No. Empathy, curiosity and knowledge don't require having children. Some of the most attentive doulas haven't given birth themselves.

None. Medical, spiritual or otherwise. We start at the beginning and build from there. Women with twenty years in the field join too, and they don't get bored.

It depends. How comfortable are you with questioning what you think you know? The ceremonial and ancestral work goes deep. So does the science. Vanessa is equally at home in medicine and spirituality, and she expects you to bring your curiosity and critical thinking to both. You'll learn to distinguish research from tradition, personal experience from established evidence, and a meaningful ritual from a practice that has no business being imposed on someone else. Skepticism and wonder are both welcome.

Absolutely. Women join this training while working full-time, on maternity leave, raising four children or none, caring for aging parents, going through a divorce, buying a house or building a business. Some arrive in a season of stability, others in the middle of everything changing. Life doesn't pause for six months, and this training doesn't ask it to.

As a single mother who has rebuilt her life in another country, Vanessa knows exactly what a full life looks like. She was determined to create an education that makes room for women's actual lives.

All five modules are open from day one. Plan around eight hours a week. Some weeks you'll devour a module, others you'll mostly digest. The work on relationships, boundaries, nervous system regulation, communication, and your own history will ripple into your own life. You’ll notice shifts in how you respond to your children, handle difficult conversations, recognize your needs, or understand yourself.

Learning how to support women exceptionally well has a habit of changing how you treat yourself, too.

Weekly live mentoring takes place on Tuesdays. The exact time will be confirmed once the group is formed, taking into account where our students are based. With only 18 women in the cohort, Vanessa can make a thoughtful decision about the schedule rather than expecting everyone to fit into a time zone chosen months in advance.

The seven ceremonial Deep Dives will be scheduled in advance so you can plan around them. All live sessions are recorded, so if you can't attend, you won't miss the teaching.

Life happens. Sessions are recorded and available for [X weeks], and you can always send your questions in advance.

Yes, much of it. Presence, communication, ceremony, nervous system work and osteopathy-informed touch can all be taught and practiced online. Vanessa teaches the principles behind touch, then guides you through exercises that develop awareness and sensitivity. You begin by observing and exploring sensation, practice on yourself and with willing partners, and learn to notice and respond to feedback. As with any hands-on skill, confidence and sensitivity develop through practice. One graduate wrote that her hands became more sensitive during the training, which still surprises her. Certain techniques, such as rebozo, are introduced but require additional in-person training to learn properly.

[A private community space for your cohort.] You can also book private sessions with Vanessa during the training at [50%] of her regular rate.

Supporting women and families through fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, love, loss, and becoming with the knowledge, practical skills, and professional judgment to meet a wide range of needs.

You'll be equipped to provide emotional, physical, and informational support; facilitate meaningful conversations and informed decision-making; offer comfort measures and appropriate hands-on support; recognize when a situation calls for additional expertise; and help women navigate complex experiences without imposing your own beliefs or agenda. You'll also learn to design and facilitate ceremonies, support significant life transitions, and build a professional practice that reflects your skills, values, and the women you want to serve.

And you'll understand your scope of practice. Doulas don't diagnose, prescribe, perform medical procedures, or make clinical decisions for their clients. Knowing when to act, when to listen, when to refer, and when to step back is part of what makes an excellent birthworker.

Doula work is not subject to a single international licensing system, and requirements vary by country. In many places, you can practice independently without a government-issued doula qualification. Some countries, hospitals, insurers, and professional organizations have additional requirements. Your certification documents the education you've completed, the skills you've developed, and the standards you've been assessed against. It is designed to support you in building your practice wherever your work takes you. If you plan to work in a particular country or institution, check its local requirements before enrolling.

Six months. If you'd like to keep going, you can stay in the weekly mentoring and keep access to the course materials as optional paid extensions.

Pay €4,900 in full, in 3 monthly payments of [€X], or in 6 monthly payments of [€X]. Your place is confirmed with your first payment.

Vanessa personally reviews every application. You'll then receive an email with the full curriculum, an introduction video, a free guided journey, and a link to book a discovery call with her. You'll have the chance to ask your questions, talk about what brings you to the training, and get to know the woman who'll be teaching you for six months.

Vanessa meets every prospective student before enrollment. With only eighteen places, choosing the right people matters.

Applying is free and doesn't commit you to enrolling.

Yes. Private sessions with Vanessa are €450 but during the training, you get 50% off of her regular rate. Enroll by November 30, and one session of up to two hours is included in your training. 

Our full terms, including cancellation and refunds, are [linked here].