Why I Don't Give Discounts on My Doula Training Course

People often reach out in a thoughtful, almost hesitant way. They ask if I offer discounts, if there is a reduced fee for someone who feels pulled toward doula work but cannot afford it yet, or if a free place might ever be available. These questions are gentle and sincere, and I never judge anyone for asking. When someone feels called to become a doula, they naturally look for ways to make the path more accessible.

Becoming a doula is rarely a passing idea. For many, it begins as a feeling in the chest, a recognition of something that already lives inside them. That sense of calling is real, and I respect it deeply. This is exactly why I want to explain clearly why I do not offer general discounts on my training at The BirthBliss Academy, what I learned during the period when I did offer them, and how I now balance fairness, accessibility, and commitment.

Before anything else, I want to emphasise that accessibility matters to me. This is why I offer payment plans, which allow aspiring doulas to take steady steps toward their goal at a pace that fits their financial reality. These plans spread out the cost without diminishing the value of the training, and they have allowed many women to join us without taking on additional pressure.

I also partner with a charity once a year to support one woman with a reduced-rate place. This approach lets me contribute to wider access in a structured, fair, and transparent way.

With that in mind, here is why the main course fee remains consistent for all participants.

The Reality of Discounts

For a short period, I offered reduced fees to individuals who shared that they were financially stretched. My intention was generous. I wanted to help people who felt strongly about this work but faced barriers beyond their control.

At first, the idea felt right, but over time, a pattern emerged. Many of the women who received discounted spots struggled to complete their post-course work, and most did not continue on to work as doulas. This was not about ability, motivation, or heart. Many had all three. Instead, I realised the reduced fee unintentionally changed the role the training held in their life. It carried less weight and often competed with more urgent priorities.

Financial challenges are complex, and I want to be clear that this pattern was not a reflection of anyone’s character or dedication. The issue was structural, not personal. When people are juggling significant pressures, even deeply meaningful plans can be pushed aside, especially if the initial commitment felt lighter.

This is what made me rethink the structure of my pricing. I want to create conditions that genuinely support people to finish the course, complete their assessments, and step into their new role with confidence. Payment plans became the most reliable way to do that. They make the training accessible while still encouraging the kind of investment that helps someone stay anchored to their own goals.

Why Commitment Shapes the Entire Doula Journey

Doula training is not a casual course you join on a whim. It is the first step into work that involves supporting families at some of their most vulnerable moments. The role asks for emotional steadiness, compassion, and a willingness to grow.

The doulas who thrive long term are usually those who arrive with a clear internal decision already made. They have said, I want this path. I am ready. I’m willing to invest my time and energy.

A financial commitment, whether made in full or through a payment plan, reinforces that decision. It helps someone step into the training with intention rather than uncertainty. It also mirrors the skills needed once they begin working with clients, such as planning ahead, budgeting for business costs, and taking their own development seriously.

Readiness does not mean having extra money. Many of my most successful doulas were far from financially comfortable when they began. Some saved slowly. Some made room in their budget where they could. Some used payment plans to spread the cost. Every one of those approaches is valid.

The Practical Side of Becoming a Doula

Part of my responsibility as a trainer is to prepare future doulas for the realities of self-employment. Even a very simple doula business has some ongoing costs, such as insurance, travel, occasional continuing education, or a basic website. None of these things need to be expensive, but they do need to be anticipated.

If someone is under significant financial pressure when beginning the training, these future costs can quickly feel overwhelming. I have seen how money stress can dim confidence and joy, and I want doulas to begin their work feeling supported, not stretched thin.

Payment plans help create a gentler transition. They allow someone to manage the cost of the course itself gradually while practising the kind of planning and pacing that self-employment requires. It becomes part of their preparation rather than a hurdle.

Fairness and Equality Inside the Training Room

Another important reason I keep the fee consistent is fairness. In a training group, I want everyone to sit together on equal footing, with the same sense of belonging. When everyone pays the same fee, the atmosphere feels clear, steady, and open. No one wonders whether others were treated differently. There is no hidden imbalance.

This equality supports trust, which is essential in a learning environment where people share openly, ask vulnerable questions, and build relationships that may last years.

The annual charity place is handled differently because it comes through an outside organisation, not through a private exception. This keeps the group dynamic fair while still opening a meaningful point of access for someone who needs it.

Avoiding the Rescuer Role

There is also an emotional boundary involved. People drawn to birth work often have a strong instinct to help, soothe, or fix, but doulas cannot be rescuers. Their work is built on supporting without taking over, respecting the autonomy of the families they care for, and holding space rather than carrying someone else’s load.

If I frequently offered free or heavily discounted places, I would unintentionally step into the role of rescuer before the training even began. That dynamic does not support the development of healthy boundaries, and it does not prepare new doulas for the realities of their work.

Keeping the fee consistent, while offering payment plans for accessibility, allows me to avoid stepping into a role that does not serve my students.

How Investment Supports Long-Term Success

After nearly two decades of teaching doulas, I have seen the same truth repeat itself. The doulas who go on to build sustainable, meaningful businesses are often the ones who prepared for the training in a way that matched their circumstances.

Some saved gradually.

Some rearranged their budgets.

Some asked for the training as a gift.

Many used payment plans to make the process manageable.

These actions were not about ease or wealth. They were about readiness. By the time these students arrived at the training, they felt ownership of their journey. They had worked toward it. They had created space for it. And that grounding carried them into their first clients and beyond.

The amount of money is not what matters. It is the intention, preparation, and sense of self-investment that makes the difference.

What the Course Fee Reflects

The training fee is not just about classroom hours. It reflects years of experience, hundreds of births, and the wisdom gained from countless postnatal conversations. It reflects the structure, community, and support system students enter. It reflects mentoring, The Doula Directory, and the guidance that continues long after training days end.

Aspiring doulas are not paying for information. They are paying for transformation.

Accessibility Without Diluting the Work

I believe in accessibility. I also believe that doula training should have weight. It should ask something of you. It should stretch you and support you. Making it free or significantly discounted on a broad scale would unintentionally dilute its purpose and lower completion rates, which helps no one, including families seeking long-term support.

The Door Is Always Open, Even If the Timeline Is Different

If you feel called to become a doula, there is a path forward for you. It might take time. It might involve saving, planning, or using a payment plan that spreads the cost across months. None of that reflects on your worthiness or ability. These steps build resilience, clarity, and strength, all of which you will carry into your future work.

Whenever your training day arrives, you will know you created your own readiness. You invested in yourself. You walked the path that matched your circumstances and values.

You will be ready.

Why I Keep the Fee Consistent

I keep the fee consistent because it supports fairness, clarity, and commitment. It protects the integrity of The BirthBliss Academy, the learning environment, and the long-term success of the doulas who join it. Payment plans and the annual charity place keep accessibility woven into the structure without creating imbalance.

This approach is not about privilege. It is about building a strong, supportive foundation for every future doula who trains with me.

When someone invests in themselves, whether in one payment or many, they rise to meet the work. I see it, year after year, and doulas are meant to rise.