"My client shared that she was anxious while I was talking to her OB in the hallway, but was thankful because when we walked back into the room she (my client) felt a shift in her care. She said it changed the whole vibe of the birth where everyone could put differences aside and come together. She thanked me again for the conversation I had with her knowing that her birth would have gone very different it that conversation wouldn't have happened." Sarah W. Advocate Doula
Dear Doula,
I remember a few years into this work waking up in the middle of the night in a panic after a particular experience I had with a client. My client wasn't comfortable with something happening to them and I did not advocate for them. I felt awful (and still do to this day) about not doing enough to keep them centered and safe during their birth. This moment changed everything for me.
And the thing is, I'm willing to bet you've felt the same thing. The details might differ, but so many of us are walking into birthing spaces without the confidence and skills we need to advocate for our clients. To truly keep them centered and whole during the most vulnerable and demanding experience of their lives. You aren't alone if you have births that keep you up at night. Where you wish you had done something differently or something more. Or if you're new to this work and terrified that you won't know what to do in these situations. You aren't alone if you feel like you are caught between what you know in your heart is right and the pressure to "stay in your lane."
I was you. But this experience led to a complete overhaul in the way I do this work, how I show up for my clients, and it turned into a mission to reduce trauma by helping families find their decision-making process through education and enlightenment which birth history has erased. I took more trainings, I sought out the skills I needed to have better conversations and build cohesive teams in short periods of time that centered my clients. I developed the KEEPING YOUR POWER® concept to help families find and keep their power grounded in their intrinsic worth throughout their parenting journey. I served hundreds of clients and their families in my community...
I remember a few years into this work waking up in the middle of the night in a panic after a particular experience I had with a client. My client wasn't comfortable with something happening to them and I did not advocate for them. I felt awful (and still do to this day) about not doing enough to keep them centered and safe during their birth. This moment changed everything for me.
And the thing is, I'm willing to bet you've felt the same thing. The details might differ, but so many of us are walking into birthing spaces without the confidence and skills we need to advocate for our clients. To truly keep them centered and whole during the most vulnerable and demanding experience of their lives. You aren't alone if you have births that keep you up at night. Where you wish you had done something differently or something more. Or if you're new to this work and terrified that you won't know what to do in these situations. You aren't alone if you feel like you are caught between what you know in your heart is right and the pressure to "stay in your lane."
I was you. But this experience led to a complete overhaul in the way I do this work, how I show up for my clients, and it turned into a mission to reduce trauma by helping families find their decision-making process through education and enlightenment which birth history has erased. I took more trainings, I sought out the skills I needed to have better conversations and build cohesive teams in short periods of time that centered my clients. I developed the KEEPING YOUR POWER® concept to help families find and keep their power grounded in their intrinsic worth throughout their parenting journey. I served hundreds of clients and their families in my community...
But something was missing...
After doing this work and being part of the doula community for over 20 years, I realized that doulas were also being harmed by not only the Medical Industrial complex (MIC), but that a similar hierarchy was being perpetuated in what I call the Doula Training Industrial Complex (DTIC). So I started talking about advocacy on my various platforms. I created a KEEPING YOUR POWER® training for doulas and childbirth educators. I mentored doulas one-on-one. I created The Advanced Doula workshop and I saw over an over how much doulas were craving a space to connect, learn actual advocacy skills, and grow fully into this powerful calling.
So I decided to build a space to do just those things. I connected with a team of incredible doulas also committed to this journey and we created the Doula Instincts Mentoring Membership. After only one cohort that launched at the beginning of this year, we have already seen incredible transformation, growth, and healing! I envision the Doula Instincts Mentoring Membership as a place Doulas can be supported and held accountable for reducing birthing time trauma while they center and discover their true Doula Advocacy identity through the learning and lived experiences of her work. my fundamental principal is that Advocacy does not equal Animosity through conversations with empathy and compassion.
In the words of one of my dearest heroes, Dr. Maya Angelou "when you know better, you do better." I am absolutely thrilled to invite you into this space of community, healing, and growth! Join us in the Doula Instincts community and get the support and skills you need to step fully into your power as an Advocate doula!
The hierarchy of power in the maternity system is a myth. We have collapsed under the illusion that we are “only” doulas and we have no place on a birth team. We are hired by our clients for specific reasons: they need more support, education, and advocacy. Advocacy means different things to different people. As doulas who are entrusted with information from our clients, we must understand our responsibility and expectations of our clients to advocate for their needs. We do not make up information or have a agenda in the birth space.
This membership will help doulas identify their advocacy role in douladom and provide skills to help have conversations that focus on the birthing person. This space will also be a safe space for doulas healing from their trainings that have told them not to advocate which has caused secondary trauma. Advocacy in doula work starts with YOU!
We can not be 100% for our clients if we are not 100% ourselves. Come CONNECT, LEARN, and GROW.
This membership will help doulas identify their advocacy role in douladom and provide skills to help have conversations that focus on the birthing person. This space will also be a safe space for doulas healing from their trainings that have told them not to advocate which has caused secondary trauma. Advocacy in doula work starts with YOU!
We can not be 100% for our clients if we are not 100% ourselves. Come CONNECT, LEARN, and GROW.
What you will get
You will get access to a community of doulas commited to the personal growth, learning, and healing required to become truly effective advocates for their clients. We provide this through the three different annual membership options to meet you exactly where you are and make sure you are getting the support you need in your journey
CONNECT |
LEARN |
GROW |
This is a great option If you feel fairly confident in your advocacy skills and have done some of the healing work needed as a Doula but you feel like you are missing a safe community of advocate doulas. |
If you've been doing this work for a while (especially without a supportive doula community) you are likely carrying around some heavy stuff from the births you've witnessed, to the confusing and hurtful messages in large doula training organizations, and possibly horizontal violence in online or local doula groups. This option gives you all of the benefits from LEVEL 1 plus the additional support you need to unpack all of this and start healing. |
Whether you're a seasoned doula or just starting out, this option gives you all of the tools and support you need to be a confident advocate doula for yourself and your clients. Get everything from CONNECT and LEARN, plus one-on-one mentoring with me so we can dig into what practical skills you can build on as an advocate. |
- Access to a private community of advocate doulas - Peer-to-peer support from other doulas and Community Leaders - Lives on Friday - Early access to workshops and offerings before they are shared to the rest of the world - 10% Discount to Products/Workshops - Advocacy does not equal Animosity T-shirt - Option to upgrade to either of the other levels at any time |
- Everything from CONNECT - Deep dive topic discussions with Traci and the group each Friday (recordings will be available) - Doula Instincts Discounts for in-person workshops - Access to The Advanced Doula Workshop Level 1 (bias, boundaries, brilliance) online (included in membership) - Keeping Your Power® educator training for FREE when purchasing access codes for your clients - Workbooks and special content to help you heal and grow |
- Everything from CONNECT and LEARN - Monthly one-on-one mentoring and coaching with Traci - Quarterly VIP deep dives into important advocate doula topics - VIP discount rate for in-person workshops and all products in Traci's shop - Monthly VIP workbooks and special content with actionable steps to improve your advocacy and conversation skills in prenatals and the birthing space - Real-time birth consults with Traci |
$299 |
$799 |
$1199 |
Choose the membership that works best for you below and come join us in the community!
We are committed to making this space accessible and sustainable
We believe that helping doulas stand in their own power is an essential step to eliminating birth trauma for all people. Access to doula training has historically and continues to typically be limited to those doulas who stand in various layers of privilege. Offering these scholarships is about acknowledging this reality and doing something meaningful to address it.
We have created multiple membership options as part of our commitment to make this membership accessible and sustainable for us all.
If, for whatever reason, none of the options above work for you, please fill out the scholarship form linked below. We want to collaborate with you to get the support and community you need to be a confident birth room advocate for your clients.
This scholarship process is intended to enable any doula who is marginalized and discriminated against to identify their need, have their voice heard, and stand firmly in their own power.
We have created multiple membership options as part of our commitment to make this membership accessible and sustainable for us all.
If, for whatever reason, none of the options above work for you, please fill out the scholarship form linked below. We want to collaborate with you to get the support and community you need to be a confident birth room advocate for your clients.
This scholarship process is intended to enable any doula who is marginalized and discriminated against to identify their need, have their voice heard, and stand firmly in their own power.
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Payment and Acceptance of registration represents the registrant's acceptance of and agreement to the Maternal Instinct Doula's Membership Participation and Waiver of Liability Agreement. We have made the membership as accessible as possible, there are no refunds for monies accumulated while being a part of the membership.
After subscribing to the membership, be on the lookout for emails from our team!! See you in the community!