Meet Alyssa

Alyssa resides in Horse Shoe, North Carolina with her two teen girls, husband, dogs and chickens. She feels most at home in the woods, among the trees, salamanders, and moss. Alyssa is a long time lover of children and animals,. She is also a writer who captures the world around her, along with the range of feelings of living this wild a precious life.

I trained for certification as a doula in May of 2024, after thriving taking care of my little sister and her newborn baby. I was determined she would not feel alone as I did after my first birth. It was important to me to validate how transformative new motherhood is, and also how hard and isolating it can be. Most importantly I wanted her to feel secure in knowing she was doing a wonderful job. New mom self doubt it so real. A few months later, I also felt drive to be present for all mothers and parents during their most vulnerable time. Then at the encouragement of a doula I know, who said “you have so much to offer people,” came the doula training.

Prior to this season of my life, I nannied for fifteen years, starting out first as a nanny at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. I spent years as a Zen monk within that system, between Green Gulch and Tassajara. Then I moved out into the world and continued caring for children. I love their honesty!

I completed a bachelor of science in Human Development and Family Science from UT Austin and had my own first child as an older graduate. Through a difficult initiation process into the world of bring an autism Mom, I gained a lot of strength. I am now a staunch advocate of my children, all children, parents, and all those needing help in the world.

Specialities of mine include neurodiverse families, as I am raising neurodiverse teenagers of my own. I’ve learned so much the past decade and a half. I am also a big animal lover, and have experience with all types including farm animals, as well as babies and children. I love to work with all configurations of families, love the LGBTQ community, and am driven to tip the scales in favor of minority groups needing support.