Imani Lopez
full spectrum doula and childbirth educator
Hi, I'm Imani! I'm a queer and non-binary full spectrum doula operating out of Solano County, California, servicing The Bay Area and beyond. As a natural helper and empath I've always been interested in exploring ways to help people, but it wasn't until I witnessed the birth of a family member that I realized where my calling lies: in supporting people through life's changes both big and small. My passion is holding people’s hands through the myriad of transitions that are inherent to being human. In fall of 2023 I took the leap to officially train as a doula through Birthing Advocacy Doula Training, and now I am focusing on supporting clients, growing my knowledge base by taking continuing education units and building community with birthing people, birthworkers and people navigating life transitions. I am interested in working with all birthing people and their families, and I am interested in collaborating with birthworking organizations that center BIPOC community members.
My Approach
Care work is deeply relational work. Outside of the professional, paid career pathway of being a doula in the western world, people have been tending to birthing people and their families since humans came into existence. In the framework of my doula practice and of my life, care is not something that can be learned in a certification course, nor is it something you can buy for a specified dollar amount. It is both a skill and a feeling, combined to empower everyone to be exactly who they are in a given moment.
When I partner with a client as their doula, we are entering into a relationship of care where the heartbeat of the relationship is: how you are doing matters to me. In order to create, sustain and nourish this relationship I rely on a few belief pillars that ground me as I show up to provide care. These pillars are:
I will meet you where you are at - you can be who you are; you will receive no judgment from me.
I will trust you - you are the authority on your own experience; I honor that knowledge of yourself that only you hold and I trust you when you share your truth
What you want is what I want for you - I am in support of your vision, no matter how it looks
Communication is caring - conflict, hard conversations and boundaries are welcome.
As a doula my goal is to educate my clients so that they are fully informed and empower them to make their own best decisions and advocate for their needs, absolutely–and within that it is to see and hold them gently as a human who is experiencing one of the biggest transitions of a lifetime.