This training was very healing & enlightening. I feel confident & prepared to offer my services to a family in need. Training was hands on & very personal. Two thumbs up! read more

Cornerstone Doula Trainings - Touch with the intent to heal - Adult Education Near Me

I truly appreciated the consistent focus on social equity, inclusivity, empowerment, support, and sensitivity throughout the Cornerstone Doula Training course. The content was well organized, well delivered, and easily accessed. I feel honored to have received my Doula training from Cornerstone. They embody caring, support, and empowerment for all birthing people and their communities. Thank you for educating and supporting me along my journey. read more

I love Cornerstone Doula Training! They are genuinely welcoming of different communities. They consciously work to uplift marginalized communities and I appreciate their work so much! Excellent allies and they work to spread love, understanding, compassion and the tools to support communities most in need. Thank you for welcoming me into the Cornerstone community! read more

Where to begin? Cornerstone has set the foundation for me to be a birth worker grounded in reverence for the human body, compassion for the unexpected, and understanding my role as an activist within this field. Nickie and Juli are truly a dynamic mother daughter duo. They're wisdom and knowledge are so comprehensive, yet they also make space for other educators to come in when it is appropriate to do so. Not only that, but they are incredibly communicative in the online community they have created. Answering questions and offering support and resources, they're the best! I've already taken a handful of their trainings, and am looking forward to more in the future. read more

Cornerstone Doula Trainings have my eternal gratitude. I couldn't be more satisfied with my choice of entrusting them with my doula foundation. Their knowledge and passion runs steadfastly in each class I have taken. As a "baby doula" myself, their trainings have equipped me on all levels; hands on techniques, business skills, EVIDENCE BASED INFORMATION. They provide in depth knowledge and continuous resources. I've never felt a stronger sense of community and I cannot say enough amazing things about them, their partners in business and teaching practices. If you're wondering, looking or interesting in birth work, your dollars couldn't be better spent choosing Cornerstone. read more

Thank you for providing a comprehensive training program that prepares Doulas to work with ALL birthing people! Your classes were fun, informational, community building, and supportive. I just attended my first birth as a doula and was able to use several of the skills I was taught in class. I am so glad I choose Cornerstone Doula Trainings as the foundation for my Doula practice. read more

I couldn't be more grateful to have found the incredible training and community that is Cornerstone. As a Doula in training I feel confident in my ability to support birthing people through labor, birth, postpartum and beyond because of this organization. Nickie, Juli, and Jazz have been an absolute dream to learn from. Their knowledge is deep, their dedication to informed choice, inclusion and access are the foundation of everything they do, create and teach. I am proud to be a Cornerstone Doula and proud to be a part of the community they have and continue to build. read more

I chose to become a doula and childbirth educator through Cornerstone because their mission and values aligned perfectly with my desire to make a difference in the birth world. I wanted to gain more experience with birth while I was preparing to apply to certified nurse-midwife programs. I could not have been better prepared by Nickie and Juli. They are both knowledgeable and so passionate about what they do. I felt confident and supported through every class and every experience thereafter. The insight and wisdom that both Nickie and Juli have to share is immeasurable. They bring together the physical, mental, and psychosocial aspects involved to truly provide a well-rounded, holistic curriculum. In all of the groups I was a part of throughout my training, we all benefitted from the hands-on learning as well as from bonding with and supporting one another. One of my favorite parts of Cornerstone is the community that we have all built. I'm now in a DNP program and will be a certified nurse-midwife when I graduate, which I am very excited about! And the school I'm attending also values social justice, diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment -- all things that Cornerstone emphasizes and instills in every single one of their students. Making the decision to train with Cornerstone was one of the best decisions I could have made and it has allowed me to continue to follow my dreams and become a powerful force of change in the birth world! read more

When my life started to take a different direction, I did not know what was next. My friend approached me and said to take the PP Doula course. She sent me the link and I said yes! Talked to another friend and we took our course. Nicky is amazing in what she opens your eyes to. During the course I had tears because I thought, Wow how different my experience could have been. How if I had the support I needed, I would not have felt so alone. Everyone thinks absolutely if you know about Doulas (which I did not) that this is a luxury for people with money, yet it is not. Actually, it is something that should be a necessity and if we can help get the word out we can help many families during this beautiful yet emotional time. I am spreading the word about Cornerstone and Doulas to help make a difference in lives. This experience is definitely another one of the most rewarding journeys I am going to embark on. Thank you for sharing your stories, taking the time to encourage, empower, and educate others, while providing us with the tools to create a world of difference. read more

I attended Nickie's postpartum doula training in July 2014 and was blown away. Her postpartum class is masterfully written to get the most amount of information into the two-day class. The material was delivered very efficiently, and with plenty of heart. Some tidbits I appreciated as a teacher, and as a student: Time. The class started on time. This may seem small, but I have rarely been to doula trainings or events that begin promptly. While all doulas know birth doesn't happen on a schedule, there is no reason our trainings can't follow a more linear timeline. I appreciated the respect for my time and the way it commanded respect for our teacher right off the bat. The food. There were snacks! Everyone was asked to bring some food to share. I have often wished as a classroom teacher that I had less materials budget and more snack budget. Sharing food together is an instant community-builder, and keeps everyone in a productive zone. No hanger allowed. The women. The breadth and depth of experience in the room was awe-inspiring. I felt honored to be in a place with such kind, dedicated and intelligent ladies. Bravo! The information. Practical, no bullshit, years of experience gifted into our minds and notebooks. All the while Nickie left the door open to the class to tell stories and expand our communal knowledge and ability to problem-solve and care for humans even better. Network. I was able to put the class straight to use via the many opportunities that come out of being part of the Cornerstone network. I look forward to getting more and more connected and supported by the fabulous group in the future. Thank you! read more

I can't say enough good things about Cornerstone Midwifery Trainings! First of all, Juli is a gem. She has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom and a generous spirit excited to share it all. She has definitely been called to mentor and guide aspiring midwives along their path. Juli works with the personality of the group, taking questions as they come up, and making sure each student feels safe and respected. She is an incredibly talented midwife and it shows in her ability to teach everything from charting and cervical checks, to self-care in birthwork and the importance of intuition in midwifery. Each day was packed full of information that we absorbed through a variety of modalities, including hands-on practice with both pregnant woman and anatomical models, guest-speakers, videos, discussions, worksheets and more. I loved how almost everything we learned about in theory, we were able to put into practice, see in action, or discuss with each other soon thereafter. The scope of and depth of each of the classes was outstanding. One thing that really surprised me was how comfortable and connected our group felt. I think we had an amazing group of women to begin with, and Juli helped facilitate a positive and safe environment whereby we all became very close, and were able to process a lot of the emotionally intense things that come up in this kind of work. I now have a support network of midwife sisters and I know we will keep in touch and look out for each other along the way. This class was life-changing, and such an amazing deal. Cornerstone Midwifery Trainings was the perfect springboard into Midwifery school and I feel confident and competent moving forward into the next phase of my schooling. Truthfully, I really miss the class, but am thankful for all that I'm taking with me (including those amazing binders full of invaluable information. I will definitely always take those with me.) read more

Cornerstone has literally changed my life. Juli & Nickie have put together an incredibly comprehensive program. Every single day that I walk out of their home I'm blown away by the amount of knowledge I took in. I've taken the Core class, home birth, postpartum, optimal fetal positioning, nutrition, prenatal testing, and soon placenta encapsulation... With practically no overlap in information from one class to the next! ... I say cornerstone has changed my life, because after a few classes and meeting so many amazing women, I've decided to take the plunge and begin midwifery school! The journey has been great so far and I can't imagine doing it with anyone else. Nickies mind is an information bank she openly shares in class. That lady can spit terms out at the drop of a dime and explain things in such a clear way that makes it easy to learn, grasp and retain. Julia passion for pregnancy & birth is contagious, she's an inspiration and a force of goodness. It's very "grass roots" and special, to be able to learn from a woman with so much experience and wisdom. If you're interested in becoming a doula or midwife, I can't recommend a better place to go. The well woman care, full spectrum approach I've learned at cornerstone had me proudly walking into my first birth as a doula confident and prepared. read more

I can't say enough awesome things about taking doula training from Cornerstone with Nickie. I've done both the labor doula training and the postpartum training with Cornerstone. I've done two other doula trainings in the past 10 years and went to Cornerstone because of the raves other doula friends had given me about their experience. I was not disappointed. Nickie is an expert teacher and knowledgable and compassionate. I love that she would check in with us about how we felt about certain topics during the training and held space for whatever came up. She is the perfect blend of seasoned expert, calm warm presence and easy going, accessible gal. I highly recommend Cornerstone for a quality doula education and a great mentor in Nickie. I have no doubt that whenever I have questions in the future she will be ready and willing to help me. Her dedication and passion for birth is evident. I also want to add that a couple-friend of mine took Nickie's childbirth education class (they're due in October) and both my friend and her husband really liked Nickie and her style. read more

Having just finished my training with Cornerstone Doula Trainings I feel well prepared to go out and begin work as a doula. The extensive education with Nickie and Juli included everything from physiology and the processes of birth, to bedside manner and how to work with hospital staff to get the best support for doula clients. The training occurred in a supportive environment where questions and discussion were encouraged, which is extremely important with such a complex and emotional set of topics. Juli and Nickie are amazing educators who I feel privileged to have worked with, and feel comfortable knowing that they will be there to support me as I begin my journey into the field of doula work. There are a number of places to get doula training in the Bay Area and some are much cheaper, but none of the others that I looked at were as extensive with the beginning course on being a birth doula having 48 hours of class, and the advanced postpartum training being 16 hours of class. read more

I took the Core Beginners Course in the spring of 2013, and it was an outstanding, thorough introduction to the biology, human interaction, and business of becoming a doula. I heard about Nickie's class through a friend who took it years ago, and it lived up to the rave reviews. Nickie's extensive experience is complemented by her strengths as a teacher -- it is no small feat to explain things well! I would recommend this class in a heartbeat to anyone interested in a solid overview and introduction to becoming a doula. read more

I am so lucky to have found and completed my birth, postpartum training as well as my childbirth educator training and a slew of other advanced courses with Juli and Nickie. Because of Cornerstone, I have discovered my calling, my love of birth and reproductive justice, as well as being able to support all families from all walks of life. I am especially grateful to my incredible training when it comes to serving Deaf families. Combining the tools given to be through my trainings, the excellent mentoring from Juli and Nickie, my background and experience within the Deaf community had provided me a specialized niche in which I successfully employ as a birth professional. Cornerstone WALKS THE TALK in regards to their inclusive practices and the diverse and deeply analytical courses and workshops. Their training is top notch, with tightly knit community of trained individuals who are passionate about the work we do. I can't thank Nickie and Juli enough for opening new opportunities in my life both personally and professionally. read more

I am blessed to have been able to attend both Nickie's Labor and Postpartum doula trainings in the early part of this year. The thoroughness of the teachings, the time and space allowed for discussion, process and inquiry, and the overall energy of empowerment and holistic thinking made for a truly incredible experience. The scope and depth of information provided is superb and the business/marketing skills, the cherry on top! Nickie does a beautiful job creating a rich environment of inclusivity and respect where it is easy to rise up to your highest potential. This work has called me for quite some time, and even though I had some self doubt going in, I finished my trainings feeling completely capable and ready to begin this journey. All I can say is, if you're feeling called to Cornerstone, do it. Just do it. Stop thinking about it and just sign up. It will exceed your expectations and change your life! read more

I did a two day postpartum doula training. Nickie is an awesome teacher, obviously very knowledgeable about taking care of mamas and very compassionate. She's very present without being dogmatic. I highly reccommend attending a class with Nickie is you want to train to be a doula! read more

I took Nickie's class to become a Labor Doula and it was wonderful! She is a great teacher, has all the necessary props and provides hands on visuals. The class had a great structure in a comfortable atmosphere. Given her many years of experience as a Doula she really knows her stuff! I feel confident in becoming a Doula because of this training. read more

I could listen to Juli and Nickie talk forever! You can tell how passionate they are about the work they do and the people they've worked with. I decided to take the postpartum doula training due to a friend having complications after having twins. Within the first hour, I knew I wanted to sign up for the Labor Doula training. Nickie has this way of pulling you in and wanting to learn more. You can tell both Juli and Nickie love that they do! With their hands on training and past experiences, they really know it all! I highly recommend their courses for anyone interested in Doula Trainings. read more

I took Cornerstone's Optimal Fetal Positioning workshop and Postpartum Doula Training, and loved both! OFP covers a critical set of skills for any birth professional, and is taught in an intimate, engaging setting. The skills I gained have changed the course of many births since. The postpartum training is comprehensive, engaging, and well-organized with excellent guest instruction as well. Highest praise for Cornerstone. read more

Nickie does a phenomenal job of weaving together sincerity, knowledge, passion, intent, and advocacy with a splash of humor that creates an environment of comfortable discourse, hands-on practice of specific skills, and personable interaction. Small group that allows time for questions and conversations, and a non-sterile experience that is priceless. I feel blessed and grateful to have had Nickie from Cornerstone Doula's as a teacher and mentor. Her dedication to a more integrative and empowering model of childbirth, as well as to life in general, shines through. read more

The other reviewers have all ready said anything I could say. Nickie Tilsner and her team of teachers are excellent at preparing women for birth, for helping doulas help women birth, and for supporting natural parenting. I greatly enjoyed the Postpartum doula course I took and learned so much. If you're considering taking a class, do. If you're considering hiring a doula who is certified via Cornerstone, do. read more

Cornerstone is such a wonderful place to learn about becoming a doula! I have done the labor, home birth and postpartum classes and cannot say enough about how much I appreciated these classes! The women running this program and teaching are SO knowledgeable and they really create a positive and intimate space for learning about something so important. They provide continuous support after becoming certified, which is so awesome to know we aren't just cut loose!! I met some wonderful women in the training as well! Cornerstone not only covers information on being a stellar doula but they also go over how to successfully start a business and offer SO many tips in regards to getting started and building a practice within the established doula community. Thank you Cornerstone :-) read more

Nicki Tilsner's Cornerstone Doula Training is clear and concise and a great preparation for attending births as a doula. I definitely recommend it! read more

Get trained by Cornerstone it will change your life, bust myths, and add so much value. I am a certified birthworker!!!!!!! Thank you so very much Cornerstone Doula! I highly recommend the training courses this professional, informed, and socially progressive company offers. I AM A BLACK WOMAN AND MY DIFFERENCE WAS VALUED ALONG WITH MY SIMILARITIES APPRECIATED; as an African American woman in this training I was very thankful that the real disparities directly related to race with birthing people was not brushed under the rug! THANK YOU!!!!!! I know that I have a team of skilled mentors behind me and I feel so empowered with knowledge due to this team of women and Men ( shout out to Walter) doula, midwife collective. Juli and Nickie are a fluid mother daughter team that are proof in and of itself of the gift of birth work. Juli's energy was one that made me want to be wrapped in her touch and Nickie's breakdown of the scientific aspects laced me with this net of safety, I feel so secure and prepared to hold space and advocate for the privilege journey of working with birthing people. I cannot say enough about this very qualified team. The much needed business course that has lit the fire, heating up the Value of birthwork was enlightening thank you so much Jazz-Ylaine Baptiste your gift of teaching how to value and acknowledge my gifts was so refreshing and I am grateful for you and your husband's presence with this wonderful training course. Cornerstone doula training is by far more than I expected. I want more! Jazz I'm coming for that self care course. Forever a student to these professional sharers and guides. Thank you !....Go get trained by Cornerstone! read more

Just finished the Post-Partum Doula certification training with Nickie. A LOT of information, not just about caring for moms, dads and babies post-partum, but also about ethical business practices. Very good course...... read more

I took 3 courses at Cornerstone over the summer: Optimal Fetal Positioning, Core Labor Doula, and Postpartum Doula training. All three were fantastic! I had to cram them in because I live abroad and only had a short window period where I could take them while visiting my family here, but they were all very engaging and informative and I never felt bored. I have a background in health sciences and found all the information that was presented to be evidence based best practices. I thoroughly recommend these courses. read more

My wife and I recently had training with Juli and had such a positive experience! She is very patient and I could tell how much she cared about what she was teaching. My wife and I are due in a month and we had so anxieties before the weekend, but after the training we feel MUCH more comfortable about what lies ahead. She went over everything from diet to prepare for childbirth to post-partum care and everything in between. The book she provided is an excellent guide for us in the coming weeks as well. She had diagrams, props, and videos that all helped us understand what is actually going on during the birth and the options that we have at different times. Highly recommended!! read more

I felt it was necessary to learn about the birthing process in an empowering way. The Cornerstone Doula Trainings provided me MORE than what I expected, the training was intense! Now I'm already a Labor doula after a month from training, I feel very confident and well supported by Nickie and this tight doula group. I recommend it to all women & even guys!You learn from amazing birth videos, anatomy, relaxation techniques, joining the emotional and spiritual aspects of birth in an intimate setting. You always have the opportunity to broaden your knowledge, there's ongoing advanced courses, great mentors, volunteer programs,and plenty of referrals and resources. This course has changed me, truly, now I can educate my loved ones about birth with empowerment and truth. read more

This class is AMAZING! I highly recommend it to everyone, even people who may not become Doulas. It is fun, informative and empowering! Nickie is a complete professional guiding the class in a way that allows for user friendly learning. It is a lot if info. in a short period of time, but I implanted so much of the knowledge already. I can't wait to get out in the field and work with women, their partners and their pregnant bellies! read more

I have been a Doula on the side for a few years and mostly did it as a volunteer job or for close friends. I decided to take Nickie's doula classes and at the end felt so much more comfortable. It was a relief to find out what i was doing right and what I could learn more about (and did). She also had a great section on how to start your business in an administrative way. How and where to advertise, how to get new clients and all the things you can do to make sure the business part is successful. The Birth Doula class was invaluable. I also took the Post Partum, Homebirth for Doulas and the Optimal fetal positioning class. I was more than happy with all I learned and it made me realize that this is indeed the work I want to do. I am quitting my job in the tech industry and are now going to be a full time Doula. Nicky gave me the push and confidence to do this and I can't thank her enough. She is also very good at answering questions after you have completed the classes. Once you have taken these courses you can continue to interact with Nicky and the rest of the people that have attended with you or in the past. Questions area always answered with professionalism and are always helpful. read more

I took the Cornerstone Doula Training this past year and was totally blown away by the knowledge and passion of these women. I am an acupuncturist and I treat a lot of pregnant women. I thought it would be beneficial to educate myself more on the birth process from this perspective, but never thought I would walk out of there with as much detailed understanding as what I gained from the 4 day course. I feel that I gained more practical and useful information from this course than all the hours of training in women's health in my schooling. From this course I feel more confident and capable to practice acupuncture at births if necessary, as well as understand more what the late trimester women in my practice are experiencing. I highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to break into the birthing community - either as a doula or perhaps as the beginnings to a midwifery career, or anyone else who wants to learn about the birthing process from a truly integrative perspective. read more

I have done both Postpartum Doula and Birth Doula training with Cornerstone Doula Trainings. These two trainings have been with Nickie but I have also had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Juli and they are both lovely. They both teach, it just depends which courses you are taking. The trainings have been incredibly informative while still keeping ample time for discussion and questions. The groups are small enough so that you are able to get to know everyone which is another plus. Nickie is incredibly knowledgeable about all things birth related and teaches with such ease. She has so many stories to share that really help the information stick. She's so good at explaining things and also is also wonderful answering any questions that come up. She's heard it all and seen it all so she's comfortable discussing anything. She also holds such loving space for anything that comes up for anyone in class...as learning all of this stuff may be triggering sometimes. She cares about all of her students and its so easy to feel that. She has a warm, calming, open, inviting energy about her and it's palpable when you are in her presence. I'm so glad I did my doula trainings with Cornerstone and I would highly recommend them to any aspiring doulas. read more

I took the core doula training in July 2012 and have since taken several other courses offered by Nickie and/or Juli Tilsner at Cornerstone. I can not offer enough praise for their teaching and classes. I felt that I was exactly where I needed to be the entire time, and I rarely feel this way. The content is a lot, yet essential. The core course was the perfect balance of hands-on training, practical tips, philosophy, business practice, anatomy. I feel that every citizen in human society should take this course. Besides learning about birth, I learned so much about myself and relationships in general. After a year of practicing as a birth and postpartum doula, I still feel that I owe so much to Nickie and Juli for their expertise. read more

Cornerstone has been the foundation to the beginning of my journey as a doula and placenta encapsulator. I have grown to be a qualified, well-educated, highly-informed, conscious birth worker in the East Bay and all that I have become, I owe in gratitude to the founders Juli & Nickie Tilsner. Once I took my initial Labor Doula Training, there was no stopping. These two create an incredible learning environment where you can be real and get down into every nook and cranny of whatever birth topic arises. They don't miss a thing! The Cornerstone classroom feels open, mindful and assertive in a way that motivates you to get out there in the birth world. Their role as educators is to empower you to empower others and they do it damn well. Don't think twice. Sign up for any and every class you can! read more

Juli is a homebirth midwife, Nickie is a doula and childbirth educator. Together this mom and daughter team are incredible. I took the basic doula training with them plus several of their advanced workshops. I also sit in on some of Nickie's childbirth classes. The two of them have a body of knowledge about birthing and pregnancy that will blow you away. Not only have I learned all of the relevant info about assisting at a birth, but they also educate about nutrition, fetal positioning, alternatives to interventions, etc. Be warned that the Cornerstone approach is radical and counter-cultural and therefore not for everyone. But if you are interested in empowering women to have a natural, joyful birth then do this training. Another great plus is the doula community that Juli and Nickie actively try to promote through keeping their graduates in touch with one another, and helping to find them opportunities for volunteer births, etc. read more

As my last review reflected, I am a proud Cornerstone doula! I recently had the pleasure of becoming certified to teach the Cornerstone Method of Childbirth Education. As I suspected, this most recent training did not disappoint! I quickly fell in love with the integrated method written by the fabulous Nickie and Juli Tilsner. One of my favorite aspects of the method is that it is written with the aim of reaching ALL families regardless of structure, identity, and birthing location. If you've done any hunting around for a diverse offering for your students, you know that it is impossible to find! The student workbook so beautifully reflects a realistic cross-section of my diverse community, and my students will be grateful to see themselves reflected on the pages of such a valuable resource for both their current pregnancies and for future pregnancies to come. Not only does Cornerstone talk the diversity talk, they walk the talk, too! This is reflected in the videos shown throughout the training and included on the recommended list for course leaders. I so appreciated the pace of the training, as well as the opportunities for building community throughout the week-long experience. The depth of knowledge you will walk away with will set you up for success when you teach your childbirth education courses. I truly feel prepared to teach my first childbirth education session, and know that if I ever need support, Nickie and Juli will always be there for me! read more