Dream Big: Being a Doula Trainer
Have you ever wanted something so badly you could feel it with every molecule in your body? That’s how I felt about becoming a doula trainer for ProDoula.
I’ve long enjoyed the educational part of my job as a doula. I love teaching childbirth education and running workshops on Newborn Care, and I love the one-on-one education that comes with working with a family as either a birth or postpartum doula.
I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to become a doula trainer. I just needed to find an organization that I believed in enough to want to train for.
About a year ago, I realized that ProDoula was that organization. ProDoula may be a newer training organization, but they’re growing like crazy. They’re encouraging doulas to be professional, work hard, and grow their businesses. ProDoula wants us to elevate the role of doulas in the eyes of doulas, our clients, and care providers.
Earlier this year I flew to New Jersey to attend ProDoula’s Advanced Business Training. Not only did I walk away with so much information and so many ideas, but I also got to see Randy Patterson in action. That woman stands in front of a room and energizes them like nothing I’d ever seen before! Before the first break of the day I was already planning another trip to go and do my labour training, and I was committed to becoming a trainer.
As I got more involved in the ProDoula world by taking trainings, engaging online, I really felt like I’d found my community. ProDoula stands for professionalism and high standards for doulas, but it’s also one big family. I have never before gotten so much support and encouragement from an organization. And this support goes all the way to the top, to Randy and Debbie themselves.
ProDoula doulas the doulas of the world. Whenever I feel like I can’t do something, or that I’m stuck I can count on my ProDoula family to help me out.
One Friday afternoon I got the most exciting phone call of my life – I have been chosen to be in the next group of ProDoula trainers! I am over-the-moon excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to get started!
I am so honoured to be a part of this great organization, and this amazing group of women who will go out into the world to train and mentor new doulas! The training we’ll all do in January is going to be thorough and intense, and it’s going to be so much fun.
In ProDoula I have found my community and my home. I can’t wait to get out to trainings all over the world and bring that community to other doulas! Do you want to be a doula in 2016? I can’t wait to come to your community and bring Labo(u)r and Postpartum trainings your way.