Sometimes clients will call me who want to meet me for a consultation but aren’t sure what kinds of things they should ask. I thought I’d give a run down on what a typical consultation looks like. It never hurts to ask a doula you’ve met what typically happens during her consultation so you know what to expect.
Usually I will speak with a client over the phone to make the appointment, but not always. Often it’s done just over email. I will email a package to the client for her to review before we meet which includes my contract.
When we meet I like to ask what the client is looking for. Sometimes they’re very specific and sometimes they aren’t sure, they are just looking for some extra help. There are no right or wrong answers! I try to talk with them a little more to see if we can get a better idea of what the vision for the birth is so we can discuss what my role might be in that scenario.
Clients will sometimes have a list of questions that they’ve created or from a website, and sometimes they aren’t sure what to ask at all.
I answer all of the questions that arise and then if there aren’t too many or the couple seems unsure of what to ask, I offer my ’spiel’. I will tell them a bit about myself, my training and experience, and my values about birth. I speak to them about how I envision the role of fathers and encourage the partners to ask me questions. We discuss the rates, payment, expectations of me and my expectations of them.
At the end of the consultation, which typically occurs in the couple’s home but sometimes we meet at a neutral location, I let them know that I do not book anyone until we have a contract and that there is no obligation to call me back unless they wish to hire me. Clients who wish to hire me will call me later with the rate they’ve chosen and to confirm they’ve mailed the contract, and we’re off and running!
Common questions I’ve been asked:
* How long have you been practicing? How many births have you attended?
* What kind of training have you had?
* What got you started as a doula?
* Where do you attend births?
* When will you come to me when I am in labor and how long do you stay afterward?
* How many prenatal visits do I get?
* How does your sliding scale work?
* Have you ever had a client unhappy with your services?
* What other services do you offer?
* What do you envision your role to be as a support person?
* How do you support my partner?
* Can you help me with breastfeeding?
A few tips:
* She is interviewing you just as much as you are interviewing her. There should be chemistry when you are together – does the conversation naturally flow? Are you relaxed and comfortable in her presence? Does she seem comfortable in yours?
* If there are issues about which you feel very strongly, reveal them up front. For example, some parents wish for cultural or religious observances to be upheld. Speak to the doula about it at your consultation to make sure that you don’t discover down the road there is some type of conflict.
* Don’t be afraid to ask for references! Most doulas can go back to previous clients and ask them to speak on her behalf. Some (like me) offer a letter of reference along with our introductory package. Sites like www.doulamatch.net have testimonials on doula profiles.
Stay in touch here; I’ll be posting once I know for sure what my henna schedule will be.