Birthing mothers and those who witness birth can be uplifted by birth's mystery and power, and at the same time be haunted by profound feelings of confusion, powerlessness or shame about a particular moment. In its many forms, birth trauma is not always apparent. Even when it is, it is often minimized or ignored. Beneath our collective covenant of silence, birth trauma is pervasive.

Who May Attend This Workshop

This four hour or all-day workshop is for first-time or experienced parents, and for all professionals who work with parents during the childbearing year (midwives, doctors, nurses, therapists, childbirth teachers and doulas).

• Seven seeds of birth trauma
• The power of the "First Birth Story"
• Eight ways to minimize or prevent emotional birth trauma
  
• Birth Story Circles: traumatizing or healing?
• Nine Birth-Story Gates
• What to say to parents who are processing birth trauma
  

Pam England is a mentor, storyteller and story-listener, artist, former midwife and author of BIRTHING FROM WITHIN^®. As a mother, Pam experienced birth shock and birth trauma after her cesarean birth. She sought help from birth story circles, support groups and therapists; not finding answers there, she went on to get her masters in psychology counseling. Drawing from various authors and approaches, and listening to countless birth stories over the past three decades, Pam developed processes and guidelines for birth story circles.  Pam lives in Albuquerque. Private or small group birth story sessions can be arranged.

When and Where Can You Take This Workshop?

Choose from one of two opportunities!

Sunday, April 11, 2010    OR    Sunday, June 16

1pm – 5pm  Albuquerque  at The Source

Register online or by calling 805-964-6611

FAQ about this workshop

A:  Then you are coming to the right workshop! Many people are hesitant to take a workshop about birth stories. They dread hours of traumatic birth stories. No fear; No worries. That will not happen in this workshop. You will participate in various brief exercises that will shed new light on your story and bring new meaning to birth stories, especially your own.

Q:  Can I bring my baby or children?

A:  Babies and children, no matter how adorable, cannot attend this workshop. Participants will be focused for four brief hours on an important topic, the room is small, and distractions would not be appreciated.