First and foremost, DTI doulas are human rights advocates. They understand the current climate and acknowledge the full range of reproductive justice issues, affected by barriers based on race, class, religion, traditions, gender and sexual orientation.

Our doulas are present with clients to meet their needs and facilitate meaningful conversations with care providers. They know their stuff, from birth options to the latest evidence-based research. But most importantly, they understand the client is ultimately the decision-maker. Our doulas practice based on mutual trust, trusting clients to make their own informed choices, while clients trust our doulas to provide the unconditional care and support they need.

They practice and are skilled in our Slow Doula Method®. They have the tools necessary to navigate today's climate and have a deep understanding of what it means to offer unconditional support. While the Slow Doula Method was originally designed for doulas, it is adaptable to all reproductive health professionals. As such, we have shared it and received high marks from nurses, midwives, doctors and other healthcare providers. DTI believes we all have the power to help shift the culture in a room to meet the needs of clients and facilitate healthy dialogue.

They're professional entrepreneurs. Being a reproductive health professional means you're a giver. But in the process of helping others, our doulas know how to build their own business dreams. Becoming an entrepreneur means the possibilities are endless. We have built into our curriculum business and marketing skills with advanced trainings so they emerge with confidence.

They are birth and postpartum experts. They have an incredible knowledge of the process of pregnancy, birth, labor and the postpartum period. The benefits of support during and after childbirth are well known and well documented. Doulas have a positive impact on outcomes and are no longer a luxury but a necessity. They are a specially trained healthcare provider, without clinical training, that understand the anatomy and physiology of birth and the emotional and physical aspects of the postpartum and newborn period.

Our doulas have a wealth of knowledge and experience. They understand the ins and outs of physical, mental and spiritual health through the prenatal, birth, postpartum, and newborn periods. We encourage them to practice in an integrative and holistic way if they are certified through other healing modalities.

They are community-builders. We know we need each other to thrive, especially since we're still often misunderstood in the mainstream. Our energy is focused on building one another up and fostering lasting relationships to advance the doula profession as a whole.