About Me
In the early 1980's, I became certified as a childbirth educator and taught childbirth classes. In these classes, I noticed that expectant couples were prepared physically, but many were not prepared emotionally for the birth and parenting experience. Nothing in Lamaze training or advanced psychology studies seemed to address this emotional transition, so I began searching for a way to include more emotional preparation into my classes. Using music, positive affirmations, relaxation, and attention focusing to address the emotional needs of students was not proving to be enough. I wanted to find a short, fun, easy, and effective way to help people address their fears and awaken their joy, creativity, and inner guidance. In short, I wanted to find a way to help these couples make the awesome transition into parenthood.
During that time of intense study and research, I came across several important teachers who have helped me, most notably, Lucia Capacchione, PHD, A.T.R, R.E.A.T. Dr. Capacchione is an art therapist and educator who teaches the Creative Journal Method. This method makes use of several art therapy activities such as drawing, sculpting, doodling, scribbling, and writing with the dominant and non-dominant hands.
With Dr. Capacchione's permission and mentoring, I spent nine years applying these techniques to birth. I created my first workbook, The Joyful Birth Journal, and the relaxation and imagery CD Birth Cave Imagery. Students and clients found the method so simple and useful in their childbirth and early parenting preparation that they begged me to write a book to share with all pregnant women and their families.
In 1994, I co-authored the book Creating a Joyful Birth Experience: Developing a partnership with your unborn child for healthy pregnancy, labor and early parenting. As providence would have it, my work with Joyful Birth Journaling was put on hold when my nursing career took me to Central and South America to do mission work.
Now, I've returned to my passion...working with the birthing community...and have expanded my services from teaching childbirth classes and counseling to Joyful Birth™ weekend classes and Babymoon retreats. I hope that these materials and workshops help create a more meaningful and joyous labor and birth experience for expectant couples and professionals serving pregnant women.
Joy and Blessings,
RN, LCCE, FACCE, CD
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