Bringing Tend + Transform into the world

Three years ago, I was working as a therapist at a group practice. I felt valued and supported, had great relationships with both of my supervisors, and had regular access to professional development opportunities - and yet, I was deeply unhappy.

There were many reasons I became a therapist, and ultimately there were many reasons I decided to stop being one too, but the primary one was this: It felt like I was waking up and wearing the same hat every day - my “therapist hat” - when I was used to wearing multiple in previous roles. I used to think that was a perk of becoming a therapist! How lovely to be able to hone my skills in this one specific area, rather than being a jack of all trades and a master of none. I didn’t anticipate missing all of my hats.

While I know many therapists find their own unique ways to weave other interests and services into their practices, I knew I needed to take a different path. When I started to feel this way, I bought a whiteboard. I made a list of everything that lit me up, both personally and professionally, and I was confused.

I didn’t understand how any of these things could fit together - building relationships and community, empowerment, cooking, food justice, resource gathering, perspective taking, values work, trauma-informed care, inner child work, equity, and supporting people through transformation. At the time, it was because I was trying to fit all of this into a traditional social work role, into a job title I could search on LinkedIn.

It took me a while longer (another year) to realize that I eventually wanted to build something of my own, where I could be fully myself, embody my values, and have the autonomy I’ve always craved that feels so antithetical to working a traditional job.

Initially I didn’t know what that was going to look like, it was a fog I couldn’t see my way through. My last two jobs have helped me find the shape - the first gave me the opportunity to teach nonprofit staff nationally about trauma-informed care and equitable practices and the second (my current role) has been a frustrating and illuminating journey in supporting people who are navigating our healthcare system.

The former reminded me how much I enjoy facilitating trainings and the latter gave me the final push to enroll in a full spectrum doula training, a move I’ve been considering the last few years. I’m so grateful to have found Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings whose program is everything I wished for and more. It’s inclusive, comprehensive, and so affirming of the work that I want to do.

Now, as I bring Tend + Transform into the world, I feel grateful for all of the experiences I’ve had over the years both personally and professionally that have gotten me to where I am today. I also feel hopeful for what this new chapter means for me and energized by the prospect of getting to do work that blends everything I wrote on my whiteboard just a few years ago.

If you’re interested in chatting, whether because you’re interested in my doula services or just want to say hi, feel free to reach out to me at madi@tendandtransform.com.