ABOUT MJ (Maura Jo)

Pregnancy, Birth and Wellness Professional - Joining You on Your Journey

MJ (pronouns: they/them) is a Queer/Trans GenderQueer, passionate, compassionate, and accomplished birth worker and wellness professional with over 30 years of experience in complementary and alternative wellness and 20 in perinatal education and support. They hold a Master’s Degree in Women’s Studies with a concentration in Medical Anthropology and certifications in many aspects of wellness and perinatal health and support services. They have worked in the nonprofit sector, as a college instructor for two state universities, multiple hospital systems and in independent settings.

MJ blends their multidisciplinary expertise to provide clients and other birth and wellness professionals customized trainings and services. They have been an Evidence Based Birth instructor, hyponbirthing and mindset instructor and wellness, fitness and holistic health educator for many years.

They specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ individuals, families and professionals and support BIPOC individuals, families and professionals by offering regular scholarships, work-study, sliding scale, pay-what-you-can opportunities to folx who identify as a part of these communities. Also dear to Maura Jo’s heart is homebirth and families and individuals planning a homebirth should also inquire about what programs are available.

Located in Connecticut, within two hours of Boston and two hours of New York City, she enjoys teaching and supporting clients in person and virtually. MJ grew up in the MidHudson Valley region of New York State and resides in Connecticut with their family in a multigenerational household. MJ’s biggest inspiration of late has been her mother, who asked for a jump rope for Mother’s Day while she was in her late 80’s and is still doing well today.

“THE NATURE OF THIS FLOWER IS TO BLOOM.” - Alice Walker

CREDENTIALS & CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Doula Trainer

Collaborative International Train the Trainer Program

After being a practicing doula and birth professional for over a decade and a half and amassing training and certifications from a plethora of organizations, MJ has begun training doulas and birth educators! The certification MJ earned required many years and many steps including earning outside certifications, writing papers, taking exams and hours upon hours of experience with families and training other professionals. MJ has trained and mentored independent doulas, L&D Nurses and PCA’s, and is accepting applications for Center Song and Bridges and Boundaries Programs.

Childbirth and Hypnobirthing Education

Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings Childbirth Educator (Trained), Evidence Based Birth® Instructor, Madriella (MCE), Former CAPPA CCCE, Certified Hypnosis Practitioner, HypnoBabies Hypno-Doula

MJ is dedicated to inclusive, evidence-based, heart-centered childbirth education. Over the past two dacades, they have taught independently as well as for three different hospital systems. They emphasize the wisdom of preparing ahead of time with evidence-based strategies, tools to increase comfort and practices to build confidence so one can trust one’s own instincts during birthing. Independent classes include Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class, the Hypnosis, Mindset and Mindfulness program, a comprehensive VBAC program, programs for Homebirth families, Specialized Programs for LGBTQIA+ Families on the Journey into Parenthood, and short, one-class, à la carte offerings on Induction, Birth Basics, Postpartum Self-Care, Newborn Care, Nursing/Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding, and more. They was one of the very first US birth educators to certify with a midwifery model of care hypnobirthing organization and quickly continued on to become a Certified Hypnosis Practitioner, certify as a Childbirth and Hypnosis Specialist and earn the Advanced Hypnosis for Childbirth certificate. This allows MJ to provide families with next-level support beyond typical birth education, and teaches students the power of hypnosis, and additional techniques and options to enhance comfort, relaxation, and confidence for partners and pregnant people during birthing time.

Reiki Master/Teacher

Usui System (RM/T)

Reiki is a hands on, hands-over and distance healing technique that traces its origins to Mikao Usui. Reiki means Universal Life Force Energy or Universal Source Energy. Reiki is an energy healing modality that has become more and more popular since Maura Jo took their original training in the late 1990’s as a student in the Marist College Alternative and Complementary Healthcare Certificate Program. She continued her studies with Reiki Master/Teacher, Susan Olin-Dabrowski, with whom they are still in contact today. MJ’s Reiki I workshops focus on self-healing, Reiki II builds upon those skills and introduces the concept of distance healing and helping others heal, Reiki III/Master training is intentionally limited on a case-by-case, invitation-only basis.

Wellness Educator and Energy Worker

Alternative and Complementary Health Care (Marist College), Reiki Master/Teacher (Ususi System)

With an interest in alternative and complementary healthcare that began in the early 1990's, MJ has studied several modalities and types of alternative care including herbalism, body work, homeopathy, energy healing, mindfulness, mindset and hypnosis. They are a Reiki Master/Teacher, Herbalist, Hypnosis Practitioner and Mindset Mentor. Their work with the public focuses on basic herbal literacy, stress-reduction, self-care, energy work, self-advocacy and healthcare literacy.

Herbalist

Science and Art of Herbalism, Herbal Intensives in New England, New York State and Washington State

The history of Herbal Medicine is as old as human society, perhaps older as many animals also will instinctively care for themselves with plant healing. Famous western herbalists include Saint Hildegard of Bingen, eleventh-century mystic, polymath and visionary. Of course, in most gatherer-hunter societies and earth-centered cultures, everyone has a basic understanding of how to treat common ailments, injuries and conditions with one or two community leaders who hold and pass on the herbal wisdom and plant medicine. This is done with sacred respect for the plants themselves and the ecosystem through which the plants, people and all around them are literally one. In addition to certifying with Rosemary Gladstar’s program several years ago in a dynamic group study program, MJ began learning about herbs in the early 1990’s with independent study, taking undergraduate coursework through The Evergreen State College and then continuing studies in Upstate New York with a local collective following graduation. After relocating in the Mid-Hudson Valley, they attended a nine month certification program in Alternative and Complementary Health Care with Marist College. In additon, they have continued to attend conferences (such as the now-defunct New England Women’s Herbal Conference for several years) and intensives with various skilled herbalists. Their work as an herbalist revolves around a holistic, environmentally-sensitive understanding that each individual will respond differently to any given plant medicine, therefore, determining a course of action should be an ongoing “conversation" between the person seeking healing, the herbalist and the plants.

Professional Doula

StillBirthDay (SBD), Madriella (MCD), HypnoBabies Hypno-Doula, PAIL Advocate

Beginning with training in 2006, MJ has trained with six doula organizations, learning different skills with each training. Going the extra several steps beyond a couple days of in-person (or online) training to complete so many certifications provided the opportunity to gain additional background knowlege, skills and experiences. While many other doulas have chosen not to avail themselves of this part of the process, MJ’s philosophy is that if you align with the training organization, a certification program worth it’s weight (and time, and investment, etc) should provide a meaninful experience in the certifcation process itself. It should be something beyond just checking off the boxes. Because of this, as they developed their own certicication program, it is an intentionally lengthy, intensely personal, process of cultivating relationships, serious reflection and contemplation, discernment and development. MJ’s first trainings included ALACE (CPLA), which was originally known as Informed Homebirth, and toLABOR (CBD) with the amazing Thérèse Hak-Kuhn. They are also working on completing certification as a Fertility Advocate.

Pregnancy and Postpartum Fitness Educator

CAPPA (CPFE), AFFA

As one of the US's only Certified Pregnancy Fitness Educators, MJ offers private consultations, group classes and more to help folks enjoy healthy pregnancy, healthy birth and healthy postpartum "bounce back" into fitness. Mall Walking Monday Workouts were a staple for Central Connecticut perinatal exercise options, and while they have been temporarily suspended, alternate at-home workouts (live or recorded) are available upon request.

Professional Postpartum Doula

Madriella (MCPD)

MJ offers virtual Postpartum Support and limited Postpartum Doula services to folks in limited areas of Connecticut and New York State (including Dutchess County towns of Pine Planes, Dover, Millerton, generally ending just shy of Poughkeepsie, Litchfield, New Haven, Hartford and Middlesex Counties in Connecticut). Services include light meal preparation, light housekeeping, basic lactation support, infant care and someone to talk with when those early days are a challenge. ASL for Baby virtual meet-ups are also available as part of your postpartum package. Fill out the contact form to discuss.

Certified Professional Doula

Madriella (MCPD)

Rather than a quick weekend workshop or online training, MJ decided to earn a credential that reflects a high level of dedication to continuing education and professionalism. MJ has continued to train with various organizations and has served thousands of families, and has cultivated relationships with many other birth professionals since beginning this work. They sit on the Committee to Support Vaginal Birth with one of the large hospital systems in the state and teach birth basics regularly to the University classes they teach as an ajdunct professor. This is not a common combination for doulas, and MJ’s worked hard for the past two decades to develop opportunities to teach more communities about doulas and the importance of birth education.

Rebozo Credential

When possible, it is best to learn these skills directly from a Mexican Midwife with a Mexican Artisan made Rebozo. MJ respectfully shares only a fraction of the rebozo skills they have learned with birth workers and families, encouraging everyone to find their opportunities to learn more in a direct manner. The rebozo is a long, woven fabric piece of artwork/clothing, as well as a tool, in the right hands, traditionally used for many things, including helping a pregnant person relax in pregnancy and labor. Some of the Mexican midwives who have mastered these techniques over many generations have generously taught the skills to birth workers from around the world so that we may share the knowledge and comfort the rebozo can offer. MJ was taught in-person (and continued through several levels of online trainings and interactive certifications) by a Mexican-American doula who trained directly with Mexican midwives. MJ also has learned several skills from videos and written works Mexican Midwives have published to share information. MJ looks forward to finding the right opportunity to train directly with a Mexican Midwife. If you have a good recommendation, please reach out!

Bereavement/Loss and Grief Doula

Certified Birth and Bereavement Doula (StillBirthDay), Pregnancy And Infant Loss Advocate (PAIL Advocate)

During unexpected outcomes, having a doula who is prepared to talk with you about your choices, provide a sounding board as you work out decision-making, encourage self-advocacy and provide educational and emotional support can be very helpful. When one faces a life-limiting condition, reduction, termination, or diagnosis that is not compatible with life, MJ ensures compassion and caring are part of each step of the process. MJ grew up in a family colored by the neonatal loss of their brother, Kevin, two years before they were born and remembers one of their mother’s miscarriages. Raised with a sense of celebration for and regular reminders of Kevin’s short life, and an understanding the many complex impacts of perinatal loss, MJ is ready to assist during challenging times.