Jimmy Gialelis – Working with Clients at the End of Life

In this episode, Gael sits down with Jimmy Gialelis, a World Massage Hall of Fame inductee, seasoned educator, and certified End of Life Doula, to explore how massage therapists can support clients and families during one of the most profound stages of the human journey. With clarity, compassion, and decades of experience, Jimmy breaks down the emotional, physical, and spiritual realities of end of life care and offers guidance for therapists who feel called to this work.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s appropriate, what to expect, or how to show up skillfully when a client is nearing the end of life, this conversation provides grounding, direction, and reassurance. You will learn how to hold safe space, understand the stages of transition, communicate with families, and support clients with presence rather than technique. It’s a powerful look at how massage therapists can make a meaningful difference even when healing no longer means “fixing.”

Jimmy Gialelis is a board-certified massage therapist, CE instructor, and 2018 Massage Therapy Hall of Fame inductee. He teaches oncology massage, clinical approaches, and specialized courses in end of life care. After years serving oncology clients, he sought deeper understanding and trained as an End of Life Doula through the University of Vermont. He now teaches a four day doula program with co instructor Clara Luke, helping professionals develop the skills and emotional steadiness required to support individuals and families through the transition process.

Key Topics Covered

1. What End of Life Care Really Means for Massage Therapists

2. The Role and Training of an End of Life Doula

3. How Jimmy Was Drawn to Hospice and Transition Work

4. When It Is and Isn’t Appropriate to Work With Clients Nearing Transition

5. Understanding the Stages of Transition

   • Enlightening

   • Withdrawing

   • Active Transition

6. How Physical and Emotional Changes Show Up in the Dying Process

7. What Families Often Misunderstand About End of Life

8. Safe, Meaningful Touch for Clients Who Are Actively Transitioning

9. Emotional Boundaries and Grounding for Therapists

10. First Steps for Therapists Interested in This Sacred Work

Memorable Insights

• Presence matters more than technique at the end of life
• Therapists must understand their own beliefs about death before doing this work
• Families often interpret normal transition symptoms as distress
• Empaths need strong emotional boundaries to avoid overidentifying
• Educating families can bring comfort during confusing or frightening moments
• End of life work is not about fixing, curing, or changing outcomes—it’s about honoring the human experience with compassion

Resources Mentioned

🏫 University of Vermont End of Life Doula Program 🔗 https://learn.uvm.edu/program/end-of-life-doula-at-uvm/ 
💆🏻‍♀️ Jimmy and Clara’s four day End of Life Doula training 🔗 https://sacredcocoontherapeuticmassage.com/classes 
📚 Additional CE courses offered by Jimmy on oncology massage and advanced clinical topics 🔗 https://advancedmassagece.com/ 

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