"My joy is in helping new and growing families have a smoother transition to parenthood by being a calm, knowledgable, and non-judgmental presence. I love encouraging parents to listen to their inner wisdom and sharing tips to support parents’ goals. I first became inspired to be a doula after the compassionate postpartum care my family received following the birth of our first child. I have assisted an extensive number of families as a NAPS Certified Postpartum Doula since 2007 when I trained at Seattle Midwifery School (now Bastyr University’s Simkin Center). My experience includes newborn care/fussy baby, prematurity, infant illness/special needs, rough emotional adjustment/postpartum mood disorders, and feeding difficulties. My clients love my caring and practical style, with just the right amount of humor mixed in. Former clients (and continuing education) have taught me much about supporting families of color, LGBTQ+ families, adoptive families, single-parent headed families, a rich array of cultural and religious backgrounds, and histories of trauma. As a LGBTQ+ parent who has both birthed and been the birthing partner, I’m in a unique position to better understand, recognize and serve the needs of whole families. I’ve been a resident of Seattle since 2004 and live with my wife, 2 tweens and the sweetest 2 kitty boys. I also work with families as a newborn group facilitator and by supporting au pairs and their host families. I enjoy walks in nature, swimming, camping, theater, and movies."