Master the Doula Interview
Learn what to say, how to say it, and how to feel confident in every doula interview, even if you're brand new.
About two hours of video you watch at your own pace, plus live Q&A with me. Includes 2 CE contact hours.
- What do doulas do?
- Why should we hire you?
- Do you meet in person?
- What do you charge?
Your class includes 2 live Q&A sessions with me on Zoom, to use within 12 months.
Includes email samples and a story bank spreadsheet. See everything $49 covers
You know birth support. Interviews are a different skill.
Most doula trainings teach you how to support birth. They do not teach you how to talk about yourself in a room with a family who is trying to decide if they trust you.
This class walks you through what happens in a doula interview, from the first message to the follow-up after. You will know what to say, how to handle the hard questions, and how to close the conversation without feeling pushy or awkward.
That gap is real. And it costs new doulas clients.
Shorter interviews, better stories, and a plan from hello to the follow-up.
For doulas, new or practicing. Start any time and go at your own pace.
What you will learn in this class
The class is approved for 2 CE contact hours. By the end, you'll be able to:
- Scheduling
Describe the steps to scheduling a doula interview.
- Time limits
Explain the need for time limits on interviews.
- Your stories
Detail why stories are helpful in interviews.
- Start to finish
Outline a streamlined interview.
Approved through DONA International, course number CEP002-005-W.
Two hours, six modules
Watch the videos on your own schedule. When an interview doesn't go the way you hoped, bring it to a live Q&A with me.
Your style
How to define your interview style and build your interviews around it.
You'll sound like yourself, not a script.
Location matters
In person, phone, or video: how to choose and how to prepare for each.
You'll pick the right setting for each family.
Limit your time
Not too long, not too short, and how to keep the interview there.
You'll end on time without rushing the family.
Practice
Difficult questions, how to begin and end an interview, and flipping the interview.
You'll have answers ready for the hard questions.
Simplify the process
Why a simpler process works, with email samples you can adapt for scheduling and follow-up.
You'll have emails ready to send.
Putting it all together
Your story bank: which stories to tell, and how to keep them ready.
You'll have a story for the questions families ask.
Included: a course worksheet, email samples, and a story bank spreadsheet.
Bonus lesson: the 5 ONEs of a doula interview.
Interviews feel harder than they should
You have finished your training and you are ready to start meeting with families, but interviews feel intimidating.
You have done a few interviews and are not getting hired consistently.
You want to feel less like you are performing and more like yourself in those first conversations.
What you can do after this class
- Explain what a doula doesAnswer "What do doulas do?" in your own words, and know what not to say.
- Choose the settingDecide between video, phone, or in person, and prepare for each one.
- Handle the hard partsRespond to awkward questions, hesitation, and pricing without freezing.
- Follow upReach back out after the interview without feeling weird about it.
$49. Includes live Q&A with me and 2 CE contact hours.
In their words
I need to work on selling myself, its not just about getting the contract, its about making connections. The modules were in short bites so I could do the workshop as it fit into my schedule.
How to start and end interviews without it being robotic or too clinical. I liked some of the suggestions and all of the examples.
Want to practice out loud?
Aria, my virtual client, runs you through a practice consultation and asks what real families ask, including pricing and backup coverage. Run it as many times as you want, before or after the class.
For more on consultations, start with my doula consultation guide.
Who's teaching this
Hi, I'm Robin Elise Weiss.
I've trained more than 10,000 doulas and attended more than 1,500 births.
This class covers the part of doula work that happens before you're hired: the first message, the interview, and the follow-up.
PhD, MPH, MSHPE, LCCE, CLC, PMH-C, AdvCD/BDT(DONA)
As seen inNPR, Parents, People, The Bump, Verywell Health, The Washington Post, and Newsweek
What $49 covers
- Video
- About two hours of training in six modules, plus a bonus lesson. Watch at your own pace.
- Live Q&A
- Live Q&A with your instructor. Your class includes 2 live Q&A sessions with me on Zoom, to use within 12 months.
- Templates
- A course worksheet, email samples, and a story bank spreadsheet.
- CE hours
- 2 CE contact hours you can apply toward certification or recertification. Approved through DONA International, course number CEP002-005-W.
- Access
- Yours for as long as the course is available. Start any time.
Registration is nonrefundable because this is a digital course.
Trained with me? See the alumni page for your discount.
Questions
Is any of this live?
The class is about two hours of video you watch on your own schedule. Your class also includes 2 live Q&A sessions with me on Zoom, to use within 12 months, so you can bring questions from your own interviews.
I haven't done a doula interview yet. Is this class for me?
Yes. The class starts with finding your own interview style and walks you through scheduling, the interview itself, and the follow-up. It also works if you've done a few interviews and aren't getting hired as often as you'd like.
Does the class cover talking about my fee?
Yes. Pricing is one of the hard questions I walk through, along with hesitation and awkward questions. To practice saying your fee out loud, use Aria, my virtual client, as many times as you want.
Should I interview in person, by phone, or by video?
It depends on you and the family. A whole module covers the pros and cons of each, how to choose, and how to prepare for each one.
What templates are included?
A course worksheet, email samples you can adapt for scheduling and follow-up, and a story bank spreadsheet for the stories you tell in interviews.
Does this include CE hours?
Yes. Finish the class and you'll get a certificate for 2 CE contact hours you can apply toward certification or recertification. The class is approved through DONA International, course number CEP002-005-W.
How long do I have access?
As long as the course is available. Come back to it before any interview you want to prepare for.
Can I get a refund?
No. Registration is nonrefundable because this is a digital course.
The next time a family asks to meet you, you'll know what to say from the first message to the follow-up.
Ready for your next interview?
About two hours of video. 2 live Q&A sessions with me. 2 CE contact hours. $49.