Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions apply from the date of booking and payment to the Doula Training through the website, or from the date of email confirmation and date of invoice by Copenhagen Doulas.

The outcome of this training is a mutual responsibility between the trainers, the individual student and the group as a whole. The Copenhagen Doula’s Doula Training Team provides the foundations in terms of course material, structure, content, mentoring and learning facilities, however, it is required that you are able to work responsibly with your own process personally, professionally and in a group. 

OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF COPENHAGEN DOULAS DOULA TRAINING
1.1. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training provides ten days of in-person Doula Training (80 contact hours) + one mentoring session. If due to external circumstances beyond our control, on-site teaching is not possible, we will partly teach online; the hands-on part will be scheduled on-site at a later date.

1.2. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training provides course material available to each student.

1.3. The training material is primarily in English and will be available online after the first module of the training.

1.4. Mentoring:

1.4.a. One online 1:1 mentor session is provided approx. half way through the training. Dates will be announced after the training has begun. 

The purpose of these sessions is to provide personal mentoring to each student’s personal process, learning experience and eg. supervision to midway assignment or training client experiences in the training.
The sessions are held online via Zoom and details on booking are shared during the course. Mentor sessions are shared between the teachers in the Doula Training.
The training team suggests dates in our online forum and it is the student’s responsibility to book and be present for the scheduled mentor session. 

1.4.b. If the mentor has to cancel (e.g. attending birth or force majeure) the mentor session will be rescheduled as soon as possible. If the student does not attend or cancels the mentor session, the program manager will do what they can to reschedule the session within the timeframe of the training. 

1.4.c. Additional mentoring is available, at an hourly rate of 850 DKK.

1.5. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training provides a list of ressources, some primary, some secondary. Books must be purchased by the student.

1.6. Certification is included in the tuition (see more about certification under 4.1).

1.7. Website:

1.8. Every Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training student may be listed on the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training website as a student-doula, if they want to, for one year after completion of training.

The Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training trainers hold the right to formulate and change what is written on the website at any time.

CONTENT AND QUALITY OF THE TRAINING
2.1. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training is intended to:

• Educate doulas, with emphasis on how to offer support in pregnancy, labour and early postpartum from the 5 modular pillars of the training:
  Informational support, Physical support, Emotional support, Embodying support and Professional support. 
• Inspire and train doulas to support primarily the pregnant and labouring person, but also to provide quality care and support to partner or birth companion.
• Inspire and educate doulas to support families in every possible setting (eg. homebirth, hospital birth, birth clinic etc.).
• Inspire personal self-enquiry, embodied knowledge and the cultivation of conscious leadership which we consider required for being a doula and birth professional. 

2.2. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training carries out the training to the best of our ability and understanding, while keeping up to date and getting informed of the most recent development and insights in the field of birth care.
The teachers associated with the training have extensive experience as active doulas and are committed to continuously developing their expertise.

2.3. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training reserves the right to modify the form and content of training components if necessary. If this affects the student’s progress and certification, they will be informed.

OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDENT
3.1. The Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training is open to anyone who wishes to enter the profession of doula.
The training is also accessible for people who want to do the training as an addition to their existing practice (for example yoga and pregnancy teachers, bodyworkers, lactation consultants etc) and to other birth professionals already working in the field (for example midwives, student midwives, maternity nurses, obstetricians etc.). The Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training does not have any prior education requirements.

3.2. Upon registration the student is asked to fill out an intake questionnaire with motivation and background info etc.. The student commits to fill out this questionnaire well in advance of the training. If Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training feels it necessary, we may contact you to discuss certain points.

3.3. Since the course uses English-language professional literature, it is required that the students can read and communicate coherently in English. The student does not need to be fluent in speaking or writing in English.

3.4. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training does not have any prior education requirements. The student must be able to translate and integrate what they have read and learned in the in-person days into the practice of their work as a doula.
It is the student’s own responsibility to assess, prior to enrolment, whether this is realistic. If in doubt, the student will contact Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training team, prior to enrolment, for clarification. If during the training, it is noticed that the level of understanding and integration is not sufficient, an evaluation meeting can be scheduled.

3.5 The training does not give you any medical certification or qualification to practise professionally as a health care provider eg. midwife or doctor. Likewise this training does not give direct access to work in a position in the public Danish health care system. But as a doula certified from the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training you can work as an independent private doula, supporting clients in these settings.

3.6. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training is an adult education and has a modular structure. This means that the student is expected to plan and organise a personal study frequency and structure additional to the scheduled classes and mentor sessions. If needed the training team will gladly support and inspire this.

3.7 The student is expected to be proactive and act independently and autonomously. This means, among other things, that the student:

3.7.a. Attends all of the in-person days and arrives on time.

3.7.b. Participates the entire day of all scheduled modules (unless there is an emergency);

3.7.c. Meets the self-study criteria: the student ensures being familiar with resources and material shared during the course, including the training manual.

3.7.d. Take the initiative to contact the mentor about relevant personal or study-related challenges if needed.

3.7.e Keeps track of the outline in the training structure and updates in the course material shared from the training team.  

3.7.f. Is responsible for finding practising clients during the period of the course.

3.7.g. Practise awareness of and reflects on cultural differences, own biases/frame of reference and actively develop cultural competence and connection-oriented communication.

3.8. It is self-evident for us that the students are respectful towards other students, trainers, other doulas and health care providers in the field (midwives, obstetricians, nurses, lactation consultants, etc).

3.9. Knowing that there can be triggers and strong emotions surfacing when engaging with the themes around pregnancy, birth and postpartum in this course, we encourage the students to contact the training team if more support is required. 

3.10. The moment the student/certified doula presents herself online and/or offline as a Copenhagen Doulas’ (student) doula, she is required to adhere to the Code of Conduct and Scope of Practice. This will be in the course material. 

3.11. The training manual, presentation materials (files or printouts) and exercises used in the in-person training days are copyrighted by Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training. The material and resources may not be shared or copied without prior written permission. Reproduction of the training curriculum is not possible.

3.12. The entirety of hands-on skills as offered in Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training’s curriculum cannot be offered by the student/graduate in its entirety as a curriculum to train other professionals. Doing so is a violation of Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training’s intellectual property rights.

3.13. The hands-on skills, information and experience the student is taught during the training are for use in sessions with doula clients. The information and experience Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training provides is for personal sessions only, since the scope of groups require other capacities beyond this training. 

CERTIFICATION
4.1 Within 12 months from the beginning of the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training the  student must fulfil certification requirements which includes:

• From January 2024 to January 2025 you must have at least one doula course with a client, which you then write an assignment about and send to Copenhagen Doulas, when the course and assignment have been submitted and you have received Cph doula’s feedback, you will be on Copenhagen Doulas website.
• Received feedback and approval of your assignment, you can go to Copenhagen doula’s website.
• Having familiarised yourself with the primary resource list.
• Attended at least 9 out of 10 full days of the training.
• Reading the course material.
• Hand in all assignments.
• Participate in one mentor-session.
• Planning and fulfilling at least one doula course with a client (sessions during pregnancy, attending birth, follow-up postpartum)

4.2. The student may request an extension of the certification period, giving reasons. The student is responsible to do this on time. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training reserves the right to grant or deny this extension.

4.3. To become certified as a Copenhagen Doulas’ doula, all steps of the certification process must be completed. These will be sent prior to the training and discussed during the training. The certification process looks broadly as follows, the parts can be completed at one’s own order:

4.4.a. Reading/familiarise  the books and ressources listed on the mandatory ressource list, the training manual and all materials sent, prior to the respective module student should have a thorough in-dept knowledge of the course material and resources shared by the training team.

4.4.b.  Essential  learning materials are shared and practised during our live course days and these are the foundations of our training. The embodiment practice and hands-on skills are only taught in-person. If students miss these modules they cannot fulfil the requirements for certification. Attendance of all training days (10 in total) with 90% attendance. If part of a module will be missed, this will be done in consultation with the trainers

4.4.c. Submit two written or creative assignments during the course.

4.4.g. Attending a maternity course.

4.4.h. A review of one book/article from the mandatory reading list.

4.4.i. Submission of portfolio with all reports and reflections, including evaluation forms from the clients. Also included in the portfolio are the checklist and the signed ‘Scope of Practice and Code of Conduct’.

4.4.j. If the mentor feels the need for an intermediate evaluation during the certification process, the student is expected to comply.

4.4.k. If the trainers of the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training see reason not to certify a student, this will be communicated to the student. Reasons could be not attending the expected births, inadequate presence during the modules or lack of practice in between the modules. The student will be given the opportunity to discuss the components on which Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training is making the decision not to certify the student. The final decision lies with Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training team.

4.5.l. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training reserves the right, at all times, to deny the student further participation in the training, and/or not to certify. The decision is based on the following:

3.7.a. How will this doula support clients?

3.7.b. How has this doula processed her/his/their own experiences (if any)?

3.7.c. How will the doula communicate and relate with other care providers?

3.7.d. How will the doula interact with colleagues?

The assessment will look at:

3.7.e. Behaviour during the training days.

3.7.f. Communication with the mentor.

3.7.g. Communicative skills.

3.7.h. Empathy.

3.7.i. Reflective ability.

3.7.j. Cultural competence.

3.7.k. Collegiality

3.7.l. Working outside the ‘Scope of Practice’ and/or ‘Code of Conduct’.

3.7.m. Any feedback or complaints from the field (clients, care providers, doulas).

3.8. When the student has met all criteria and the portfolio has been submitted, reviewed and approved, a certification interview will follow, where the student will receive her certificate. The certification takes place within 6-8 weeks after the portfolio has been approved. If there are exceptional circumstances, this term may vary. The certification interview is with the personal mentor, and if possible, one of the other trainers is also present. The certification is preferably on location, but is also possible online. The certification interview is a reflection of the entire course the doula in question would have taken, looking backward and forward. Possible points of attention and development for the doula can be discussed.

3.9. When the student is certified, she is authorised to call herself Copenhagen Doulas’ Certified Doula or Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula, and/or to mention on promotional materials that she has done the Doula Training at Copenhagen Doulas. She may also include the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training logo on her own website.

3.10. Certification is valid for life, as long as the doula adheres to the Copenhagen Doulas’ Scope of Practice and Code of Conduct and as long as she is not in breach with Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training’s copyright. There is no recertification requirement. 

Reunion
Jeg synes at vi skal tænke over, at skrive, at man årligt mødes og opdaterer ens viden, og dette koster ex antal kroner, hvor man så får nyeste viden, måske, eller bare har et fællesskab årligt hvor man mødes, det koster så ingen penge. 

3.11. Certified Copenhagen Doulas’ Doulas may be listed on the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training website. See further point 1.10.

3.12. If Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training becomes aware that the doula in question is not adhering to the Copenhagen Doulas’ Scope of Practice and/or Code of Conduct, and/or is violating Copenhagen Doulas Doula Training’s copyright, the doula will be notified by email that, for compelling reasons, the doula in question may no longer call her/him/themself a Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula etc., and she/he/they will be asked to remove the logo from her/his/their promotional communications.

3.13. On the online platform (Facebook at the moment), only students who are within their 2-year certification process and have the intention to work as a doula, as well as certified Copenhagen Doulas’ doulas are allowed. If a student no longer meets these requirements, she/he/they will be removed from the group. See also point 3.3.

3.14. If the student has taken the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training as continuing education, for example as an addition to their own profession, or as a doula who is certified with another training/institute, or if the student does not end up certifying, then the student may state on the promotional/public statements that the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training was done as continuing education.

The following is specifically not allowed to be communicated:

‘I have been trained by Copenhagen Doulas’ or ‘I have done the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training ’ or ‘I have taken the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training ’’.

However, this can be communicated:

‘I have taken the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training as continuous education training’.

Also, the Copenhagen Doulas’ logo cannot be used in this case.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
4.1. Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training has a grievance procedure in case a client, caregiver or colleague has a complaint about one of the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training students or certified doulas.

4.2. There is also a grievance procedure for when a student has a complaint about the training.

4.3. The grievance procedures can be requested by mail.

CANCELLATION POLICY AND PAYMENT OBLIGATION
5.1. The 10-day right of withdrawal is valid from the online registration and payment of the training – not for the reservations payment. This applies only if the training does not take place within 30 days of registration/payment. Within the period of the right of withdrawal, the training can be cancled free of charge. The cancellation must be sent by e-mail to mail@copenhagendoulas.dk.

5.2. If 5.1. is not applicable, the booked training can be cancelled up to 30 days prior to the training, subject to a 1500 DKK administration fee. The cancellation must be sent by email to mail@copenhagendoulas.dk. If the training has already been paid for in full, the reservation payment of 4.500 DKK is binding and not refundable. The remaining amount will be refunded minus the 1500 DKK administration fee. If the training has not yet been paid, the 1500 DKK administration fee will be charged.

5.3. If the training begins within 30 days, cancellation is no longer possible.

5.4. If the student has missed two or more days of the Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training, the student must re-register for the training in question. The lesson fee is then 75% of the then current rate.

5.5. If Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training has denied a student further participation in the training and/or certification (see point 3.g.), there will be no refund of tuition fees, with an obligation to pay any outstanding invoices.

5.6. In all other circumstances, no cancellation will be possible.

COVID-19 AND OTHER CALAMITIES
6.1. If Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training must reschedule or modify a training due to Covid-19 regulations or other calamities imposed by the government, or due to illness/contagiousness of the trainers and no other trainer is available to teach, the student will be given the opportunity to choose between participating in the training partially online and partially on-site (with a new date to be determined for the hands-on portion of the training), or rescheduling participation to a subsequent training, if possible to a date of their choice, at no additional cost. Cancellation is not possible beyond the normal cancellation options.

6.2. If the student cannot participate in the training due to covid-19 complaints/positive test, she/he can attend the training the next time with a 1500 DKK administration fee. Participation will be arranged with Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training on the basis of availability of a place in the training. This rescheduled training cannot be cancelled afterwards. If a price increase has occurred in the meantime, the price difference will be charged.

6.5. If the student cannot attend due to a serious calamity (death, serious illness of self or first-degree relative), she/he/they may attend the training a second time subject to a 1500 DKK administration fee. Participation is agreed upon with Copenhagen Doulas’ Doula Training on the basis of availability of a place in the training. This rescheduled training cannot be cancelled afterwards. If a price increase has occurred in the meantime, the difference will be charged.

6.6. In all other cases the training cannot be cancelled.