From Burnout to Balance: My Journey as a Doula Mentor

When I first became a doula, I believed with my whole heart that everyone deserved a doula—regardless of whether they could afford one. ​

I truly thought that if I didn’t offer my services for free or very low cost, I might ruin someone’s birth experience, and it would somehow be my fault if things didn’t go perfectly. I carried the weight of that responsibility heavily.

In those early years, I took every doula training I could find. I was convinced that if I just learned one more thing, clients would finally come. But no matter how many trainings I added to my résumé, the truth was: I didn’t need more certifications. I needed to learn how to market myself, how to run a business, and how to believe in my own worth.

Instead, I ran in a million directions, desperate to build something but never really grounding myself in the foundations of sustainable business. I said yes to free or underpaid births—even when I was walking into homes far more financially comfortable than mine. And while I gave so much of myself to my clients, I was feeding my kids ramen noodles because that’s all we could afford.

I was burnt out, struggling, and secretly ashamed...

that I couldn’t make this thing I loved actually work. I thought charging money meant I was selfish. I thought money was bad. And I definitely didn’t think I was worth charging for.

Fast forward twenty years, and everything has changed. I’ve done the hard work of unlearning those beliefs. I’ve studied how to build a sustainable business that supports both my clients and my family. I can now talk about payments and value with confidence. I know the worth of what I offer—and I teach other doulas how to claim their worth, too.

Today, I mentor new doulas who are right where I was: passionate, overwhelmed, and unsure how to make their business actually work. My mission is to help them find clarity, confidence, and a path forward that doesn’t require burnout or martyrdom.

Want to learn more? Join my free Facebook community.

Because we deserve to serve from a place of abundance—not exhaustion.