Joys and Challenges on the Path of Service to Birthing Families
(Usually 7 continuing education units) This one day workshop focuses on the doula's skills of emotional support in a variety of contexts. It is designed to inspire and build confidence as well as increase the doula's level of skill in supporting mothers and families.
This workshop is also highly relevant for nurses and midwives who wish to increase their skills and feel a renewed commitment to their profession. Childbirth educators and postpartum doulas may receive an increased understanding of birth and the families they serve.

Topics includes: Doula Profiles Moving from Novice to Expert; Emotional Support Skills; Reading Mother's Cues and Building Communication Skills; Doulaing the Pregnant and Laboring Father; Facilitating Transformation and Grief; Taking Care of Ourselves For a more detailed description, go to Joys and Challenges.

Communication Skills for Doulas and Labor Support Professionals
This one day workshop details the communication skills that doulas need in order to increase their effectiveness with medical caregivers, clients, and their families. It expands on the principles and concepts outlined in the shorter session included in other workshops and allows for individuals to work on their own challenges. The first session begins with a doulas inner issues and feelings about his/her self; communication style; and perspectives of the world. The second session examines factors affecting communication and negotiation including status, power, affiliation, and group belonging. Lastly, participants apply skills to different individual situations that labor support professionals typically encounter. This workshop is multi-modal: participants read and respond to written materials, do exercises individually and in small groups, and participate in discussion and experiential exercises.

The Original ADT: We've successfully conducted this workshop as an opportunity for doulas to get to know one another better, with fun exercises for building community and laughing together. The topics included: Advanced Positioning Strategies; Inductions and the Doula; Preventing Birth Trauma; and Advanced Communication Skills for Doulas; and the Power of Witnessing and Strength Circle. There are additional topics listed below that have been conducted for other groups. Most of the topics in the Joys and Challenges Workshop can be mixed and matched with topics listed below. All have detailed descriptions.

Advanced Doula Skills Training Workshops
Doulas need to develop their skills in five basic areas: emotional support, physical support, informational support, advocacy, and negotiating relationships with fathers, family members, nurses, and medical caregivers. This workshop allows doula community groups or hospital doula programs to choose the sessions they find most relevant. One and two day programs are available. For larger groups, additional trainers may be available to correctly teach hands on skills and facilitate small group exercises. Many of these topics are relevant for nurses, childbirth educators, postpartum doulas, and other birth and professionals.

Click here to go to Detailed Topic Descriptions