Meet Georgia Etheridge Stephens | Certified Child Life Specialist and Postpartum Doula

We had the good fortune of connecting with Georgia Etheridge Stephens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Georgia, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
I have been a Certified Child Life Specialist since 2017. If you don’t know what that is, that likely means that you have been fortunate enough to avoid spending significant amounts of time in children’s hospitals. If you do know what that is, then you likely know first-hand the warmth, advocacy, and empowerment that Child Life Specialists add to the healthcare space for children and families.

The field of Child Life was born out of the need to support the optimal social, cognitive and emotional development of children who experienced long-term hospitalizations. It has since grown into a field that involves providing interventions to mitigate the impact of stress, anxiety and psychosocial trauma and empower families in a variety of settings (childlife.org).

After doing this work for almost a decade, I was motivated to also receive training as a Postpartum Doula, as I recognized that one of the most joyful moments in life is also one of the most stressful: the integration of a new member into a family. In these delicate days, it’s not only the birthing person who needs support – it’s the entire family unit. A postpartum doula is trained to provide support with physical and emotional recovery after the birth of a baby, giving education and guidance on topics such as feeding, sleep, and infant wellbeing. With my background as a Child Life Specialist, I also provide my clients with specialized knowledge on how to support the optimal development of both the newborn and any older siblings. Many people assume that postpartum support is just “for moms” – but this is not true. It is a support that is needed for all birthing people, partners, families who have adopted, surrogates, families just beginning their fertility journey, families experiencing loss and more.

Whether it’s navigating a hospitalization or learning how to integrate a new baby into the home, most families are in need of extra support that can sometimes be hindered by fear of stigma or lack of resources. I wanted to start a business that allows me to use my skills to advocate for these families and provide them with the nurturing support and educational empowerment that they deserve in the comfort of their own home. That’s where Child Life Doula comes in.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my career as a Wish Granter in New York City. The title made for quite the compelling business card. In this role, I had the privilege of knowing and supporting hundreds of children and families who were navigating life-threatening illnesses and were given the chance to “Make A Wish”. Fresh of out graduate school, this was a new-professional experience unlike any other. I learned so much from these children and families and am so grateful that I had the opportunity to serve them. It also led me to discover the field of Child Life.

Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) are an under-advertised resource that almost every children’s hospital has to offer their families. A CCLS is an expert on child development that provides education and support that is unique to your child during times of stress. In the hospital environment, this can look like bringing in child-safe medical supplies in for your child to play with prior to a procedure to increase familiarity and reduce fear. Or providing comforting distraction during a stressful procedure. A CCLS will also be there to hold space for your family during times of loss. If you ever do find yourself in a children’s hospital, always ask to see Child Life.

Becoming a CCLS is not an easy task. It is a highly competitive field that requires hundreds of hours of education and clinical supervision. Coming into it from my background at Make A Wish and with a masters degree from New York University, I did look a bit different from most applicants. I also speak Spanish fluently, which is a highly important skill to have in the United States as we are increasingly becoming a bilingual nation. I believe these elements set me apart and with determination and perseverance, I found myself holding my dream job in a matter of a few years.

Flash forward to 2019, when I was on the cusp of giving birth to my first child. After several years of supporting families in highly stressful environments, I was ready to enjoy the few weeks of maternity leave my company had to offer and nurture my baby at home. Birth and recovery were far more challenging for me than anticipated, and I started to show signs of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. After my maternity leave, I went back to work and it was as if the whole world had changed. Now that I was a mother, I saw everything in a different, more personal light. I ended up having to leave this professional world I loved so much in order to care for my mental health and my child. This experience is what motivated me to become an advocate for maternal mental health and increase awareness of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. It doesn’t just affect mothers/birthing people, but fathers/partners too! It is massively common and is an area that needs significant amount of social support. I aim to be a part of that support.

Now my daughter is 5 years old, and I have completed my training as a postpartum doula and have opened a private practice to provide curated child life and doula services to families in the Los Angeles region. I am lucky to serve families who welcome me into their lives most sensitive moments, and gift me with their trust to hold space for them as they navigate grief, fear, and new beginnings. Making this career shift is something that I am extremely proud of and hope to show my daughter one day so she knows that our paths aren’t always straight, but following your heart will get you to where you need to go.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Los Angeles, I would say that my favorite spots are Will Rogers State Beach and the hiking path up to the Griffith Observatory. We live in mid-city and my office is in Beverly Hills, and there are so many wonderful museums to visit along Miracle Mile. Also, if you are in the mood for a taco, hit up Sonoratown. It’s the best flour tortilla in town, guaranteed.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out to all of the birth workers and child life specialists out there who advocate for mental health and wellbeing of families in our community. The Association of Child Life Professionals ensures that families have access to high-level developmental support in the formed of trained Child Life Specialists and provide them with excellent resources (childlife.org). Postpartum Support International is a wonderful organization that helps families connect with mental health resources in their community (postpartum.net).

Website: childlifedoula.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-etheridge/