In addition to what is listed above, I also have
a vast and varied background in movement, bodywork and
alternative health; I hold a B.A. in Dance, have studied
modalities such as neuromuscular massage
therapy, acupuncture/acupressure, Oriental medicine, yoga, tai
chi and holistic nutrition. Although I have spent many years
working in the massage field, I chose to specialize in pregnancy
in 2003.
I feel that I possess both a calming presence
and an insatiable passion for interpreting the research and
truths about childbirth. I believe that most parents want the
safest, healthiest birthing experience possible. Sifting
through the conflicting messages provided by medical staff (who
are often trained to deal with emergencies or crises) can be
confusing. In addition, parents often have many fears about the
process. HypnoBirthing helps moms & dads to see birth as a
natural, normal process, while providing skills for relaxation &
visualization that can be used in all areas of life--and last
longer than just a CD or book.
At the time of this writing, I have taught
HypnoBirthing for over 4 years to over 100 moms & couples. In addition to
teaching HypnoBirthing, I regularly teach Hypnosis for
Weight Management to the community, I am a skilled instructor
for vocational therapeutic massage and I have instructed
practitioner-training courses for the HypnoBirthing Institute.
I am a national advocacy representative for the HypnoBirthing Institute, serving as a liason in the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) organization. I am also a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) and a student midwife.
I am currently pursuing graduate
studies in Clinical Psychology, where my
interest is in prenatal and perinatal health (including mental
health and postpartum depression). I am looking forward to an internship at the Casa de Nacimiento birth center in El Paso, TX this winter. I hope to continue to work
with women & couples well into the future as well as participate
more robustly in research related to women's issues.
