Testimonials
On unfamiliar roads we can all use a guide
Conscious Living Coaching
Birgitta’s light and energy draw you in. You want to be a part of whatever she is about. She has the innate ability to make you feel comforted, safe, loved, and peaceful. Not everyone is comfortable with the topic of death and dying but Birgitta holds your hand and guides you through the most difficult event that we experience in our lives. She is a sensitive, compassionate, authentic coach and I feel blessed and grateful that she is a part of my life.
I can’t tell you how relieved I am to have had Birgitta’s help. I am an only child and it is my sole responsibility to care for my mother. Birgitta facilitated several conversations and shared valuable information which led to us documenting our wishes and communicating them to other family members. Birgitta is a dedicated, professional with a genuine passion and love for how a family can come together and support someone they love needing to make decisions and living through change, in a way that is guided and respectful to that person. Everything is in place for when my mother’s health begins to fail and I now know what my mother’s expectations and wishes are due to Birgitta’s counseling.
Birgitta has helped me calm down about my perception of death and all the possibilities that might come my way in the future so I feel more at ease which is an almost impossible task. I know she will be my go to support and resource for many years to come.
Dying, grieving and death are topics that I personally avoid. It’s too scary. But ever since I’ve met Birgitta this topic got a different dimension. Birgitta is so passionate and at ease with this natural part of live that it makes you want to tap into her knowledge and energy. She empowers her clients in making decisions that work and are right for them. Birgitta is an expert in her field, well connected and knows how to open doors. She is a coach who can guide you though difficult times and help you find peace of mind.
End of Life Services
K. was so happy when she found out you would be coming in to work with her. You helped her to relax and your energy in her home was good for everyone during the last days of her life. Thank you.
When my husband was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, metastasized to his spine, I was terrified knowing he probably didn’t have long to live. My son introduced me to an angel by the name of Birgitta Kastenbaum. I don’t know how we could have coped without her. She guided us through each and every hurdle that we faced – such as tough conversations, important legal matters, palliative care, and ultimately hospice care. She spoke with all family members at one time or another and answered their questions with clarity and compassion. Most important, she was at our home with us when my husband passed and led us through, what I can only describe as, a beautiful experience. She continues to stay in touch and offer her expertise through these difficult days of mourning. I can’t say enough good about this amazing woman who is most certainly doing the challenging and important work that she is meant to do. I give her the highest possible recommendation.
You are a living angel Birgitta. So much guidance…
A cocoon of love. When a loved one is nearing the end of their life, they are often in need of spiritual, emotional, and personal support. We want them to have the best experience they can have. It’s often hard for us to be a caregiver, be grieving, and give our loved one the support they need. Often we feel confused, overwhelmed, and not sure what to do. This is when the special work of Birgitta Kastenbaum can be a blessing for your loved one and for you. People always want to know how something works. Well, it would be easier for me to explain how medicines work (I managed a research lab at the University of California, San Francisco medical school for 11 years) than it would be for me to explain HOW Birgitta does what she does.
When people are nearing the end of their life, they can be very open or very closed, it can be a whole range of emotions. Birgitta observes them and adjusts her behaviors to where and how they are in that moment. It’s as if she builds a cocoon of love, and is totally present to that person. She might lightly sing to them, speak to them, touch them, she might just silently be with them and gaze into their eyes. I am not sure of the how but It’s a spiritual and loving connection between Birgitta and the person who is approaching the end of their physical life. I now know that her work is something beautiful, loving and amazing.
We have an amazing caregiver, Jerome, the best caregiver I have ever seen. He has many years of experience, he’s worked with rich and famous people, and he comes from the heart. When he saw Birgitta work, he was amazed. He said to me, “look at how happy he looks.” The effect lingered and the next day he really noticed a difference too. Jerome said to me, “She should be working with all hospices!” I had the same reaction when I watched her work. In this kind of work, no one can promise any particular results. In the time she has worked with my partner, I saw more smiles than I’ve seen for a long time. If that’s all that happened, that’s enough for me; to have more joy at the end of one’s life, even if it’s just for a time, is an incredible gift. And I believe something much more important happened, something I can’t really describe.
Birgitta’s work has been a huge help to me, and has helped ease my sense of grief and helplessness.
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping M. You being there makes me feel like everything’s going to be OK. Thank you for helping her and her family and all the work that you do. I so believe M. now has peace.
Birgitta is one of the most compassionate people I have met. She brings a beautiful sense of presence into any situation. Her ability to know when to say what ( or be silent) is something that is intuitive and special. She is a person of grace and that cannot be taught. She is truly a gift. I was impressed with how she was able to be with a veteran with PTSD with patience, understanding and kindness. I highly recommend her, she is a blessing in her field for everyone she comes across.
Birgitta is a sensitive, deeply heart-driven end-of-life transition guide whom I highly recommend to anyone facing their own or a loved-one’s final transition.
Birgitta is one of those rare women whose light draws you toward her. She has an energy about her that is kind, loving and funny. Her good humor and kind heart is just a small piece of what makes her a comforting choice when dealing with a dying loved one. She is passionate about easing the transition of leaving this life, for both the dying person and their loved ones. I’m honored to call her my colleague and friend.
It’s hard to describe the many and ineffable benefits of having had Birgitta’s services available to us, from pre-hospice decisions to before my relative’s passing. She answered questions I didn’t know I had. For a few weeks we communicated by email, phone and text followed by one in person visit.
And even though we only had her come for one visit, her calm and generous spirit and approach permeated the rest of the time I had with my loved one.
When I didn’t know what to say, I would just pretend to be Birgitta and say what came to my lips from my heart. It was a huge comfort to me and, I believe, to my relative.
In addition to the spiritual and emotional benefits, Birgitta was an important source of information on how to deal with the logistics and legalities of passing away in a hospital environment.
Worth every penny, and more.
Workshops and Tea Talks
“Birgitta and Ta are answered prayer for our organization! They generously take their time to facilitate our “Monthly Tea Talks,” a drop-in time to explore and share about living and dying and, to quote Birgitta, “all those messy parts in between.” Additionally, they see clients and their families individually in their homes, often helping them to live more fully and die more consciously and with love, communication and cohesion. Ta and Birgitta bring their experience, high intention and great compassion to their work. We’re grateful!”
Thank you for the wonderful teachings and insights, and to everyone participating as well for sharing the time in warmth and openness.
Thank you dear Birgitta for an amazing evening. It was perfect! You gave so much information and I now have tools to help me and my mom.
I loved last night. It was even better then I imagined. Your presence, energy and knowledge were the perfect combination to lead and anchor the talks.
I was deeply moved while listening to Birgitta’s raw emotion and passion when she spoke about honoring the dying and grieving process during a life coaching workshop.
I only wish I had met her fifteen years earlier when my family and I struggled with personal and moral issues surrounding the sad and lengthly illness of both my parents.
With profound and genuine regard for the end of life process, Birgitta helped me understand that there are many ways to honor a dying persons wishes while respecting the past, present and future dynamics within a family and helping the loved ones being left behind.
For a topic that can be extremely difficult to discuss, Birgitta creates an environment of trust and non judgement and encourages open dialogue in a supportive and safe setting.
I feel genuinely lucky to have met Birgitta.
She has changed the way I embrace the unknown.
Thank you dear Birgitta for an amazing evening. It was perfect! You gave so much information and I now have tools to help me on my journey.
In the End…There is only Love – Weekend retreat
The “In the end there’s only love” Retreat was so empowering, amazing and Informative!
So much like Midwifery, transiting out of this world is so similar to transitioning and birthing into the world!
Observing and creating the sacred space, supporting the family’s as well as the person going through transition, and working as hard as the laboring woman does. Being quiet when needed, being in the moment, being mindful and respectful.
Keeping our focus o figuring out what the needs are and encouraging the family’s in helping to meet these needs…I am looking forward to level 2.
Love & Blessings
Such a sacred weekend, an absolute GIFT.
I feel so blessed to have taken Level 1 and 2 of “In the end…there is only Love”, a weekend retreat devoted to conscious dying and mindful after death care. Birgitta and Cheserae are amazing teachers and bring a personal level of commitment to this incredible work. Their loving spirits, compassionate natures, and deep knowledge of the subject came through in their teachings. The materials they provided were in-depth and practical.
They created an inclusive space where I felt safe to explore my own feelings and abilities by doing practical, meaningful exercises. This work is so crucial and touches my soul deeply. It was truly a profound experience for me.
Thank you so much for the amazing week end. It was perfect preparation for living and meeting the huge challenges in my life. I am embarking on the toughest time of my life and l needed the support and peace and community that you and Ta provided.
I am glad to be a part of your Facebook group. And I will call on you for guidance when I am preparing for the passing of anyone close to me. And I will pass on your information to anyone I know who is in need.
I feel much more prepared to meet life and death than I did on Friday.
Hugs.
Thank you both for a beautiful experience. Each person there made it that much more special and personal. Birgitta and Ta, you brought all the love, knowledge and energy I had hoped for and more.
We would love to hear from you
Write a testimonial for us to share with others, it is a wonderful way to pay it forward. Much care, love and attention has been given to all we do and we are so grateful for the trust you have placed in us to be a small part of your journey.
With gratitude,
Birgitta and Bridging Transitions
