Receive personalized guidance from an expert mentor, tailored to your personal growth and success.
As a Birthing from Within member, you now have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one mentoring sessions with our Trainers.
Choose the Trainer you'd like to work with, complete the form at the bottom of their bio, and outline the areas where you seek support. These sessions are designed to offer mentorship around your personal practice and work with clients. They will reach out to arrange your session.
Mentor Bios
-
She/they
Andrea is a Certified Childbirth Educator with Birthing from Within, Independent Full-Spectrum Doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, Massage + Bodywork Therapist, and mother to two children of her own.
Over two decades, she has been invited to walk alongside thousands of birthing people and new parents on different parts of their journeys. She has also had the honor of accompanying beloveds in their dying process and knows through these threshold experiences, the deep feelings and tender presence of being with someone so precious is integral to truly loving and honoring one another.
For Andrea, Birthing from Within has been a nourishing and life changing force in her life personally and professionally. She has witnessed how the BfW philosophy and skills can be transformative by creating greater resilience, capacity, and healing in families, birthgivers, birthworkers, and their communities. As a career birthworker (2003-present) and long-time member of BfW, she is keenly aware how this heart-centered, trauma-informed, embodied professional development and ongoing compassionate self-discovery, all rooted within the support of the BFW community is what so many birthworkers are longing for. It has helped make her professional offerings uniquely impactful and creatively alive enough to meet birthing families where they are while keeping her from burning out. Instead, she is ever-more fluid, connected, and inspired to share this incredible work in deeper, more meaningful ways- together.
-
she/her
It is a joy and privilege to serve as a BFW mentor, to be a mirror of the mentee's strengths and help them find their answers within.
Often, I reach for BFW process, such as Next Best Thing, or art processes to bring clarity. The Heroic Journey is the backdrop for all methods; a great tool to discover in-roads along the path of growth and change.
I am comfortable with Zoom calls at whatever hour is most helpful to the mentee. In my life it is possible, with advance notice, to meet in other time zones in order to accommodate a reasonable time for mentees in far away places.
-
she/her
Hi, I’m Christy. I’m originally from California but have been living in Pittsburgh, PA for the past six years. Let me tell you a little about myself to paint a picture of who I am as a mentor. Although I started out as a childbirth educator and birth doula in private practice, for the past six years I’ve been a community birthworker at a nonprofit that focuses on maternal health equity. I have previous experience supporting parents as a home visitor and am fluent in Spanish. One thing that brings me so much joy is bringing out the artist in people that didn’t know they were artists. In addition to being a Birthing From Within facilitator, I’m an Intentional Creativity and Cosmic Smashbook guide and love to combine these three approaches in my work.
As a mentor, I would be a good fit for those that are interested in bringing Birthing fom Within into non-traditional settings.
-
she/her
Meet Lou-Ann, a childbirth educator and facilitator with Birthing from Within, who is dedicated to supporting families along their birth journeys. She brings warmth, empathy, and a deep understanding of the multifaceted nature of birth every session. With an approach that blends evidence-based knowledge, spiritual reflection, and practical wisdom, Lou-Ann helps her peers navigate the rewarding yet complex world of birth work. Her love for herbs, nutrition, and wellness during the childbearing year keeps her learning and sharing insights with others equally curious about nurturing body and spirit. Lou-Ann indulges in playfulness and creativity through engaging nail content that reflects her vibrant personality. Whether you’re looking for thoughtful guidance, a fresh perspective, or useful tools for growth, she is ready to walk beside you on your journey with kindness, laughter, and an open heart.
-
she/her
I want you to gain the confidence and clarity to work with families in a deep and sustainable way.
I am an established birth doula in Montreal, Canada where I also facilitate group/private prenatal classes that combine modern and inner knowing. I am a lifelong learner, a scientist at heart, obsessed with the messy middle, and am striving to bring more humor & celebration into my work.
Bridging the science and sacred of birth has been part of my philosophy as a doula and I bring this same lens to mentoring birthworkers. We can dive into the practical aspects of your work (incorporating BfW into classes/meetings, advocacy, business building) while also getting into the less tangible aspects of walking alongside rites of passage such as embodying values to step into the unknown.
Specialities:Advocacy, Processing birth experiences we witness, Supporting loss, Supporting pregnancy after loss, Exploring fears with parents
-
she/her
Mentorship has been a cornerstone of my growth as a birth professional, and I am passionate about offering the same support to others. Whether you are seeking guidance around specific Birthing from Within processes and frameworks or broader support in navigating the many aspects of birth work, I would be honored to walk alongside you, offering insight and encouragement.
With over 20 years of experience as a doula, I have worked independently, within agencies, and as a community care hospital doula. I have also developed doula programs within hospital systems and collaborated with hospital staff to integrate doulas into team care settings. As a childbirth educator, I have taught in both individual and group settings and have designed curriculum to support meaningful learning experiences.
My passion lies in helping you uncover your unique gifts in this work, creating a space for self-discovery and growth as you step into your full potential as a birth professional.