Compassionate Choice Alliance

You don't have to navigate the end-of-life alone.

At Compassionate Choice Alliance LLC, we offer a calm, steady, experienced
guidance for individuals and families considering Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)
under Vermont’s Act 39.

As End of Life Doulas, all with mental health backgrounds, we help navigate the

logistical, emotional, and relational aspects of accessing services with clarity, compassion, and respect.

Our goal is to support care that aligns with each person’s wishes and to ease the journey by guiding clients and their loved ones through practical barriers while providing consistent emotional support throughout the process.

How We Provide Support

We serve individuals who wish to access Medical Aid in Dying under Vermont’s Act 39. The process can be complex. We provide guidance and support with:

Understanding the law and eligibility requirements
Finding Vermont-licensed physicians and caregivers
Organizing appointments and medical documentation
Coordinating hospice enrollment and transferring care (for out-of-state clients)
Planning for travel, lodging, and ingestion day
Working with pharmacists to obtain medication
Arranging after-death care
Providing emotional and practical support throughout the process

If you’re unsure which option is right for you, we’re happy to talk through your situation and help determine the best fit.

Concierge Support Offering

$8,000 · Around 60-80 hours of dedicated care

For individuals and families who want comprehensive, hands-on care with full logistical management and continuous presence.

Includes everything in the Guided Support Package, plus:

Attendance at your medical appointments
Assistance with lodging and travel for you and your family
Assistance with arranging caregivers, necessary medical equipment, after death arrangements and any special requests
Full facilitation and on call for you 7 days a week, will respond within 2-3 hours, if not sooner

Guided Support Offering

$6,000 · Around 40 hours of dedicated care

Ideal for those who prefer a self-directed process with professional guidance.

Includes:

Guidance and planning through all MAID requirements
Coordination with Vermont-licensed medical providers
Scheduling and family education
Coordination with hospice, pharmacist, and day-of-death location
Full presence and support on the day of death
Our AfterMaid Grief Peer Support Group for your loved ones
Availability: Monday–Friday, will respond within 24 hours

About Our Team

Licia Berry-Berard
LICSW, MSW

Rachel Loreto

LMSW

Rachel is a licensed social worker and practicing psychotherapist.

She holds a Professional Certificate as an End of Life Doula and as a Grief and Bereavement Specialist from UVM and a second End Life Doula Certification from Inelda.

Rachel has experience supporting vulnerable populations through a background in non-profit
program management and in child welfare. She currently serves on the board of the MAID educational and advocacy organization End of Life Options DC. Rachel also volunteers for hospice and on the Helpline at Patient Choices Vermont.

Her personal experience accompanying her aunt through the MAID process in Vermont inspired her commitment to assisting others in creating a peaceful and empowered end of life journey for themselves.

Brigid Guttmacher

M.A., L.P.C. (Ret.)

Brigid has over 40 years of experience with hospices in Vermont and Washington, DC as both a clinician and a volunteer.

Brigid holds a Professional Certificate as an End of Life Doula from UVM.

While working as a Bereavement Care Coordinator and a Community
Outreach and Palliative Care

Counselor for hospice, she provided support to family members and friends of hospice patients and members of the community before as well as after the death of a loved one.

Brigid had a private practice in
DC specializing in helping individuals and families cope with illness, life transitions, and grief and loss issues.

Brigid currently volunteers answering inquiries about accessing MAID in Vermont on the Helpline at Patient Choices Vermont.

Licia is a licensed social worker and psychotherapist with more than three decades of experience supporting individuals and families through medically and emotionally
complex life stages.

As a Certified End-of-Life Doula through LifeSpan Doulas, she brings a grounded, compassionate presence to those navigating the final chapter of life, helping clients and their loved ones feel informed, supported, and less alone.

Licia’s professional background includes extensive work with vulnerable populations: older adults, individuals with chronic and terminal illnesses, and families facing significant loss or transition.

She has guided countless patients and caregivers through medical systems, end-of-life decision-making, and anticipatory grief, always with an emphasis on dignity, clarity, and emotional safety.

After MAID Grief Peer Support Group

Losing someone you love is never simple. When a loved one chooses Medical Aid in Dying, the grief that follows can feel even more layered - holding tenderness, questions, relief, sorrow, love, and so many emotions in between.

We offer a virtual 6 week facilitated peer support group for those who have been present for their loved one's transition utilizing MAID in the United States.

The group is offered quarterly.

Our next peer facilitated support group will start in September 2026.

The group is offered free of charge and meets on Sunday
nights from 7 - 8PM (ET) on Zoom

The group offers a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space for those who have lost someone through Medical Aid in Dying. Together, we will create a community where you can share your story, connect with others who understand this unique form of loss, and feel supported as you navigate your grief.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the form below. You will be contacted soon regarding enrollment. Space is limited, and completing this form will ensure you will receive information about this group and future offerings.

To Inquire About Participation Click Below:

After MAID Grief Peer Support Group

Start the Conversation

We are here to listen, provide answers, and walk beside you as you
navigate the end of life choices available to you.

The First Move

Once you reach out, we’ll schedule a time to connect and talk through your situation. We’ll listen to learn about you and your family, your current condition and your end of life goals and needs. We’ll explain the Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) process in Vermont and answer all your questions.

After this initial call, we’ll share our service agreement. If we decide to move forward together, we collect partial payment and begin creating your personalized plan right away.

Standard Timing

Most clients complete the process — from planning to the day of death — within 4 to 6 weeks, though timing can vary depending on:

How quickly documentation is gathered
Coordination with hospice, funeral services, and pharmacy
Availability of physicians and other service providers
Your disease progression

(802) 448-5046

CCAdoulas@gmail.com

Messages from Families We've Assisted

What remains so clear is the bond you shared with my mother. You ensured she felt seen and held in such a beautiful network of care. Knowing she was surrounded by such love in those last end-of-life weeks brings me a level of comfort that I cannot quite put into words. We are so grateful for your presence during that time.

Sam, NY

Daughter of client

Your steady compassion and presence ensured he felt dignified and safe durante a very delicate moment. That gift to him, and to us as a family, is an end-of-life memory we will treasure forever. Thank you for everything.

Leslie, IL

Daughter of Client