FAQs
What is a gender doula?
Simply put, a gender doula provides support for any threshold related to one’s gender. This support can come in many forms, and will look different depending on the person, their specific circumstances, and the threshold they are at. Although gender doula-ing has many similarities to other forms of doula work, it is unique in many ways as well! Services may be provided to an individual, a family system, a chosen family system, a couple, or even a community. For this reason, I don’t put many limitations on what gender doula work means to me!
Who needs a gender doula?
Everyone! Gender doula services can be helpful for individual trans people at every stage and point of their transition, families of trans people, and even people who don’t identify as trans at all. In modern Western culture, many of us have negative or unproductive relationships with our gender—healing our relationship to our gender and/or our bodies is lifetime work! I am prepared to work with you to figure out what kind of support you need, and how I can best serve you where you are.
What is your training?
Currently, there is no official training for this work. However, I take very seriously the gravity of the work I do, and I do feel that I am qualified to provide these services due to a combination of education and experience. In addition to my personal experience as a trans person, I have also been researching transgender issues for around ten years now. I have a B.A. in Gender Studies with a minor in LGBTQ Studies from UCLA, and a Ph.D. in Jurisprudence and Social Policy from UC Berkeley. I have presented my original research on transgender issues at the Southern Sociological Society’s annual meeting, the annual Philadelphia Transgender Wellness Conference, the annual Australian Professional Association for Transgender Health conference, and the CLBT Queer History conference at SFSU, and was accepted to present by the European Professional Association for Transgender Health. I have taught a class on transgender medical history at UCLA, and have presented on trans healthcare issues at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Asterisk Trans Conference at UC Riverside. I have also presented as The Gender Doula for the Gender Spectrum Professionals Conference and Models of Pride Youth Conference.
As a doula, I have been mentored by Erica Livingston and Laura Interlandi through their SEEN Doula mentorship, and completed a second round of mentorship in their program, HELD. I have been operating as a space holder, processor, mentor, and support for trans people since 2017. I have about five years of experience in ritual creation and holding space in spiritual capacity. I have been working actively as a gender doula since January, 2020, and as The Gender Doula since June, 2020.
My child/partner/sibling/friend/etc. just came out as trans. Can you support me/us?
Yes! Most parents/family members/loved ones/allies that come to me have one 90 minute session, though there are options for ongoing support on either a regular or as-needed basis as well.
Are your services trauma-informed?
Yes! I am a survivor of multiple types of violence, and I have complex PTSD. I have been privileged to access supportive services since 2015, and have put a great deal of time and effort into making my own services friendly to folks living with trauma, from the intake process on. The space we create together is meant to be healing and safe for you - your boundaries are welcomed and respected here. While we may discuss difficult and challenging things, it is not my goal or intention to push you beyond your comfort zone. I am also actively studying ways to interact with our traumatized bodies with somatic experiencing, a therapeutic modality for healing trauma stored in the body. It is my goal and intention to support you as you process and heal.
Are you familiar with working with neurodivergent people?
Yes! Many of my clients (and most of my family and friends) are neurodivergent in some way, and I am happy to work with folks who are on the spectrum, folks with ADHD, and any other neurodivergencies. If your neurodivergence means that you have specific needs around our work together, I am happy to listen to those needs and will do everything in my power to accommodate them.
I believe I’m transgender, but I don’t know how to tell. Can you help me?
Yes! I am happy to hold the space you need to process your gender identity and to help you decide how you will move forward on your path. We can work together to identify the type of help you need. I can be a listening ear, a supportive voice, or a safe space for you to experiment. I can also assist you in finding resources, local meetups, social groups, affirming medical professionals, and mental health professionals if needed. The sky's the limit, so contact me and let's get started!
I am interested in your services, but I’m worried I’m not “trans enough.”
First of all, there’s no such thing as “trans enough.” I am not interested in any form or level of gatekeeping, and I will joyfully meet you exactly where you are at. Also, I work with many people who identify in many ways! There’s no need to even identify as trans to work with me. No matter how we identify, each of us has to engage with gender many times every day. I’m here to support everyone, and to meet you exactly where you are.
Do you offer sliding scale services?
I am not able to offer sliding scale for my one-on-one services at this time. Classes and workshops are all offered with sliding scale, payment plans, and scholarships (especially for BIPOC and folks with disabilities). Also, if you check out my shop, you can find links to multiple pay-what-you-can resources. If you’re interested in working with me but cannot afford to at this time, please sign up for my newsletter and I will be sure to let you know when these offerings are available!
I live somewhere far away from you. What services can you provide?
Good news! Many of my services can be performed remotely! Due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, services must be remote with very occassional exceptions for specific circumstances. But even without the pandemic, I still prefer to perform as many services remotely as possible. This is to save on the environmental impact of commuting, and to avoid spending parts of our valuable time together on travel. If you need in-person services, contact me and we will discuss the logistics.