DONA Certified Birth Doula
Birth Doula Support
Certified Birth Doula candidate
(DONA International)
With over 20 years of extensive experience with a variety of clinical populations as a therapist, I have found a true love of working with women and a passion for being present and supportive during the journey of birth.
In March 2022 I completed my coursework to become a certified doula through DONA International. In 2022 and 2023 I was able to gain the practical experience to complete the certification! I have been attending births and providing physical and emotional support to women and couples while they start the wild ride into parenting. It can be an amazing experience, and I'd love to help you navigate through what can be a very challenging process.
In 2019 after many years to providing therapy for individuals, I started working with a client who was a new mom. To my surprise in all my years of therapy, I had never before had a client who was a new mom. She told a friend, and so on and so on… pretty soon I was seeing a lot of new moms who were struggling with post partum depression, anxiety, adjusting to this new identity, changes in their relationship-this huge transformation. This became a new area that I was growing in expertise. After listening to and supporting woman with traumatic births, multiple losses, and their experiences within the birthing world I really wanted to be able to provide a different kind of support than therapy offered. I wanted to walk with them through this experience-literally holding their hands, (hips and backs too)! Over the pandemic I trained as a birth doula to continue to understand what my clients were experiencing and to be a force of change-for more positive birth experiences. Every birther deserves to be heard, respected and treated with kindness during one of the most challenging and intimate experiences of their life. It is an experience they will never forget.
“We were so thankful to have Betty as part of our birth team! This was our first baby, and we had no idea what to fully expect, but Betty was an amazing calming and knowledgeable force throughout a long and exhausting labor. She helped me navigate surprising turns, kept us informed of our options and helped us make informed decision. Before the actual labor, Betty went above and beyond by not only providing traditional meetings in our home, but by also leading an awesome meditation, yoga and birth positions class at her yoga studio. Overall, she was a fantastic support during and before labor! I highly recommend her as a doula and would love to have her as my doula again if we have another baby! Thank you so much Betty- we so grateful for you. I don’t know how I could have gotten through labor without you :-)”
Lauren, Izzy and Baby Hallie
Continue the personal story of why you’re called to this work
I have always felt honored to be a therapist and bear witness to individual’s stories and their experiences. It’s such a very intimate experience. The only experience that feels equivalent in this way is supporting someone stepping into a new role of parent as they start the journey of pregnancy to parenthood; acclimating to changes in their body and thoughts about themselves and their coming family. The culmination of this, is of course the moment of birth of the baby that they have been thinking, dreaming and hoping about for a long time. It is so joyous, relief filled, exhausting and life changing. It’s a tiny bit life changing for me as well, each time it happens!
Working with Women
Pregnancy Support
Need a check in, text support for in the moment concerns? It’s a good thing we get 9 months to prepare for this new role-it’s a big change! This might look like 15 minute increments of support on the go.
1 to 1 Yoga & Meditation Sessions
We can set up time each week to practice breath work for meditation and yoga practice. No matter what else feels out of control in this process- you always have your breath.
Groups to prepare for birth
Next group starts 10/1/23. A six session, in person group to help prepare you for your birth journey using physical practice, concrete information from the doula world and meditation and breath work skills to buoy you.
BONUS: includes a 6 week postpartum support group!
Betty’s energy, demeanor and presence were fundamental to my emotional well-being both in preparation for birth and throughout labor. She came equipped with so much more than knowledge about the birth process and tips to ease discomfort during labor. She was a loving and familiar presence during a time of great uncertainty and an advocate for my voice throughout the birth process. She has continued to play an important part in my life even after the birth of my son. ”
Education & Training
DONA International Birth Doula Certification candidate 2023
200 hr. Certified Yoga teacher, Dec. 2022. Breathwork and knowledge about the physiology of the human body including the pelvic floor.
PMH-C, Perinatal Mental Health Certified provider March 2022. Specific clinical skills and evaluation in post partum mood and anxiety disorders.
Master of Arts in Expressive Therapy from Lesley University, 1999.
Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from New York University, 1992.
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