We were lucky to catch up with Karen Nolen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Karen, appreciate you joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I began my journey as a doula based off my own experiences as a mother. I have always been transparent with my life and sharing the excitement of what I found joy in! And becoming a Doula has been pure joy! I simple talked to family friends and shares on maybe Facebook a few times. I remember creating my business plan with “imaginary clients”. The concept was if I had a client what would it be like for her. I wasn’t promoting my business at all so I was surprised to receive several phone calls from family and friends asking me to be there Doula! One of the things that has always stuck to my heart iring training is “Your community will tell you what it needs”. And when I was asked, I didn’t shrink back in fear but instead I answered the call! I did not fully have my business plan together but I had my mission/goal set “To support, empower, and ignite women to trust their mind and body to give birth”. And with that simple statement I jumped! Looking back, I’m sure I would have stalled and wrote the business plan over an over again. Thankfully, I was called into by women that new me and needed me and I new to answer the call of my community!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a full spectrum doula and a motherhood mentor because of my love for motherhood! I become a Doula because of my own journey into motherhood. I remember thinking “How can I warn others about this motherhood thing, how can I prepare them, help them see in the dark”. Because motherhood can be lonely and you can feel like your in the dark. I wanted to hold a light for them! We go into pregnancy thinking of just the needs of the unborn baby, not realizing that we to our being born again as something new! I new I was called to be the light for them, hold their hand, hug on them, uplift them. I believe in customizable whole care, every mother I different so the care I give is what they need on a personal level as well as what I teach on a professional level. I’m a full spectrum doula and my belief is staying connected and coming apart of their village!

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I didn’t choose this profession, it chose me through motherhood. And if I had to choose this profession, I sure would!

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

This profession is very personable and a very sacred space and in order to succeed, you have to keep your heart at the center of it. You also have to keep your eyes and ears centered on the mothers that you support. You have to SEE and HEAR what they aren’t saying.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Earthbodysouldoulacare.com
• Instagram: @earthbodysouldoula
• Facebook: @earthbodysouldoulacare

Image Credits
All photos belong to me.