Education and Certifications
Before arriving in the US in 2007, I was working full time as a clinical psychologist in France. I have a Master's Degree in Psychology (Paris V University, June 2002).
I became interested in doula services after having a baby girl in 2008, here in San Francisco, and helping my friends with their new babies. First I became a Certified Lactation Educator and Counselor (University of California San Diego, Gini Baker, August 2009) and then was certified as a Postpartum Doula through the biggest and most recognized American Association of Doulas (Dona International, July 2010).
All my vaccinations are up to date and I am Trustline registered.
I am also CPR certified (Adult, Infant & Child).
What I do and my philosophy
The first weeks and months after your baby's birth are very special yet highly challenging for you as new parents, as you need time to adjust to your new responsibilities. My role is to help you both during this transition, to allow you to rest and recover at your own rhythm, to ease the communication and support you emotionally, and to help you to benefit from my education and experience, in the respect of your personal and family styles. You have to make many choices for your baby, I support parents' decisions and encourage you to find your own way with parenthood.
According to many resources and different cultures, the recovery/postpartum period is defined as between 6 weeks... and up to 2 years! Everyone's experience is unique and should be taken seriously. Each mother should receive the appropriate help and support she needs to follow her own rhythm and individual recovery time. Make things easier for her can help to prevent postpartum depression and facilitate the bonding with her little one.
Who I am
I'm originally from France and arrived in San Francisco with my husband 5 years ago, we currently live in Bernal Heights.
My job is my passion. Newborns are amazing and studies demonstrate time and again the abilities they have, especially with communication and reaction to their close environment: they are instantly active partners in the relationship. I am fascinated by early interactions between moms and babies. If there are some instinctive feelings and behaviors, moms and babies still have to adjust to them and learn to understand each other. They create their own language and mutually work on "attunement", or how parents react to their babies' moods and emotions. The simple way to hold or touch a baby makes the mom unique and has a lot of significance for her baby, who identifies her as knowledgeable, and above all caring and nurturing.
I am very happy to have found a way to use my previous skills in the field of psychology to explore such a fundamental area of human interaction. There is always a lot to learn about mothers and babies, but also fathers and babies, which keeps me motivated and interested. Because of my work as a psychologist, I know how to work confidentially, with respect for personal opinions, choices and histories.
I am devoted to offering emotional support and practical information to you as new parents, and will do my best to adjust to your specific needs.
