In Joy Birth proudly trains and mentors doulas in the Central Florida community through our 7-month intensive mentorship program. Our doula mentees receive hands on training with Heather & Alyssa, who pass on their 20 years of combined experience and wisdom. They created this program with the mission of building a collective of skilled, competent doulas who could broaden the reach of quality birth support in our community. Affordable care was another part of the vision behind the mentorship collective, ensuring all families receive the quality of care they deserve. We are honored to have graduated 3 mentorship classes as of July 2022.
When you hire a doula from the In Joy Birth Collective you receive a comprehensive care package including childbirth education/planning, 24/7 on-call support, individualized birth, postpartum and lactation support for only $650. We believe every birthing family should have a doula by their side help navigate their experience with joy and ease!
Please review the bios below and select your top three choices.
Then contact us to schedule your free, non-obligatory consultations today, mentorship@injoybirth.com.
Ericka Luces
Ericka is a Trauma - Informed Somatic Practitioner and Herbalist. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and is a mother of two beautiful boys. Her first son was born by a Cesarean which led her on her path of healing and deepening her knowledge about women's birthing rights. Her second son was a VBAC birth. Her journey through motherhood has taken her into the realm of supporting women throughout the childbearing years. Ericka's passion is helping mothers overcome their trauma so they can end the cycle and not pass it down to future generations. She uses gentle somatic techniques and love and support.
"I do see a world where people lead with their hearts and I want to make sure my boys experience all the love humanity has to give."
Chelsea Levering
Chelsea is a DONA trained doula as well as a mentee with In Joy Birth. She's a mother of 5 and she feels very strongly about helping
other mamas achieve their birthing goals.
She wants nothing more than to help mothers
bring life into this world. Chelsea has an outgoing personality, a big heart, and a love
for photography and crystals. Chelsea
believes that you are never too old to start learning. She wears many hats with a mom being first, she has a culinary management degree, a crystal business
www.Giogems.com in her father's name.
Chelsea also does maternity and family photography on the side called Chella Photography. After the passing of her dad, Chelsea decided that she needed to do something more fulfilling with her life.
With the encouragement from her friends
and family, she decided that becoming a
doula was exactly where she needed to be.
Chrystal Quintana
Chrystal is a certified Postpartum Doula, Prenatal Nutritionist, and Breastfeeding Counselor. Her journey into doula work started years ago when she helped many of her friends and family throughout the birthing process. Chrystal comes from a large hispanic family. "When someone from our family gives birth we nurture the mama and become her doula." Chrystal is a wife and a mother to a spunky two year old. She is a faith-based doula and believes in the power of prayer.
Chrystal also owns a nonprofit called
Acts of Love Uganda Inc. It is a non-profit ministry dedicated to empowering children and families to reach their God given potential to become self-sufficient. We help parents start a business whether it’s having animals, farming, making crafts, braiding hair, or making clothing, any trade that
will help them bring income into their home. There is also a sponsorship program to help the children go to school and get an education. Helping families has always been a deep-down God given passion
of hers. Chrystal has been a choir mom to two children’s choirs that was made up of 22 Ugandan orphans for 10 months and 22 Haitian orphans for 3 months.
"I’m so excited to be apart of the Birthing Community!"
Victoria Wilson
Victoria is a childless doula with more experience than most in pregnancy and childcare as she is the youngest of 10 older sisters! She has 7 nieces and nephews and counting. Victoria is a graduating senior at the University of Central Florida (Go Knights!) Majoring in Biomedical Sciences. When she is not working on her education she is participating in pageants, preforming a piece of poetry, or going to the gym.
One of her biggest philosophies as a doula is to take care of mom with partner and make sure her space is filled with comfort and love. She is a true advocate for mom/baby and facilitating open communication with the medical provider about your wants and needs. "As a healthcare worker myself, I know how to maneuver the medical lingo of doctors and nurses."
Additionally, she grew up in a Caribbean household and has wonderful traditions and tricks that have gotten moms through some of the most traumatic unmedicated labors and even harder postpartum experiences.
As a childless doula my attention is yours undivided and her birth trauma is nonexistent.
"Every day as student, sibling, contestant 5, and doula I am learning how to be a better me for you!"
Nathalia Sanchez
Nathalia is an English and Spanish speaking doula. She is a wife and mother to 3 girls. She is passionate about empowering women, especially as they are bringing a new life into this world. She wants every birthing woman to be informed, know their options, and love their birth!
"I look forward to helping women during their pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. I want to make sure they feel prepared and supported, but most importantly, I want them to be proud of themselves no matter how their birth goes." -Nathalia
SPANISH
Nathalia es una doula que habla Ingles y Español. Es esposa y madre de 3 niñas. Le apasiona empoderar a las mujeres, especialmente cuando están trayendo una nueva vida a este mundo. ¡Quiere que todas las mujeres que dan a luz estén informadas, conozcan sus opciones y amen su parto!
"Espero poder ayudar a las mujeres durante su embarazo, parto y posparto. Quiero que se sientan preparadas y apoyadas, pero lo más importante es que quiero que se sientan orgullosas de sí mismas." -Nathalia
Amy Kit
Amy is a Certified Doula (IJB), DONA trained. She is certified in birth, postpartum and placenta encapsulation. She provides services in the Seminole County area both at home or in Hospital/Birth Center settings.
Amy, a mother of four, joined the birthing community after her fourth child seeing how important it was to have choices and caring support. She started her journey with DONA and it led to continued education in the Bradley method, VBAC, breastfeeding, placenta encapsulation, and postpartum with
In Joy Birth's mentorship program.
Vonda Osborn
Vonda is a mother to 6 children; 3 teenagers and 3 little ones. Being young when she had her older children and very uneducated about birth, she followed whatever the doctors told her. She has grown through her own birth experiences and through friends and families she has attended. She is currently a birth assistant at Tree of Life and has served many families through In Joy Birth over the last 2 years.
“I believe that all mommas and their families deserve to be educated and supported no matter what they decide is best for them. If that means you want pain medication the moment you walk into the hospital or if you want a home, water birth then I will be there to help and support you with love and no judgement.” ~Vonda
Ariel is a graduate from UCF with a Bachelors in Sport and Exercise Science and a Minor in Studio Art and Photography. She has been local to Orlando for 10 years but grew up living all over the world, because her Father served in the U.S. Air Force.
In 2022 she earned a 200 hr yoga certification; specializing in restorative yoga and sound healing to help one transcend away from the weight of stress and anxiety. She has been called a lightworker and thoroughly enjoys setting up a peaceful space for her clients to let go in.
Her Dharma, life mission, is simply to empower her community; she wishes to make all that seek out her help to feel grounded, educated, strong and capable enough to handle anything that is in their path. She offers a guiding hand that is dependable for new families while they navigate these life changing events. Let Ariel be the support that catches you even before you fall, let her be your grounding presence in the midst of the storm and she will help make your transition to parenthood as magical as it should be.
Jai Bhagwan | Victory to the Spirit
Ariel Holton
ArelisJones
Arelis is a mother to a beautiful 14 year old daughter named Judith. She is a certified massage therapist and currently working through the required pre-requisites to attend midwifery school. Arelis brings a holistic and spiritual approach to her work. Understanding the importance of inner peace and good energy around birth and postpartum adjustments.
Her passion for pregnant mothers and babies began when she was 13 years old. She always dreamed of being in the birth field. Becoming a young mommy at the age of 16 taught her so much on advocacy and the lack of support. Her own experience led her to want to make a difference in the birth world. She is excited and passionate about bringing awareness to racial disparities and injustice around age discrimination. She is extending her love and support to the teen mom community by working with schools and organizations to offer free doula care and child birth education classes. She is looking forward to being a part of beautiful birth stories from all ages and serving her community.
"Birth is the most beautiful and vulnerable experience! It is my duty to instill confidence, support, and love to your journey on bringing baby earthside.
Lauren Koontz
Lauren is a doula and activist who believes in the intersection of birth and social justice. She is located in the Kissimmee area and enjoys gardening, cooking, all things Disney, and being a dog mama to her Boston Terrier, Gertie.
Lauren was born and raised in Indiana and graduated with degrees in Public Relations and Music Business. She moved to central Florida with her family in 2013. Her career working with musicians and social media personalities allowed her to travel the country and the world putting on large-scale events while providing a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth and shining a light on mental health.
A fierce advocate for reproductive choice and voice, Lauren is thrilled to be joining the Injoy Birth Collective to soak up knowledge from her mentors and peers and be the doula the diverse, beautiful birthing people of Orlando deserve.
Make what you love, be what you do.
- Rumi
Interested in joining the doula mentorship program?
-
7 month in-depth, continuing education program.
-
Extended doula support and 24/7 guidance for all birth work and business needs.
-
Integration into support circles and birth networks.
-
Get paid while studying and receiving our guidance.
-
Monthly workshops with specialized and local experts.
-
Hands on experience through apprenticeship while building clientele base.
-
Create partnerships with birth centers, home birth midwives, and certified nurse midwives.
Our 2023 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM is OPEN.
Apply for the Fall 2023 Collective here: Be the change.
Don't miss our OPEN HOUSE INFO NIGHT on 7/29/2023: email: mentorship@injoybirth.com to RSVP