My name is Zeresh, and I am a mother, a wife, a certified doula and hypno-doula, and a childbirth educator. I also have a Master's degree in Counseling and over 10 years of counseling and education experience, which gives me a unique and valuable set of skills that I am able to draw from. From my first personal birth experience in 2008 and from speaking with other women and men I realized how little parents know about, the choices and rights that we have surrounding birth, and how beautiful birth really can be. As a result, trust in the birth process has been lost and in a lot of cases fear has taken its place. From that, my passion was born and I decided to become a doula and childbirth educator; so that I could educate, comfort, serve, and empower mothers and fathers on their journey to childbirth and parenthood.

Birth is one of the most life altering experiences a woman can have (as well as for their baby and partner), that is why it is so important to have the right information and be surrounded by the right people. People that respect what you want and can care for you in a loving and supportive way. My goal is to serve parents in the process of creating the birth they envision, by sharing what I know as a mother, doula and childbirth educator, and by being a warm, loving and supportive presence.

2012 Update:
On December 18th, 2011 I gave birth to my beautiful daughter. I've given birth twice, but two completely different and special births in their own way. Both taught me a lot about myself and about birth. The first one with a very unnecessarily hands on midwife, and the second with a loving and trusting midwife. The trust she had in me and in birth, and the trust I had in myself (although not without my fears and doubts, we all have them, but I learned to acknowledge them), gave way to a beautiful, peaceful, and powerful birth in which I was truly the one giving birth. This experience not only taught me more about myself and birth, but has also given me more experience and insight on how to be a better childbirth educator and doula! I am looking forward to sharing that new learning and passion with all the beautiful mothers-to-be that choose me to accompany them on their journey to motherhood.
My Philosophy: A woman and baby's birth process is to be trusted and respected. Birth is a beautiful and amazing experience and when allowed to occur instinctively an empowering blessing.

Sincerely,                                                                                                                                                                                               Zeresh Altork, CD(DONA), HCHD, CBE, M.Ed.

 

My son and I. My inspiration for becoming a doula.

My daughter and I, moments after her birth, teaching me first hand how beautiful and peaceful birth can be.

My growing family. Me, my husband, my son and my daughter.

Education/Training:

B.A. in Social Psychology

M.Ed. in Counseling

CD(DONA): Certified Doula through DONA. Visit www.dona.org for more information

CBE: Certified Childbirth Educator through FOCEP (Florida Outreach Childbirth Education Program)

HCHD: Hypnobabies Certified Hypno-Doula though Hypnobabies®. Visit www.hypnobabies.com for more information