Dr. Amy Gilliland
Transforming Research
Into Practice
Doula Researcher & EducatorPast Research FellowEducation MentorAASECT Certified Supervisor
Doula Researcher & Educator
About Me
Legitimizing Doula Work, Empowering Laboring People, & Transforming Obstetrics
As a globally recognized doula researcher and trainer, I actively work to revolutionize the way we, as a society, view the process of labor, labor support, and birthing parent care before, during, and after birth. With a graduate certificate in prenatal and perinatal psychology, decades of experience building labor support curriculum and strategies, expertise as a human sexuality educator and infant mental health expert, and as a licensed continuing education provider, I am uniquely qualified to assist doulas, medical professionals, and academics in improving their care delivery practices.
My Subject Matter Expertise
Interpersonal Neurobiology of the Brain
Infant Mental Health
Attachment
Trauma Influences
Doula Support
Sexuality
Nurse-Patient Relationships
Fathers and Early Fathering
About My Career
Designated as a True Thought Leader in Doula Research & Sexuality
Throughout my career, I have led, assisted, and been involved in a wide range of initiatives covering topics spanning doula research, infant mental health, and human sexuality. As an experienced educator, researcher, writer, speaker, and trainer, I am available to collaborate and share my expertise to amplify any project about what happens in our brains when we are with other people.
Who I Work With:
Academics & Researchers
Thought Leaders
Doulas
Students
Medical Professionals
How Can I Support Your Work?
Expand
Your Knowledge About Doula Work & Research
Read
My Books, Research, & Publications
Take
My Courses to Improve Your Support Skills
Book
Time With Me
Supervision
for AASECT Certification, Academic Groups & Committees
Expand Your Knowledge
Explore My Online Courses, Workshops, & Consultation
Over the years, I have developed a wide range of evidence-based courses, workshops, and skill building opportunities specifically designed to improve the support skills of all people who care for pregnant persons before, during, and after birth. I am available for in-person workshops and one-on-one consultations to assist you in building your skills and offer a series of online courses that you can take on your schedule.
Topics Include:
Trauma-Prevention
Postpartum Support
Prenatal Relationships
Communication for Birth Professionals
Brain-Based Care
CE & CME
Newborn Communications
AASECT Supervision & Career Mentoring
Supporting Your Work in Sexuality Education and Doula Professional Development
AASECT – Twice a year, I host a ten-week AASECT Group Supervision Training emphasizing education techniques and better classroom management.
Doula Career Growth – In an industry first, I have created a training and certification process via my flagship Doulaing The Doula educational platform, allowing experienced doulas and birth professionals to formally mentor with me to become DTD Faculty Members, fostering fidelity for best practices and the creation of Doula communities in underserved areas.
The Latest from Dr. Amy Gilliland
CE & CME Workshops
Dr. Amy Gilliland offers a series of courses and workshops that qualify for CE or CME for nurses and providers that are uniquely designed to:
- Build Your Knowledge – Experience innovative curriculum and workshop activities focusing on the neurobiology of the brain in labor.
- Improve Patient Outcomes – Lower your cesarean birth rate through evidence-based care that aims to reduce racial inequities and foster the best possible outcomes.
- Strengthen Patient Experiences – Provide trauma-informed care and enhance your connections with patients while building capacity.
Building Doulaing The Doula
The First Evidence-Based, Trauma-Informed Doula Education & Certification Program
I developed the Doulaing The Doula education and certification program to offer contemporary doulas a modern, culturally adaptable curriculum, based in decades of research and observation. These innovative courses are intentionally accessible to all people, from medical professionals and career doulas to the casual learner. My evidence-based curriculum model is uniquely designed to improve labor support through a trauma-informed lens, focusing on perinatal care and brain-based caregiving. With courses covering childbirth, birth doulaing, postpartum care, infant feeding, newborn communication, CE, and career development, Doulaing The Doula sets a new standard for labor support education.
The Doula Blog
Globally-Recognized Articles, Podcasts, & Video to Improve the Doula Profession
I am an internationally recognized, highly regarded birth doula researcher, international birth doula trainer, sexuality educator, and infant mental health expert with specialized training in attachment and interpersonal communication. With several academic and literary publications to my name, my blog is widely regarded as the gold standard for informative, engaging, and thought-provoking content related to labor support, obstetrics, parental and infant mental health, and human sexuality.
World Doula Week 2025: Our Values Are Being Attacked
This year, World Doula Week begins in a landscape unlike any other since I attended my first doula birth in January 1987. While doula work has often been misunderstood—and at times, even undervalued—this is the[...]
When the Doula Screws Up
Doulas are in a service business. Our success depends largely on how we manage our relationships with others. Many of us have excellent communication skills when things are going well...
Measuring Our Client’s Birth Trauma: A Valid Screening Tool for Doulas
Labor, birth, and postpartum doulas often find themselves doing assessments for depression and anxiety as a normal part of their practices. If clients have responses indicating that they need more...
My Books & Publications
Explore My Academic Works, Books, and Contributions
During my time as a researcher and educator, I have published a wide range of academic and literary work including my own book The Heart of the Doula. I’ve also had numerous academic articles published while contributing to other key works on doula research.
Booking & Scheduling
Let’s Connect to Discuss Your Needs & Goals
Are you interested in leveraging my expertise for your next project? From podcasts and round tables to workshops and seminars, I am uniquely positioned to help amplify your work around doula research, perinatal and prenatal psychology, and human sexuality.
I am Available for:
Podcasts
Seminars & Conferences
Workshops
Video Essays
Publications
Collaboratives
