Doula Training UK: What to Look for in a Course

If you're starting to explore the idea of becoming a doula, you're probably finding out very quickly that not all doula training courses are created equal. In fact, the more you search, the more overwhelming it can feel. From weekend workshops to year-long mentorship programmes, online-only courses to in-person retreats, the options vary hugely.

So, how do you know which doula course is right for you?

In this blog, I’ll walk you through what to look for in a UK-based doula training course so you can feel confident in your choice. This is about much more than ticking boxes. It's about finding a course that supports not just your learning, but your journey, your confidence, your growth, and your ability to show up for others in one of the most intimate, life-changing experiences they'll ever have.

Let’s break it down.

1. Don’t Just Look at the Content - Look at How It’s Taught

Yes, content matters. Absolutely. You want a course that covers birth physiology, the postnatal period, communication skills, infant feeding, and how to work in partnership with families. But just as important as what you’re learning is how you’re learning it.

A good doula course should be thoughtfully designed to bring everything to life, not just a slide deck and a handout.

Ask yourself:

• Are there real-life case studies that help you explore all the grey areas, not just the textbook answers?

• Will you get to take part in practical role plays to build your confidence in tricky conversations?

• Is there space for open discussion, reflection, and learning from others in the group?

• Will you have opportunities to feel what it’s like to be doula’ed, to be held and supported while you practise the very thing you’re learning to do?

Because being a doula isn’t about memorising facts or regurgitating a manual. It’s about presence. Deep, human presence. It’s about being able to sit with someone through the messiness of life, birth, exhaustion, grief, overwhelm, and offer them calm, compassionate support that helps them feel safe and strong.

That’s not something you can learn from a slideshow.

At The BirthBliss Academy, I make sure our training isn’t just informative, but transformational. I want you to walk away not just knowing more, but feeling more connected to your own inner compass.

Throughout the course, we create space for:

• Embodied learning, where you don’t just hear about how to hold space, you actually experience it

• Listening exercises that show you how powerful it is to truly witness someone without fixing or rescuing

• Real doula stories, shared honestly, to give you a glimpse into the highs, lows, and lessons of this work

• Plenty of reflection time, so you can begin to uncover your own unique way of being a doula

It’s not about turning you into a carbon copy of someone else. It’s about helping you find your own rhythm, your own voice, your own doula presence.

And trust me, once you’ve felt what it’s like to be truly doula’ed, you’ll never forget it.

That’s what we offer in the training room. And it’s what you’ll carry with you when you’re out there supporting others.

2. Look for Doula Courses Rooted in Compassion and Ethics

This work is sacred. Supporting someone through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood means being invited into one of the most vulnerable, powerful, and transformational moments of their life. So your training needs to reflect that level of care and responsibility.

You want to train somewhere that puts the birthing woman at the centre. Not the doula. Not the system. Not a rigid framework of protocols or policies. Just her. Her story, her choices, her voice.

A good doula course should be built on compassionate, ethical foundations that honour autonomy, not override it. That means learning how to stand beside someone, not in front of them. It’s not about being the expert, it’s about being a witness, a steady hand, a calm voice, and someone who always holds space with deep respect.

Here’s what to look for in the values behind the course:

• Listening without judgement, so you truly hear what your client is saying (and not saying)

• Informed decision-making, not shared decision-making, which implies the decisions are joint. They’re not. The woman always decides, and your job is to support her with the information and confidence to do so

• Respect for bodily autonomy, which means no coercion, no nudging, no assumptions, just unconditional support

• Cultural humility and awareness, so you recognise that your perspective is not the only one, and that every person brings their own values, beliefs, and lived experience

• Trauma-informed care, because we know that 1 in 4 women has a history of sexual abuse, and many more experience trauma in the system itself. You need to be aware, sensitive, and skilled in holding space without triggering or retraumatising

These aren’t just nice ideas, they’re vital. Birth isn’t a time for agendas. It’s a time for presence. For listening deeply. For meeting someone exactly where they are, without trying to change them.

That’s what we teach at The BirthBliss Academy. These values are at the core of everything we do. Because while skills can be taught, and knowledge can be learned, how you show up as a doula comes from a deep place. And we want to nurture that in you with honesty, integrity, and a whole lot of heart.

When you walk into someone’s birth space, you bring all of this with you. So it matters how you’re taught. It matters what your training stands for.

3. Find Out What Ongoing Support is Offered

Here’s something not enough courses talk about: the real doula journey doesn’t end when the course finishes. That’s actually where it all begins.

Birth work is beautiful, but it can be unpredictable, intense, and at times, emotionally heavy. Postnatal support can be exhausting, especially when you’re holding space for someone who’s barely sleeping. And setting up your own business? That’s a whole learning curve in itself.

You do not want to walk that path alone.

So, before you choose a doula course, make sure you ask:

• Will there be mentoring or coaching after the course finishes?

• Is there a community or peer network I can be part of?

• Are there CPD opportunities or extra sessions to keep learning and growing?

• What happens if I get stuck or feel unsure in my first few jobs, who can I turn to?

At The BirthBliss Academy, we know how crucial this stage is. That’s why we’ve built an entire support system that continues long after you’ve finished your training.

When you join us, you’re not just signing up for a few days of teaching, you’re stepping into a community that wraps its arms around you and says, "You’ve got this, and we’ve got you."

Here’s what ongoing support looks like with us:

• Monthly "Doula the Doula" Zoom sessions, where we come together as a group to debrief, share, ask questions, and just be held in community

• Regular Doula Deep-Dive CPD sessions, with brilliant guest speakers and learning topics to deepen your knowledge (and all included if you’re listed on The Doula Directory)

• A lively private Facebook group where you can get help, encouragement, and connection from other BirthBliss doulas 24/7

• Optional Coach & Connect sessions, where you can join small group calls with our amazing BirthBliss Coaches for guidance and accountability

• Your own dedicated BirthBliss Doula Coach if you choose to sign up for our Accreditation Programme, helping you navigate your first four birth or postnatal jobs with care and confidence

Plus, every new doula trained through BirthBliss gets 6 months free listing on The Doula Directory, which helps you get found by families right from the start, and makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger than just your own little island of doula-ing.

This kind of support can make all the difference. It helps you grow faster, feel more confident, and remember that you're never alone in the work you’re doing.

Because the truth is, doulas need doula-ing too. And at BirthBliss, we build that into the fabric of everything we do.

4. Is it Recognised and Respected?

Choosing a doula course is a big step, so it’s only natural to wonder, is this course trusted? Will people take me seriously once I’ve trained here?

Now, let’s clear something up: doulas in the UK are not officially regulated by law. There’s no national governing body you have to register with. That means anyone can offer doula training, which is both a freedom and a risk. It also means that not all courses are created equal.

But while there’s no legal regulation, there are respected voluntary frameworks and communities that uphold high standards. One of the most well-known is Doula UK, a membership organisation that offers peer support, ethics, and a sense of professional community. If you think you might want to join Doula UK after qualifying, then it’s worth checking whether a course is approved by them.

That said, the name on the approval list isn’t everything.

What really matters is this:

• Does the course have a solid, trusted reputation?

• Are there glowing testimonials from people who’ve trained there?

• Is there a track record of graduates doing well, working with clients, running businesses, or even becoming trainers themselves?

• Do you get a sense that the people behind it really care about what they’re offering?

At The BirthBliss Academy, we’re proud to tick all those boxes and more. Over the years, I have trained more than 1,000 doulas across the UK and beyond. Many of them have thriving doula businesses, some have set up community support projects, and a few have even gone on to train doulas themselves.

Our course is also approved by Doula UK, which means you’ll meet the standards required to apply for their network if that’s a route you want to take. But what makes me most proud isn’t just the stamp of approval, it’s the real stories of transformation I see every week.

We’ve built our reputation by staying focused on what really matters: compassionate, ethical, evidence-based training that honours your individuality, while giving you everything you need to support others well.

So yes, make sure the course you choose is recognised and respected, but also make sure it feels right in your gut. Listen to what others have said. Read the testimonials. Watch the videos. Trust yourself to know when something has heart. Because the right course will feel like a safe and inspiring place to land.

5. Are You Being Taught How to Actually Get Clients?

This might seem like a small thing, but honestly, it’s huge. You can be the most caring, capable, soul-centred doula in the world, but if no one knows you exist, your diary will stay empty.

Far too many courses skip this bit. They’ll teach you how to support someone during birth or the postnatal period, but they won’t give you the tools to actually start your doula business. And that’s where it all begins.

Make sure the course you choose includes practical business guidance, not just lovely content about holding space. Because passion is vital, but so is sustainability.

Here’s what we cover at BirthBliss:

• How to set up your doula business properly (without overwhelm)

• Guidance on pricing your services and creating packages that feel good to you and your clients

• How to talk about what you offer with confidence, whether it's at baby groups, on social media, or at a birth preparation session

• Ethical, heart-led marketing, with none of that shouty, awkward sales stuff

• Creating healthy boundaries and money mindset from the start

We talk about money in a way that feels grounded, not icky. We explore the value of your time, your energy, and your emotional labour. We look at the blocks that come up when it’s time to talk about fees, and we help you work through them, because confidence comes from clarity, and we want you to feel strong about what you're offering.

One thing I’m really proud of is how many of our doulas go out into the world feeling ready to charge properly for their work. Not just scraping by or offering everything for free, but understanding that being a doula is a profession, and it’s okay to want it to support you financially as well as emotionally.

6. Is the Trainer Experienced, Approachable, and Real?

This one’s big. Possibly the most important thing of all.

You’ll be spending several days, often very emotional, vulnerable, heart-opening days, with this person. So it’s not just about whether they’re qualified. It’s about whether you feel safe with them. Do you feel seen? Heard? Inspired?

Your doula trainer should be someone you trust not just to give you information, but to hold space for your journey as it unfolds. Because this isn’t just learning, it’s personal transformation.

Here’s what to look for:

• They should be a doula with genuine, long-term experience

• They should have real-world birth and postnatal experience, not just theoretical knowledge

• They should walk the talk, not just teach it

• They should be down-to-earth and supportive, not performative or unreachable

• They should bring lived experience, so the teaching comes with soul, not just structure

I’ve been a doula since 2002. I’ve supported hundreds of families through births and the early postnatal days, and I’ve had the privilege of training over a thousand doulas. But more than that, I’ve sat in that same seat you’re thinking about sitting in. I remember exactly what it felt like to be new. Unsure. Curious. Maybe even wondering if I was enough.

I bring all of that to the training space. Not from a pedestal or with a perfect script, but from a place of realness, humility, and warmth.

I want you to feel like you can breathe out and just be - questions and all. Because it’s not about creating carbon-copy doulas. It’s about helping you uncover the doula you already are.

And when your trainer brings their whole self to the experience, with honesty, experience, and heart, it gives you permission to do the same.

7. Think About the Format That Will Work Best for You

Would you prefer:

• In-person, residential-style immersion?

• Online self-paced modules?

• A hybrid of Zoom and recorded materials?

There’s no one-size-fits-all, and that’s the beauty of doula training. The how can matter just as much as the what. You want a course that fits around your life, your learning style, and your energy, not something that leaves you feeling overwhelmed before you’ve even started.

At The BirthBliss Academy, we offer in-person training courses in the UK, held in beautiful, welcoming spaces where we can really go deep together. We also offer a self-paced online version of the course that’s just as rich in content, community, and transformation, with video lessons, downloads, and space to reflect and grow at your own pace.

And there’s lots of flexibility built in.

If you book onto one of our in-person courses, you’ll automatically receive access to the full self-paced course too. That way, you can go back and revisit topics afterwards or get a head start before we even meet.

And if you start with the online self-paced course and then later decide you'd love to join one of the in-person dates, you can simply pay the difference, which at the moment is just £200.

It means you can begin your doula journey in the way that works for you, knowing you won’t be boxed in or left behind.

8. Be Wary of “Fast-Track” or “Super-Cheap” Offers

If a course promises to train you in a day or two, or if it costs less than a decent pair of shoes, I’d really encourage you to pause for a moment and take a deeper look.

Becoming a doula isn’t about learning a few facts and ticking boxes. It’s about learning how to support someone emotionally, physically, and practically through one of the biggest experiences of their life. And that takes time, reflection, practice, and ongoing support.

Quality doula training is a real investment, not just financially, but also in your personal growth, your understanding of birth, and your ability to truly show up for others. That doesn’t mean it should cost the earth or be out of reach. But if it feels too cheap or too quick, ask yourself what might be missing.

You can’t cram this kind of work into a weekend and come out feeling ready. It’s not about stuffing your head with knowledge, it’s about softening into a whole new way of seeing the world. Of listening. Of being with people. And that’s something that unfolds over time.

A proper, thoughtful doula training in the UK will usually cost somewhere between £800 and £1,200. That may feel like a lot, especially if you’re coming to this during a time of change or uncertainty, but let’s put it in context.

This isn’t a course you take and forget about. It’s a foundation for a whole new chapter of your life. One where you get to earn money doing work that makes your heart feel full. One where you walk alongside people during the most intimate and meaningful moments of their lives.

At The BirthBliss Academy, we include a lot for that investment:

• A Doula Starter Kit to help you feel prepared from day one

• A comprehensive training manual

• Ongoing post-course support

• Monthly community meetups

• Access to CPD sessions and guest speakers

• And 6 months of free listing on The Doula Directory, our public platform where parents search for and find the right doula for them

We also offer payment plans, because we never want money to be the reason someone gives up on a dream that feels right. You can choose to spread the cost over 3 or 6 months to help make it possible.

The truth is, you’re not just buying a course, you’re stepping into a calling. And that deserves care, time, and the right kind of support.

9. Look at the Community You’re Joining

Doula work is beautiful, powerful and deeply fulfilling, but it can also be lonely if you're not part of a strong, supportive circle. Many of us are drawn to this path because we care deeply, we hold space for others, and we often go the extra mile. But who holds you?

That’s why it’s so important to ask: Does this training come with a community I can lean into?

At The BirthBliss Academy, community isn’t just an afterthought, it’s at the heart of everything we do. When you train with us, you’re not just signing up for a course. You’re joining a warm, welcoming circle of women who truly get it. Other doulas-in-the-making who are just as passionate, just as unsure at times, and just as eager to make a difference.

You’ll celebrate each other's milestones, gently hold space for each other's wobbles, and build the kind of connections that often turn into lifelong friendships.

And it doesn’t stop when the course ends.

We’ve built a whole network of support to carry you through the early days (and beyond):

• A private Facebook group where you can ask questions, share ideas, and find encouragement on the tough days

• Monthly Doula the Doula Zoom meetups, where we focus on you, your wellbeing, your worries, your wins

• Regular CPD events and Deep-Dive sessions to keep your learning alive

• Access to a dedicated Doula Coach, someone you can talk things through with as you take your first steps with real clients

• And our Coach & Connect sessions, where you can learn from others, get grounded, and not feel so alone in this work

It’s all part of making sure you don’t feel like you’re just thrown out into the world after the training. We’re here for the long run, walking beside you as you grow in confidence, wisdom and trust in your own unique way of being a doula.

Because you don’t just need a course, you need a village. And this is yours.

10. Most Importantly - Trust Your Gut

When you read through a course page or watch a video of the trainer speaking, how do you feel?

Excited? A bit nervous but genuinely curious? Like the words are speaking straight to you, and there’s a warmth that feels inviting?

Or maybe you notice yourself second-guessing. Something feels a little off, or the tone doesn’t quite sit right. Maybe it feels rushed, or a bit too salesy, or like it’s more about ticking boxes than holding space.

Your gut feeling is important. And in this kind of work, where emotional intelligence, presence, and empathy are core to what you’ll be offering, learning to trust your instincts is part of your training.

You don’t need a long list of reasons to choose a particular doula course. You don’t have to justify it to anyone else. If something about it feels like home, like the right next step, then that’s worth paying attention to.

Sometimes, people tell me they stumbled across the BirthBliss course and just knew it was what they’d been looking for, even if they didn’t fully understand why at the time. Others say they read every word on the site, watched the videos, slept on it, and came back a few days later with a calm certainty that this was their path.

And then there are those who sit with it for a little while, get in touch to ask questions, and come to a free taster session to feel it out. That’s okay too. There’s no pressure, no countdown clock, no fear-based marketing.

What matters most is that you feel safe, inspired, and genuinely excited by the idea of stepping into this new chapter. That’s what tells you you’re in the right place.

Join a Free Taster Session

Still not sure if it’s the right fit? That’s exactly why I run free taster sessions.

You’ll get to meet me, ask questions, hear from past trainees, and get a real feel for what BirthBliss training is all about. There’s no pressure. Just information, connection, and clarity.

Book your free taster session

Download the Course Pack

Want to read more about what’s included, how the training works, and what happens after?

Download the BirthBliss Academy Doula Course Pack

You’re Not Just Choosing a Course, You’re Choosing a Beginning

The right doula training course won’t just teach you how to be a doula. It will help you become more of yourself. It will give you the tools, confidence, and courage to do work that changes lives, including your own.

So take your time. Ask the questions. Read the reviews. And then, when you find the course that speaks to your heart… go for it.

Because if you’re meant to do this work, it’s never too early, or too late, to begin.