Meet the Life Cycle Doulas Team
Passionate. Experienced. Dedicated.
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Gina Durant
Founder & Lead Instructor
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Mary Miller
Postpartum Instructor
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Amelia Varney
Postpartum Instructor & Mentor
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Melissa Carrick
Birth Instructor & Educator
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Katherine Steen
Childbirth Education Instructor
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Jenni Kula
Postpartum Instructor
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Jamie Young
Business Development Instructor
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Casey Gillen-Young
Doula Support Facilitator
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Vanessa Guite
Doula Support Facilitator
Who We Are
We’re experienced birth professionals with over 25 years of combined experience in doula work, advocacy, and education.
We’ve spent decades refining our approach so you don’t have to learn the hard way. We’ll help you find your voice, build your confidence, and develop the skills to create empowering experiences for families.
We built this program because we saw what was missing when we started out:
- The power of connection and collaboration among doulas.
- The tools to navigate the complexities of birth work.
- The confidence to support families through every challenge.
Meet Our Mother-Daughter Doula Team
We are a mother-daughter duo, united by our passion for supporting families through every stage of their journey. As an experienced doula, I had the joy of training my daughter, Amelia, who is now a full-time doula in Brooklyn. She also plays a key role in co-teaching and managing the Collective. Our shared commitment to this work makes our bond even more special, and we’re excited to bring that warmth and experience to the families we serve.
Bring a Training to your Town
We will bring our in-person workshops and Life Cycle team wherever you need us.
Beginning with a weekend training in your city, we’ll guide your first steps into doula work. Upon completion, we continue to support your journey by offering mentoring, professional support, and inclusion in our network of doulas.
Weekend Lakeside Retreats
Prefer to travel? Our Western New York Salto training space offers an immersive educational opportunity. As you complete course work, you can fully engage with your training team in the serene waterfront surroundings. Spend a long weekend with us, beginning our days with morning yoga on the lawn, and ending with sunsets on the water. Embrace your coursework with the added opportunity for self care and even time to explore our diverse area.
