Nurturing Birth Head of Mentoring, Michelle Every, shares her thoughts as one of the doulas she is mentoring comes to the end of her Initial Mentoring Programme
“Nearing the end of mentoring a doula through her Nurturing Birth 15 month Initial Mentoring Programme I have been reflecting on how our relationship has grown and changed over this time.
In the past I have mentored doulas and primarily focused on the births they attended. With the new Nurturing Birth programme I have enjoyed and seen such benefit from a different approach to mentoring which balances debriefing experiences of supporting families with a greater focus on taking care of yourself, developing your business, networking and on-going learning.
As the mentor I have had sessions with the mentee where she shares her own goals and together we work a way forward that incorporates these. The relationship has felt equal and empowering for us both.
Having our mentoring sessions every three months has given her space to work through the tasks set and to solve some of her own questions. It has been wonderful to see her confidence and her business grow.
In our last session we chatted about one of the tasks that had not been completed yet and it opened up a significant conversation that I truly believe would not have happened had we not invested in the mentoring relationship as we have.
I find it incredible that by simply providing a clear framework, laying out clear expectations and then providing unhurried time to listen, the mentee is then able to identify her own needs, flourish in her work and well-being, and establish healthy boundaries for the future.
Mentoring for me is an honour and a privilege. I am grateful that someone chooses to allow me access into their life and trusts me enough to share honestly.
I am looking forward to a continued mentoring relationship with this mentee as she completes this programme and then accesses the experienced one-off sessions in the future.”
We are so thrilled that the feedback we are getting from mentees is so overwhelmingly positive and find it so rewarding that this particular doula sees the value in continued mentoring and will keep coming back!
If you are interested in the Nurturing Birth mentoring programme then click here for more details about the Initial Programme – 15 months working regularly with a mentor to help launch your business, or here for the details about the Experienced Doula Programme – opportunities to work with a mentor on particular challenges or issues, or in a self-caring way to give yourself regular opportunities to debrief, reflect and share with a safe, trusted person.
To contact us about mentoring email michelle@nurturingbirth.co.uk
