A question about your training workshop

MsDoula · 08-01-2006, 11:19 PM

I was wondering how many of your ladies felt completely empowered as a woman by your doula training workshop. I know I did. I felt like the workshop itself helped heal some broken parts within me. A really big part of this was attending a workshop that taught vaginal exams, but even without that I was empowered. Learning intimate touch and care of another woman. Learning about empowering women helped to empower me.

Any thoughts or experiences to share?

1stimestar · 08-01-2006, 11:49 PM

Weeeellllll....with my first one I was angry. I was mad that I had to go out of state (this was years ago before they were offered many places or often) to hear all about stuff I already knew. Also, part of the fee went to get your membership with DONA. I already had been a member of DONA yet did not get that part of my fee discounted. The trainer had made the CBE and reading list prerequisits for the class and I busted my ass to get those done beforehand as well as spent money I didn't really have on the books (remember this was before they were in libraries) to read. Then when I got to the class I found that almost half of the women hadn't "been able to get to that part yet". Huh? Then too, coming from out of state, I was not able to get that local benifit of working with the doulas I was training with.

Anyways, years later I needed another class to get certified so took it. Yea, I already knew the stuff but it was a much more fun as these were new doulas who were going to be in my area and I was excited about them being here and getting to know them.

erad76 · 08-02-2006, 08:04 AM

I was completely apprehensive about my training. I thought it was going to be a lot of touchy-feely (in a bad way) women talking about how all births should happen in the woods and showing everyone pictures of their cats.
I was actually really impressed with the quality of the training. There was a diverse mix of women in the class; some who were already doulas just looking to "make it official”, some childbirth educators, some newbies, some on their way to being midwives. The women who ran the course were excellent in allowing discussion, but at the same time encouraging lots of private reflection. It gave us a great framework that we could apply to our doula work long after the weekend was over. I felt like we were really taught how to be doulas, not just do what doulas do.

HamiltonBirthRevolution · 08-02-2006, 09:36 AM

Loved my DONA LD training. I did it down at The Farm so there was an extra layer of super cool experiences thrown in. But if I just look at the training: I found it transformative, personally and prepared me well for practicing my skills.

My CAPPA PPD training was so fantastically underwhelming, I'm afraid to admit to my husband that I spent $350 on a horribly useless course. I felt it was dumbed down and did not adequately go into the business part of the job. I would never recommend this.

I've heard that my DONA trainers are considering doing PPD trainings. If I can start getting some births, I'd consider going to that one.

MothertheMother · 08-02-2006, 11:50 AM

Tracy, the co-founder of CAPPA, was my trainer and I was defininetly empowered after the training. She is very good and what she does and really inspired me to do so much more than I thought I wanted to do before attending. Her story is inspiring and she really gave me the confidence to move forward in this industry. Can't say enough about how wonderful it was. Keep in mind I was so nervous going in because I found the training last minute and had only read one or two books. I felt completely accepted.

DL · 08-02-2006, 12:02 PM

I also had Tracy, the co-founder of CAPPA, as my labor doula trainer! I live in Ohio, but drove down to the Atlanta GA area to attend (mil lives close by). I LOVED my training! I came in already very well prepared (had all my books read and knowing more than most of the others, if not all), but what I did come out with that surprised me was enormous empowerment. Tracy made me feel like I could do anything!

It's funny....sometimes I feel like I need to attend another one JUST to get a renewal of that same level of empowerment!

It's been 3 years ago, and a lot has happened in our family over this summer... I've honestly felt my motivation slipping lately. *sigh*

Since I won't be attending another doula training anytime soon, I think that attending the CAPPA conference in Sept. will be just what I need to get myself feeling ready to get back into the swing of things!

1stimestar · 08-02-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HamiltonBirthRevolution

My CAPPA PPD training was so fantastically underwhelming, I'm afraid to admit to my husband that I spent $350 on a horribly useless course. I felt it was dumbed down and did not adequately go into the business part of the job. I would never recommend this.

Yes, that is how I felt about my first DONA training. Now the advanced doula training I went to with Penny Simkin was more in the line of your "The Farm" experience.

DL · 08-02-2006, 12:11 PM

I've not attended any other trainings yet. From what I've read and heard, I'm thinking that one's training experience has more to do with the individual instructor, not so much the organization. Knowing how much I loved mine, I always hate to hear that someone is disappointed with their training.

Sheryl · 08-03-2006, 10:45 AM

My CAPPA traning was great because I met great women and had a very good time. However the training itself left a lot to be desired. There was so much focus on things like birth art while questions that were being asked were put off for "later". "Later" never came and in the last hour of the training (it was a 4 day training) people were scrambling to get questions answered, mostly about the business aspect, but birth art took over again and people were sitting there coloring pictures instead of using the time left to discuss things that needed to be discussed.

DL · 08-03-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheryl

...but birth art took over again and people were sitting there coloring pictures instead of using the time left to discuss things that needed to be discussed.

This is exactly what I mean about it being the instructor that makes the difference, not necessarily the organization. At my CAPPA LD training with Tracy, I don't remember discussing birth art at all. I wonder if most do that, or don't do that?

I would have been disappointed in that aspect of the training if I were you, as well. Just thought I'd share how different our experiences were within the same org.

MothertheMother · 08-03-2006, 02:24 PM

I think if you were unhappy with your experience you should let Tracy and Donna know. I think they would want to know that CAPPA is being well represented by their trainers. I can't believe that at a 4 day workshop the ins and outs of the business side were not fully discussed!!Maybe that particular trainer needs a little more training??

delightfuldoula · 08-04-2006, 12:28 AM

I too had to go out of state to attend my ALACE training, but it was so worth it. My instructor, Therese, is an incredible woman and I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet her. I think I am the only woman from my class who is currently working as a doula, but I am not positive. I will say that it would be nice to have more comraderie with the other women in my class, but this fall we are bringing an ALACE training to Wichita and I am attending again just to network and meet other ALACE doulas.

The best part for me was the wisdom that my trainer shared with us, and the letting go of my own birth "stuff" that she helped me do in order to be better able to help other women.

I like ALACE because they only have 3 women who travel the country doing trainings and that is their speciality, they are all great trainers.

1stimestar · 08-04-2006, 01:07 AM

I agree that it is totally dependant on the trainer/s.

tlcdoula · 08-04-2006, 07:12 AM

Yes, I left feeling very empowered and like you felt like some areas of my life were healed. Of course, more healing has occurred over the years that I have been a doula too.

The really funny thing was that my dh said he noticed a change within me after my training too.

tlcdoula · 08-04-2006, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheryl

My CAPPA traning was great because I met great women and had a very good time. However the training itself left a lot to be desired. There was so much focus on things like birth art while questions that were being asked were put off for "later". "Later" never came and in the last hour of the training (it was a 4 day training) people were scrambling to get questions answered, mostly about the business aspect, but birth art took over again and people were sitting there coloring pictures instead of using the time left to discuss things that needed to be discussed.

I hope you filled out your evaluation accordingly if you weren't impressed with the situation. Those do get read!!!