“My experience of the training was certainly a life changing and profound one. It is hard to do it justice in writing but I will try to communicate what I felt were the most important things that I took from the course. I think that this in itself demonstrates one very valuable & singular aspect of the training; that it creates a space in which every participant can grow and learn in a way that is unique to them. I believe that each of us in our group took something different but equally precious and personally relevant away with us.
The training showed me what deep inner resources I already had; what deep inner resources all women have available to them if they are guided in where & how to look, and if they feel loved and supported in that process.
I learnt that in many ways the lessons we learn about and through birth are lessons for life, both for ourselves as Doulas & the couples we work with.
Once glimpsed, the gift of that knowledge is never forgotten and you begin to see the opportunities for growth every day. Personally, this gave me a quiet confidence in myself, my ability and the world, whether attending a birth or living a heart centered life with my family. It is akin to having an extra pair of eyes through which to see the world.
Having completed the course, there’s no feeling of “knowing it all” or having finished my learning, but I do feel quite transformed through the experience. I feel a deep respect and gratitude for the knowledge of how much there is to learn in life if you are open to it. This doesn’t start or finish with a course or qualification but certainly through the training I now feel more equipped than ever to appreciate and grow through the experiences of my work and life.
In essence the training reminds me of the difference between giving a starving family a fish or the means to catch their own fish! We certainly learnt a lot about the work that is of practical use, but where I personally felt the most value lie, was in what we learnt about how to learn; how to listen to and respond sensitively and with respect to ourselves, to the women we work with, to birth and to life. Through this, I feel ready and inspired to meet whatever life as a Doula brings.”