ADVOCACY· AUTONOMY
JUSTICE · EVIDENCE-BASED

WHO AM I ?

Barbara (they/she)

Life cycle companion (birth, milestones and end of life)

Conscious Photographer

Doula for over 5 years and having supported over a hundred births, I am co-founder of La Relève - école doula engag·ée , and president of the Quebec Association of Doulas.

I enjoy developing learning spaces where evidence-based practices, reproductive justice, and a nuanced understanding of the realities of the healthcare system converge. My certification as a yoga therapist informs a concrete, body-centered approach tailored to the diverse realities of families.

As a parent of two children, I offer support rooted in field experience, critical pedagogy and a deep respect for the autonomy of individuals.

Birthing

What does it mean to birth "well" or parent "successfully" ?

As a birth doula, I dare to believe that there is no one way of doing things well, but that THE only real way to experience the adventure of childbirth and parenthood is by following one's intuition, by having our freedom and boundaries respected, feeling empowered and autonomous in our desires and wishes. I am therefore committed to providing evidence based support, while respecting one's spiritual beliefs. I am a parent and the challenges I had to overcome inspired me to want to work alongside parents, to ensure that ALL childbearing people would have the support of someone who would not let them down and stand up by their side for their rights until the very end. This inspired me to defend the interests of childbearing parents, advocate with them, whatever the situation in which they find themselves, and whatever their birth plan is (from natural homebirth to scheduled caesarean section): I will be at their sides all the way. All of this while preserving the parents' oxytocin cocoon. I am present prenatally and postnatally, offering a complete follow-up to the whole family, with advices and help on subjects such as breast/body/chest feeding, Baby-led feeding, EC, sign language, washable diapers, sleep support, Montessori introduction etc. Moreover, as a photographer for over decade, I have had the chance to immortalize all these unforgettable moments (pregnancy, birth, fresh 48...) for those who wish to. In short, I like to be your ally in this beautifully disruptive cycle that is parenthood.

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Living

As a life cycles companion, I specialize in active listening and the implementation of tools to help people who wish to take charge of their lives, welcome abundance and overcome hardship by gaining empowerment. Whether it is following a breakup, a career change, the affirmation of one's gender or sexuality, the desire to have a healthier lifestyle and be more in phase with one's soul-body-spirit triade : I am present to support people on this path.

As a Yoga therapist, I specialize in setting up life routines adapted to everyone, which allow us to better understand the stress of everyday life and the major stages that can shake us up. I also use my experience as a Reiki Master, Sound healer and Pranic healer to relieve people I support.

I also offer people who wish to develop their energy practice, training in Reiki Levels 1-2-Master, Sound Healing Levels 1-2-3, and Pranic healing Levels 1-2-3. These trainings allow for self-care and care for others.

Finally, I offer my celebrant & planner services for your milestones (wedding, graduation, birthing rituals, etc.). As a performing artist for nearly 20 years, I have always been passionate about rallying people from different walks of life around a common event, finding ways to touch them, inspire them, and make these celebrations into real life anthems.

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Passing

Passing, transitionning... Because to die is to change, to evolve, to transform, to travel, to continue elsewhere, something else. As a Thana doula, I help people at the end of life and those around them to better understand death, know their rights and options, in the face of end-of-life care and funerals. I help organize last moments, vigils, funerals and other in memorium projects. I offer support following the departure of a loved one, and also accompany parents in perinatal loss. As a photographer, I also offer to document the end of life for therapeutic purposes. And as an audio-visual artist, I propose legacy projects such as videos in memory of loved ones. I also organize "living funerals" a new approach that allows the dying person to organize and participate in a celebration of their life, and to witness all the love that is brought to them during their lifetime. ​

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Thank you for taking the time to read me, I hope to have the chance to accompany you in the magnificent adventure that is to exist.
 

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Trainings & workshops

Birth Doula (Motherwit Doula Care | 2020)

Post-partum Doula (Motherwit Doula Care | 2022)

Thana (end-of-life) Doula (IAP College | 2021)

Breastfeeding Essentials (Step 2 Education International | 2021)

Photo Documentary (National Geographic Raoul Touzon | 2011-2012-2014-2016-2017)

Yoga Therapist & teacher (RYT 200h | Samadhi Ashram | 2019)

Reiki Master (Shanti Ashram | 2019)

Pranic healing practicionner (Varanasi Cosmic Energy | 2019)

Sonotherapist (World Peace School | 2019)

Perinatal support for LGBTQIAP+2S workshop(2023)

Workshop "Indigenous women and colonization" (2023)