Objectives for sessions can be sent on request.  Please let me know if you would like more details about any session.

Advanced Positioning Strategies - In this completely revised session, participants learn in more depth about pelvic anatomy and positioning with several different applications.  One, participants learn and practice three different positioning techniques to alleviate some common discomforts of late pregnancy and influence the eventual position of the baby.   Two, together we review and integrate new information about positions during pregnancy and labor that enhance fetal descent - including prodromal labor (a long latent phase).  Three, I cover strategies to use during labor to prevent and correct fetal malpositioning (including occupit posterior presentations when mom has an epidural). Four, I analyze the implications for the doula of the Lieberman study regarding fetal movement during labor.

This session is taught "hands on" in small groups so more than one trainer may be needed depending on the size of your group. 120 minutes

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Advanced Communication Skills for Doulas– Labor support professionals recognize that these skills can make or break their success, yet they are difficult to teach in a basic workshop.  Communication skills are relationship skills.  This session focuses on enhancing communication between caregiver and client; and advocacy skills for the doula.  Ideas from negotiation research and practice, concepts and ideas for individual skill building, and the nitty-gritty situations that doulas face are covered in this session.  90 minutes
A longer, focused one day workshop is also available.

Clients with Challenging Life Issues– This session details supporting clients with more difficult life challenges such as sexual abuse, mental illness, and relationship violence.  This session emphasizes appropriate counseling skills, keeping professional and emotional boundaries, building a team with the client's family or therapists, self–care, while staying within the doula's scope of practice.  An additional module of assisting clients with physical disabilities can be added to this session. 60 – 90 minutes

Doulaing the Pregnant and Laboring Father– Fathering is in a state of cultural flux. Our role models for fathering have changed drastically in the last thirty years and many men are caught in the middle.  Their emotional needs may not be met by the structured role that has been forced upon them.  This session examines what the last few decades of research can tell us about expectant fathers and their needs during labor and birth.  It also includes my own interviews with fathers and what they had to say about their doulas.  Even experienced doulas usually get a lot out of this session.  60 minutes

Emotional Support Skills– Doulas work in isolation from one another and make assumptions that other doulas practice and strategize just like we do.  This is not necessarily correct and we can learn from one another's practices.  This session covers ten basic and complex emotional support strategies used by doulas that are grounded in my research of labor support techniques. 90 minutes

Facilitating Transformation:  Adjustment, Grief, and Guidance– There is some level of grief and adjustment in all our families and part of our job is to help facilitate this experience.  This session explores what doulas really do during this major life transition that makes a difference.  It covers appropriate counseling skills and stories from doulas who have witnessed the shadow side of this profession: poor health care, fetal and infant death, and mothers who behave in ways that personally challenge us.  There is also an emphasis on strategies for doulas to prevent trauma and promote healthy self-care.  90 minutes

Growing A Business– So you've decided professional doula work is for you and want to take it to the next level.  This session covers the nuts and bolts of having an independent doula practice such as insurance, taxes and mileage logs; different practice models including doula–pairs and back up arrangements; choosing a back up doula; and marketing your growing doula practice. This session can be individualized for your community's unique challenges.  60 minutes

Induction and the Doula– The United States induction rate currently exceeds 23%*.  This session reviews common induction medications and their effects on mother's bodies and emotions; indications for induction; discussing induction during prenatal visits; and the doula's role at a client's labor induction.  60 or 90 minutes 
*Centers for Disease Control, 2006

Power of Witnessing and Strength Circle– In this reflective part of the workshop, participants are able to speak and receive support for difficult situations they have faced in their lives as birth professionals.  Interspersed with periods of silence, facilitators discuss what we know about the power of being a witness and the power of caring when people are faced with emotionally charged situations.  60  minutes

Prenatal Visits– My main philosophy is that prenatal visits need to empower mothers and emphasize acceptance of the client's choices.  However, clients also need information that may contradict the wisdom of some of the client's choices.  This session emphasizes relationship building skills, strategies for discussing difficult issues, non-judgmental communication skills, exercises and handouts to make visits more effective, coming across as a professional, and typical challenges that doulas face at prenatal visits.  60 minutes

Preventing Birth Trauma– Birth trauma has seen a surge in exposure in recent years.  The DSM–IV* now lists childbirth as one of the possible origins of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) along with sexual assault, physical abuse, and service during wartime.  This session covers what makes an experience traumatic for mothers, fathers, and babies.  Additionally, it outlines prevention strategies that can lessen the incidence and impact for the mother, father, and the baby.  90 minutes

*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Volume IV

When The Baby Dies - The essence of being a doula does not change, however many of us are reassured when we have the opportunity to "preview" what other doulas have done in this situation. This session details the doula's role when an unexpected stillbirth occurs. There are subtle differences when the mother knows before labor that her baby has passed; if the baby is born unexpectedly still; or if s/he dies within a few hours after birth. Details about what to do in the immediate situation, hospital and homebirth differences, the first week postpartum, and self care will be discussed. (60 minutes)