If you’re just starting out in reproductive health, you’re probably wondering where to start. At DTI, we offer three core trainings for doula work—a birth, postpartum and full-spectrum doula training, which each run for 12 months.

Although there are many doula training organizations from you to choose from, we recommend picking an organization that aligns with your learning style, your educational needs, values, politic and ultimate goals for your doula practice.

At DTI, some of the things that make us special are our seasoned educators, our values and the ways they show up in our curriculum, as well as our community initiatives. If you’re interested in training with us, here’s a peek at what our doula trainings look like.

1.) The Birth Doula Training

Doula work spans many experiences and areas of expertise beyond childbirth support, but childbirth support is where many people start (and what many in popular culture associate with doula work). At DTI, our birth doula training includes:

• 1 year of membership with doula resources
• Your 12 month program// your training starts with a top-quality course, curriculum formatted for virtual learning (DTI has been training online for years!)
• DTI Digital Guide to guide you through your training and to use with clients
• Learn live with your instructor during the first 3 months of intensive coursework, including Cultural Humility, our Slow Doula Method, and all the how-tos of managing a doula business
• 12 months of community mentorship
• Certification package
• Certification for life once you are certified through DTI, you never have to re-certify!

You can find our 2021 schedule and begin registering for online birth doula trainings with us here.

2.) The Postpartum Doula Training

Doulas have also become a vital part of many families’ postpartum period, providing support in caring for the newborn, adjusting to new life after childbirth and re-establishing healthy routines. This training includes:

• 1 year of membership with doula resources
• Your 12 month program // our in-person training starts with a 2 day workshop and our online training is a top-quality course, curriculum formatted for virtual learning (DTI has been training online for years!)
• Visual Training Book to guide you through the curriculum and to use with clients
• Learn live with your instructor during the first 3 months of intensive coursework, including Cultural Humility, our Slow Doula Method, and all the how-tos of managing a doula business
• 12 months of community mentorship
• Certification package
• Certification for life once you are certified through DTI, you never have to re-certify!

You can find our 2021 schedule and begin registering for online postpartum doula trainings here.

3.) A Full-Spectrum Doula Training

Ultimately, we see doulas as people who support better pregnancy outcomes for all families. At DTI, our most popular course is our full-spectrum training, because it walks you through many aspects of doula work and reproductive health advocacy. Within our full-spectrum doula training, we train you in birth and post-partum support, while introducing you to the full spectrum of needs families and birthing people may face in making decisions with their reproductive health. Our full-spectrum training includes:

• 1 year of membership with doula resources
• Your 12 month community mentorship program // DTI’s online training starts with 3 months of intensive coursework, a top-quality curriculum formatted for virtual learning, including Cultural Humility, our Slow Doula Method, and all the how-tos of managing a doula business, supported by live video calls with a DTI educator (the call schedule will be set after the group convenes; and you can watch the recordings if you are unable to join live)
• DTI Digital Guide to guide you through your training and to use with clients
• Certification package
• Certification for life once you are certified through DTI, you never have to re-certify!

Subject Matter Included in the Curriculum:

• Childbirth Education (intro)
• Lactation (intro)
• DTI Foundation and Mission
• DTI Compass of Care: what doulas do
• Certification Requirements for 12-month Program
• Doulas as Advocates
• Power of Language & Active Listening
• Slow Doula Method®
• Cultural Humility
• Reproductive Justice Introduction
• Cycle Awareness Introduction
• Birth Control Options
• Support Through Loss
• Abortion Support Introduction
• Fertility Support Introduction
• Doula Support for Each Stage of Labor (part 1)
• Doula Support for Each Stage of Labor (part 2)
• Comfort Measures
• Pain Management
• Navigating Induction
• Compassionate Cesarean Birth
• Business 101 for the Labor Doula
• Guide to Meeting Clients
• The First Call
• Working with Back-Ups
• Intake Form
• Self Care for the Doula
• Newborns Immediately Following Birth
• Guide for the Postpartum Doula
• Postpartum Changes in the Birthing Person
• Integrating the Birth Experience
• Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders
• Newborn Behavior and Care
• Integrating the Baby into the Family
• Business 101 for the Postpartum Doula
• Your Full Spectrum Business
• Booking Clients
• Networking
• First Steps, Next Steps
• Branding 101
• Interviewing Skills
• Community Work

You can find our 2021 schedule and begin register for online full-spectrum doula trainings here.

If you want more support as you prepare for 2021, please browse all of our free virtual resources here. You can also begin registering for 2021 DTI trainings here.