WHY I DO WHAT I DO
I believe that all families deserve compassionate, expert care when welcoming a baby into their world.
As a postpartum doula and family educator, I have the honor of helping families build strong foundations for healthy development. After a decade pursuing higher education in child development, it truly is my passion to utilize my knowledge and experience to connect with families on a deep level. I love to incorporate reflective practice in my work- especially when empowering parents to become the parent they want to be. Every parents’ journey is unique and it is a joy to watch as they become confident and affirmed in their role as a parent.
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One of my favorite aspects of my role is assisting parents in reading and responding to their baby’s communication- it is so empowering for parents to have a solid grasp on understanding baby’s cues which is a positive factor in both baby and parents’ mental health. Additionally, I love to assist parents in regulation and co-regulation with their babies; this empowers parents to prioritize their own mental health as well as their child's. I want my families to thrive! I use evidence-based practice to assess the psychosocial and emotional needs of the whole family and to guide them in positive, attuned interactions.
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EXPERTISE AND TRAINING
In addition to her degrees, Veronica actively pursues professional certifications so that she can provide deeper experiences for her client families.
DOULAS OF NORTH AMERICA (DONA) INTERNATIONAL
CERTIFIED POSTPARTUM DOULA [PCD(DONA)]
Veronica is a fully certified postpartum doula and keeps current with continuing education to provide expert services to families in the fourth trimester and beyond. As she is certified through DONA, her services are eligible for reimbursement funds such as Carrot, Maven, and Progyny.
ERIKSON INSTITUTE
MASTER OF SCIENCE CHILD DEVELOPMENT, CHILD LIFE SPECIALIZATION
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH
Veronica holds a master of science in child development and is geared with knowledge on family systems, culture, developmental theory, and pediatric medical care. She is trained in multiple modes of formal and informal assessment, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ).
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Additionally, Veronica successfully completed her certificate in infant mental health and has been trained in various methods of supporting the relationships between parents and their young babies, including Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN), DIRFloortime, and administering Sensory Profiles. She is educated on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), birth and generational trauma, and caregiver and sibling struggles in welcoming a new baby. For her capstone project, she authored a children's book on the challenges of living in a pandemic world.
ASSOCIATION OF CHILD LIFE PROFESSIONALS
CERTIFIED CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST (CCLS)
As a Certified Child Life Specialist, Veronica has been clinically trained to provide psychosocial emotional support and developmental education to families during times of illness, injury, stress, trauma, and life transitions. Veronica completed a 640 hour clinical internship at Shriners Children's Hospital Chicago where she supported infants and their families through surgery and hospitalization. She also completed internships at various children’s hospitals throughout the city and has experience supporting families in nonprofit settings, such as Make A Wish Illinois and Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center.
THE INSTITUTE OF SOMATIC THERAPY
CERTIFIED INFANT MASSAGE INSTRUCTOR
Veronica is a certified infant massage instructor and loves to educate parents, siblings, grandparents, and other caregivers in providing positive touch to their babies. These infant massage lessons include instruction on reading baby’s physical cues and guidance on bonding and attachment.