Learn how to help prevent and heal emotional birth trauma in this eight-week tele-seminar (distance course via phone/conference call), led by Pam England and Virginia Bobro. 

The day/time listed for each session is the mandatory class time, in Pacific (California) time. Do not sign up for the course if you cannot commit to that day/time. Weekly calls are approx. 75 minutes.  While calls are recorded for students' future reference, attending calls is a requirement of the course.

Check the time in your time-zone. 

2012 Schedule

Session #6 (BFW Mentors only): Feb. 7 – March 27, Tuesdays at 1 pm. 

Session #7 (Any Birth Professionals): April 17 – June 5, Tuesdays at 1 pm. 

Session #8 (Any Birth Professionals): June 20 – August 8, Wednesdays at 9 am. 

Session #9 (BFW Mentors only): Sept. 12 – Oct. 31, Wednesdays at 9 am.

Cancellation policy: a $50 admin fee will be accessed for those cancelling 24 hours prior to the start of the course. Once the course has started no credits or refunds will be given. 
Seven group conference calls, plus one private Birth Story session with Pam England or Virginia Bobro. Registration limited to 10 people to allow for personal attention (Register early!) Click here for book list and more info on this course.

 We expect this course to fill very quickly; REGISTER NOW (please indicate which session!)

Enrollment is by application. Once you register and pay, you will receive an application form by email. We reserve the right to deny any applicant. If you are not accepted, you will be notified within a week and receive a full refund. Approved for 18 contact hours through the CA Board of RN, provider #12800.

If you are part of a group that would like to have a session just for your members (ICAN Leaders, LLL Leaders,  a midwifery group, etc.), or would like to arrange a group to meet on a different day/time, please contact our office to make arrangements.

Fee: $275 (Mentors receive add'l 10% discount), which includes: 

• A 30-minute private Birth Story phone session with Pam England or Virginia Bobro  ($75 value).
• Seven 75-minute classes (live conference calls).
  
• Detailed hand-outs, lessons, and readings.
• Individual skills assessment, feedback, and support from Pam and/or Virginia.
  
• Group email support throughout the 8 weeks.
  
• Access to past Birth Story sessions led by Pam England and Virginia Bobro. Hear birth story listening, solution-focused dialog, and the healing process modeled.

• Experience and embody the Birthing From Within solution-focused Birth Story Medicine process.

• Learn how to entrain, contain, and lead individuals or groups of mothers through dynamic dialogue and processes.

• Learn how to lead the powerful Birth Story Labyrinth process.

• Experience a paradigm shift from problem-focused thinking to solution-focused thinking and conversation. Why and how to listen deeply with all “Five Ears.”

• Understand the seeds of emotional Birth Trauma, and how to lessen or prevent it.

Required Reading (to be completed before or during the course):

Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, by Peter Levine

Brief Coaching for Lasting Solutions, by Insoo Kim Berg and Peter Szabo

Labyrinth of Birth, by Pam England

Participants will need access to the following:

• A phone that can make long-distance calls to the U.S. (or Skype)
  
• Computer with internet, to be able to listen to and watch audio and video lessons online
• Audio or video recording equipment
• Mothers in your community, in order to conduct Birth Story sessions during the course

Tele-seminar Format and Topics:

This course is approved for 14 contact hours through the CA Board of RN, provider #12800.

Students will complete weekly readings and assignments (e.g., journaling, reading, leading and recording Birth Story sessions, etc.). Each week begins with a one-hour group phone call (which will be recorded so you can listen again for review or if you missed the live call). Students receive individual written feedback on assignments from course facilitators.

COURSE SCHEDULE (dates are for the first session—other sessions will follow the same format)

Week 1:  First Birth Story and the Seeds of Emotional Birth Trauma

Week 2: Your Birth Story: Experience and embody the Birth Story Medicine process with Pam or Virginia during a 30-minute private phone session. This can be about your own experience of giving birth, or attending births as a nurse, midwife, or doula.

Week 3:  When and where to listen; How to entrain and lead the group, begin a story session, create a container for the Stories

Week 4:  Who is telling, Who is listening?; “Five Ears”; Validation

Week 5:  Solution-focused mindset and dialogue

Week 6:  Tasks for each of the nine "Birth Story Gates"

Week 7:  Practice and case studies

Last Call:  Advanced case studies (self-awareness/self-evaluation); Ceremonies for birth story healing.

REGISTER NOW (please indicate which session!)