Debra

Debra Sequoia - Hypnotherapist and Childbirth Educator

07951 215 984

Experience

Since training as a hypnotherapist in 1992, I have been developing my Birth-Hypnosis practices alongside my general hypnotherapy practices. I began to develop the BirthBody approach to preparing for birth since studying birth physiology with Dr. Michael Odent in 1998 I offer group and private/individual BirthBody sessions in London. I offer birth-hypnosis supervision and study days to hypnotherapists and birth educators and BirthBody study days to birth educators and health professionals.

I have helped women and partners prepare for a variety of birth experiences (some planned, others unplanned) including:

• Active Birth
• Active Birth
• Breech Birth
• Hospital Birth
• Caesarean Birth
• Medical Birth
• Drug Free Birth
• Pain-Free Birth
• Epidural Birth
• Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC)
• Home Birth
• Water Birth
• Needle Phobia

Some of the things I have helped women and partners with:

• Birth Anxiety
• Birth Trauma
• Previous Traumatic Birth
• Finding a Doula
• Releasing Fear
• Finding an Acupuncturist
• Turning Breech Baby
• Generalized Anxiety
• Turning Posterior Baby
• Hospital Phobias
• Understanding Previous Birth
• Needle Phobias

Background

I became interested in this field following the birth of my daughter in 1987. Her birth was less than I hoped it would be. So, when pregnant again in 1988, I began to prepare, attending classes inspired by active birth, relaxation and yoga. I also used hypnotherapy to help rebuild my confidence in myself to have the kind of birth I felt was right for me and my baby. The hypnotherapy helped me to experience a birth that was positive and pain-free. Following that experience, I became committed to helping other women prepare for birth. Prior to my children’s births, I studied psychology; but I decided to travel down a different route after they were born.

Training

1992 - I qualified as a Hypnotherapist
1998 - Doula (Birth Attendant) w/ Dr. Michael Odent
1999/2000 - Holistic Childbirth Educator w/ Holistic Birth Trust
2000 - Birth Crisis Study Day w/ Sheila Kitzinger
2000 - Leading Antenatal Classes w/ Andrea Robertson
2001 - Optimal Foetal Positioning Study Day w/ Jean Sutton
2002 - Hypnobirthing Training w/ Marie Mongan
2003 - Active Birth Teacher Training Level One w/ Active Birth Foundation: Janet Balaskas & Alice Charlwood
2003 - Active Birth Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training Level Two w/ Active Birth Foundation: Janet Balaskas & Alice Charlwood
2004 - Active Birth - Continued study and class observation of classes w/ Active Birth Foundation