I have an extensive background, and an enormous passion, in the transitions of birth and death.  Below, you can learn a little (or a lot) more about who I am.

Hi! My name is Kelli Lyles, and I’m glad you’ve found your way to my website. Let me tell you a little more about myself and how I found my way to the work I do today.  

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Upper Iowa University and a Master of Arts in Gerontology with two core concentrations in Aging and the Family and Geriatric Care Management from Nova Southeastern University.  

I am a Certified Counselor with Washington State. I also hold certifications in Yin Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation and am a certified Death Midwife, certified ARCH healer, and ordained officiant. My past work history includes practicing as a Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator for 20 years, as well as running training workshops for both Birth Doulas and Childbirth Educators as a certified trainer with ICEA. Before children, I spent many years working in the accounting field (and yes, I still love doing my taxes 😉).

My education and training would mean nothing if it was not backed up with passion in my chosen fields.

Birth and death are the two experiences we will all share, and my deep connection to both was shaped by pivotal life events that led me down new paths more than once. Becoming a parent changed the entire trajectory of my life and immersed me in the world of childbirth, igniting my passion for supporting expecting and new parents through their own unique journeys. Experiencing a postpartum mood disorder rocked my world—but also began an incredibly healing journey of my own.

Assisting my parents through the end of their lives, and ultimately their deaths, once again altered my life path. From that experience, my passion for talking openly about death and grief was born. As humans, we are all united by loss, whether it is of people, pets, identities, places, or seasons of life. We say goodbye more than we realize, and eventually, we will all face our own death. While death and grief are difficult topics, they are also deeply powerful and can sometimes offer unexpected healing. I consider it a sacred privilege to accompany others through these profoundly human experiences: birth, death, and everything in between.

At the heart of my work is a commitment to the dignity and worth of every human being. I am pro–human rights and deeply committed to justice, bodily autonomy, and the dignity of all people, particularly those from communities that have been historically marginalized, harmed, or excluded. I do not align with systems or practices that dehumanize people based on race, gender, identity, immigration status, or any other marker of difference. This is a space where humanity comes first. Always.

My goal is to create spaces where life’s transitions can be met with openness, care, compassion, and maybe even a little laughter. I truly believe that humor, at the right moment, can make even the heaviest loads a little lighter.

Outside of my work, I value balance and spending quality time with my family, which includes my husband, our three adult sons, and our two cats. I enjoy daily meditation, practicing yoga, and hula hooping. I delight in a good cup of coffee, especially when it’s shared with friends. My happiest places are anywhere along the Pacific Ocean, preferably the Oregon and Washington coast. I’m also a lifelong Seattle Mariners fan, which may have given me my earliest lessons in grief, but also fuels my belief that the best is yet to come.

I am an open book and happy to answer any questions you may have about my personal or professional life. I love meeting new people, hearing life stories, and am honored every single time someone invites me into their life during transitional periods as it is during those times when every human being deserves extra loving support.