Meet Emma
Hello, I’m Emma Atkinson (they/she). I’m a full spectrum doula, childbirth educator, and community herbalist based in Ferndale, Michigan. I serve the Metro Detroit area. There are several virtual offerings for families in and outside my region.
My introduction to doula work came from volunteering as an abortion doula, helping to remove barriers for people who may not have access to physical, financial, or emotional support. I found that I loved working with clients as an informed non-medical professional and that I have a passion for helping people navigate their experiences with pregnancy. I took my training through Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings to expand my offerings to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Becoming a doula feels like I’m answer my calling. The work of providing support to families is deeply humbling and gratifying.
My Values
My practice is rooted in the principles of reproductive justice as defined by SisterSong:
Reproductive Justice [is] the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.
I exercise this in my practice by supporting clients in expressing autonomous control of their bodies by providing an evidence-based, trauma-informed perspective, especially when interacting with the medical system.
In a world that often seeks to invalidate the feelings of birthing people, I am to be a source of affirmation, advocacy, and empowerment. I provide non-judgmental emotional support for everyone involved in experience with reproduction.
I center the most marginalized in my world view, meaning I use inclusive language, practice anti-racism, and constantly examine my relationship to systems of oppression and power through processing the impact of colonial ways of being.
Lived experience, compassionate care
I have a unique set of lived experiences that have granted me insight into the breadth of complexity that life can offer. Very little surprises me, and I feel equipped to handle whatever happens. I am good under pressure and will mobilize as you need me to.
I’m experienced in giving compassionate, understanding support. With me as your doula, you can expect that I will leverage my resources to meet your needs as best I can.
Coming from an engineering and business background, I have experience reading published studies and applying analytical reasoning that enhances the quality of research I can provide to my clients. While I have a strong regard for the science but I do not view science at the only mechanism for navigating the world. Cultural practice is sacred, and I support my clients in meeting their culturally-specific needs.