the answer within themselves and it is my job to help coach them to the answer and empower them to make their own decisions as to what is best for them.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I have had a vast array of experiences. I have been a stay at home mom, I have worked for a Chamber of Commerce, I have been an insurance agent, I have been a social worker – all of these things have prepared me for this moment. I might not have understood why I was in those roles while I was doing them, but now I can look back and see how they shaped me into a fierce advocate for people who are just trying to navigate the necessities of life. I have seen myself as a person who presents as somewhat unsettled, but now I know that those unsettled moments were in my path for a reason and I would not have it any other way. Advocacy is my profession, and I love it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brightpathwaydoula.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeJourneyAdvisors
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyrbright