About Empyrean
EMPYREAN End of Life Doula and Consulting is a service business owned by Christine Bailor-Goodlander, RN, LMT, CEOLD. As a long-time Registered Nurse and Licensed and Nationally Board -Certified Massage Therapist, Christine decided to combine her skills to provide care for those looking to live well through preparation decision making for the next phase of their life.
What Is an End -Of- Life Doula?
A death midwife, or death doula, is a person who assists in the dying process, much like a midwife or doula does with the birthing process. It is often a community -based role, aiming to help families cope with death through recognizing it as a natural and important part of life. An end-of-life doula guides a person who is transitioning to death and their loved ones through the dying process. Learn More
What Is Legacy Work?
Legacy writing is form of documenting shared moments, experiences, connections, and values that are special to you and your loved ones. It’s an opportunity for you to tell your story, through your lens.
What Happens After the Death?
Following the death, the EOL doula will help loved ones reprocess the dying experience through one or more sessions. The focus of these sessions will be to uncover recurring images, sounds, or other experiences, as well as things said or not said, things not done, or wishes unmet. The EOL doulas will try to reframe those experiences that have negative emotional content. The EOL doulas will also share their experiences of the more positive and touching moments they witnessed to help loved ones hold on to those moments as well. The EOL doula will discuss the nature of bereavement and encourage the processing of some of the emotion grief evokes. The EOL doula will also refer loved ones to bereavement services available.
What Is a Care Consultant?
Care Consultant – Is a professional that is specially trained to help another person through all aspects of Advanced Care Planning. Helping patients with subjective information to make informed choices.
What Is a Vigil Plan?
The EOL doula will help the dying person and loved ones plan for their wishes during the last days of life. This involves reviewing and explaining the choices they have in where they want to die, how the space is set up around them; the kinds of interaction they want with loved ones, caregivers, and others; as well as the kind of sounds, reading, smells, light, and touch they would find comforting and helpful as they go through the dying process. If there is conflict in the wishes of the dying person and their loved ones, the doula will advocate for the primacy of the dying person’s wishes and also explore ways to support the loved ones. When the dying person is in the last days of life – the time we refer to as the “vigil” – the EOL doula will attend to them and those around them in ways that reflect their wishes and the need for doula presence. The primary focus of the EOL doula in this stage is maintaining and advocating for the spirit of a plan they had worked out beforehand. If no such planning work occurred prior to the EOL doula involvement, the EOL doula will work on the choices and options with those involved as the vigil begins. The EOL doula will do what they can to hold the space for the choices about the atmosphere and the wishes of all involved The EOL doula will use sound, readings, touch, guided imagery, and ritual to deepen the sense of meaning and bring greater comfort to everyone involved.
Doulas
Christine Bailor-Goodlander
Holistic Registered Nurse, Licensed and Nationally Board-Certified Massage Therapist, Transformational Life and Grief Coach, End-of-Life Doula, Educator, Author
Christine Bailor-Goodlander’s work lives at the intersection of science, touch, and transformation—a place where clinical expertise meets the deeply human experience of healing, change, and meaning-making. With a professional foundation that spans nursing, therapeutic bodywork, coaching, and end-of-life care, she has cultivated a career devoted to helping individuals navigate some of life’s most vulnerable and pivotal moments with clarity, dignity, and intention.
Christine began her journey in healthcare as a Registered Professional Nurse after graduating from Sisters’ Hospital School of Nursing in 1985. Early in her career, she developed a profound respect for the resilience of the human body and the complexity of the human experience. Working within traditional medical settings, she witnessed both the strengths and the limitations of conventional care. While she valued the structure and lifesaving capabilities of clinical medicine, she also recognized a gap—one that left little room for the emotional, energetic, and deeply personal aspects of healing. This awareness would later become a catalyst for her transition into more integrative and holistic approaches to care.
In 1999, Christine made a pivotal decision to step away from her full-time nursing career to pursue massage therapy, expanding her capacity to support individuals in a more hands-on, individualized way. She graduated from the New York Institute of Massage and became a Board-Certified Licensed Massage Therapist, holding licensure in both New York and Pennsylvania. This shift marked the beginning of a new chapter—one in which she could blend her clinical knowledge with a more intuitive, body-centered approach to healing.
Over the years, Christine has pursued extensive advanced training across a wide spectrum of therapeutic modalities. She specializes in medical, sports, rehabilitation, and oncology massage, bringing a highly skilled and nuanced approach to each session. Her work is informed not only by technical proficiency but also by a deep understanding of how the body stores and communicates stress, trauma, and imbalance. She is ACOLS trained in Lymphatic Drainage and certified as a Cancer Exercise Specialist through CETI, further enhancing her ability to support clients navigating complex health challenges, including cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
Among her many credentials, Christine is also one of only two CORE Certified Structural Integrative Therapists in the Western New York region. This distinction reflects her advanced training in structural integration, a specialized modality focused on realigning the body’s connective tissue system to improve function, reduce pain, and restore balance. Through this work, she develops individualized treatment plans that integrate multiple techniques, tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals. Her approach is both precise and holistic, addressing not only symptoms but also the underlying patterns that contribute to dysfunction.
Christine’s commitment to education and professional development extends beyond her own learning. She has served as a faculty member at the New York Institute of Massage and as a Teaching Assistant in various educational settings, sharing her knowledge and experience with the next generation of therapists. As the founder of BE Continuing Education, she offers a wide range of continuing education programs designed to elevate the skills, confidence, and clinical competence of massage therapists. Her teaching is grounded in both science and practice, and she is known for her ability to translate complex concepts into accessible, meaningful learning experiences.
In addition to her work in bodywork and education, Christine is a Transformational Life Coach trained through The Nurse Coach Collective and the Brave Thinking Institute under Mary Morrissey. In this role, she supports individuals in identifying and shifting the limiting beliefs and internal paradigms that keep them from living the lives they truly desire. Her coaching philosophy is rooted in the understanding that lasting change does not come from external advice alone, but from deep internal awareness. She guides clients in exploring their inner landscape—helping them recognize the patterns, narratives, and subconscious beliefs that shape their experiences—and supports them in creating new, more empowering ways of thinking and being.
This focus on inner transformation naturally complements her work as an End-of-Life Doula. Christine provides compassionate, non-medical support to individuals and families facing death, as well as to those navigating grief and loss. In this space, her presence is both grounding and deeply empathetic. She helps clients approach the end of life not as something to be feared or avoided, but as a meaningful transition—one that can be met with peace, understanding, and even a sense of completion. Through gentle guidance, reflective conversation, and emotional support, she creates a safe space for individuals to process, reflect, and find their own sense of closure and meaning.
Christine is the owner of The Body Essential Holistic Wellness Center, located in Williamsville, New York. The center serves as a hub for integrative health services, bringing together a diverse team of highly qualified practitioners who share a commitment to holistic, client-centered care. Under Christine’s leadership, The Body Essential has become known for its collaborative approach and its dedication to staying at the forefront of the evolving wellness landscape. The practitioners within the center work together to provide comprehensive care that addresses the physical, emotional, and energetic aspects of health, ensuring that each client receives support that is both individualized and deeply respectful of their unique journey.
In addition to The Body Essential, Christine is also the owner of Empyrean End of Life Doula Consulting and Services, where she extends her work in end-of-life care and coaching. Through this practice, she continues to support individuals and families with compassion and clarity, helping them navigate some of life’s most profound transitions with grace and intention.
Christine’s professional affiliations reflect her active engagement in the broader healthcare and wellness communities. She is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), where she has served on the Executive Committee as the 2023–2024 National Association President. Her leadership within AMTA underscores her commitment to advancing the massage therapy profession and advocating for high standards of practice and education. She is also a member of the Society for Oncology Massage and the American Holistic Nurses Association, further demonstrating her dedication to integrative and specialized care. She currently serves on the NCBTMB Ethics and Standards Committee and the New York State Massage Therapy Licensure Board. Her past roles include serving on the Board of Directors for AMTA New York and the National Association of Nurse Massage Therapists.
At the heart of Christine’s work is a deep belief in personal responsibility and the body’s innate capacity for healing. She encourages her clients to become active participants in their own wellness, inviting them to listen to their bodies and explore the underlying causes of discomfort, imbalance, or dis-ease. Rather than offering quick fixes, she supports a process of discovery—one that empowers individuals to understand the “why” behind their experiences and to make choices that align with their overall well-being.
Her clientele spans a wide range of demographics, and she is committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where all individuals feel seen, respected, and supported. Whether working with athletes recovering from injury, individuals undergoing cancer treatment, clients navigating chronic pain, or those facing the end of life, Christine brings the same level of presence, professionalism, and compassion to every interaction.
Throughout her career, Christine has been guided by a simple yet profound principle: true healing is not something done to a person, but something cultivated from within. Her work, in all its forms, is an invitation to slow down, to listen, to reflect, and to reconnect with the deeper wisdom that resides within each individual. In a world that often prioritizes speed, productivity, and external validation, Christine offers an alternative path—one that honors the complexity of the human experience and recognizes that healing, growth, and transformation are deeply personal journeys. Through her multifaceted practice, she continues to support others in navigating these journeys with courage, awareness, and a renewed sense of possibility.
Keery Ybarra
Kerry Ybarra, RN, BSN, EOLD, is a Buffalo native devoted to supporting the elderly, terminally ill, and their families through compassionate end-of-life care, education, and preparation.
From an early age, Kerry knew she was meant to be a healer. As a child, she spent her days caring for injured birds and rescuing small creatures others overlooked. That instinct to nurture and comfort eventually guided her toward a life rooted in service, advocacy, and human connection.
Before becoming a nurse, Kerry worked with organizations including People Inc. and Summit Educational Resources, supporting adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Those experiences became some of the most meaningful highlights of her early career and deepened her understanding of compassionate care.
In 2015, Kerry graduated Magna Cum Laude from D’Youville University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and began her career with Kaleida Health. As a Registered Nurse, Kerry has spent years witnessing humanity in both its most beautiful and most difficult moments. While bedside nursing remains one of her greatest passions, she found herself increasingly drawn toward supporting individuals and families nearing the end of life.
Kerry recognized that for many people, death is surrounded by panic, fear, and uncertainty. She believed there had to be another way to walk alongside individuals during this sacred transition, one rooted in presence, honesty, dignity, and love.
In 2021, Kerry stepped away from hospital nursing for a brief period and began working as a visiting nurse. During that time, she met a patient named David, who was dying from cancer. Despite his diagnosis, David remained deeply determined to stay connected to life and to those he loved. Kerry supported him throughout that journey, sitting with him in moments of grief, listening to his fears, wiping away tears, and reminding him that while the physical body may leave this world, the spirit and love we share continue through the lives of the people we touch.
Working with David profoundly changed her life and solidified what she already knew deep within herself: she was meant to become an End-of-Life Doula.
In 2023, Kerry completed her training through the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA). Since then, she has worked closely with elderly and terminally ill individuals and their loved ones, helping families navigate advanced care planning, providing emotional and spiritual support, offering bedside companionship, and creating space for meaningful conversations surrounding death, legacy, and healing.
Kerry draws inspiration from spiritual teachers, including Ram Dass and Paramahansa Yogananda, whose teachings continue to influence her compassionate and soul-centered approach to care.
As an integral part of Empyrean Consulting, Kerry helps provide educational events, increase public awareness surrounding end-of-life care, and support those navigating grief, caregiving, and transition.
Outside of her work, Kerry creates handmade suncatchers, a practice that began during a time when she needed a little extra light in her own life. Today, she shares those creations as symbols of hope, healing, and remembrance for others.
Kerry believes that death is not simply a medical event, but a deeply human experience meant to be shared with those we love most.
“It is in the sacred space created at the end of life that families are often able to speak openly about their hopes, fears, wishes, and love. In those moments, intention and closure can finally begin to unfold.”
— Kerry Ybarra, RN, BSN, EOLD
For support, education, or guidance, Kerry welcomes individuals and families to connect with her through Instagram at @herecomesthesun33, by phone at 716-395-9797, or by email at kybarra85@gmail.com.