Education & Experience

Samantha means “the listener,” & I am grateful to have been aptly named.

Though I have taken courses, apprenticed, attended conferences, received formal training, & read ravenously in independent study, none of those experiences have informed my practice nearly as much as

listening to peoples’ stories.

The hundreds of people who have honored me by sharing their honest vulnerable stories & experiences have taught me more than any training, classroom, or book ever could.

Experiential learning is the living heart of my education.

My approach balances empathy & intuition with scientific inquiry, pragmatism, & critical thinking.

I am always furthering my studies & deepening inquiries.

In addition to what is listed below, I have been an avid, independent student of anthropology, biochemistry, depth & Jungian psychology, neurobiology, Taoism, Traditional Chinese Medicine, permaculture, nutrition, herbalism & folk remedies, trauma resolution, epigenetics, social justice, & more.

My own path to healing & embodiment has also provided an invaluable education that deeply informs my ability to guide others.

Trainings & Conferences

Planned Parenthood Peer Mediation & Preteen Sex Educator Training 1999
Heart & Hands Midwifery Intensive with Elizabeth Davis 2006
Midwifery Today Conferences 2007, 2010
Planned Parenthood Patient Advocacy Training 2009
Mothertree Birth Doula Internship 2009
DONA Birth Doula Training 2009
Portland Plant Medicine Gathering 2012, 2013, 2014, (presenter) 2015
SQUATfest 2013, (presenter) 2015
Holistic Peer Counseling for Birth & Parenting 2013
Cultural Anthropology of Indigenous Wisdom of Peru Immersion 2013
Dandelion Seed Herbal Conference 2014
Matrona Quantum Birthing Consultant Certification 2014
Holistic Home Abortion Provisions 2015
Matrona Holistic Doula Certification 2015
Beginning Shiatsu Intensive 2015
Holding Space for Pregnancy & Infant Loss, The Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, & Death 2016
Lightning In A Bottle (presenter) 2017
YONIFEST (presenter) 2017
Imagine Arts & Music Festival (presenter) 2018
Indigenous Right Relationship 2018
MogaDao Intensive: Taoism, Qi Gong, Kung Fu 2018
Happy Touch Healing Inc.; Erotic Basics Training, TA 2019
Blood & Power Tour; conducted research & offered teachings in Ukraine, UK, Austria, Hungary, & Poland 2019
Red Earth Women’s Herbal Gathering (presenter) 2022
Good Medicine Confluence (presenter) 2023

Years in Practice

Tracking my menstrual cycle : 26+
Tracking my ovulation & fertile window : 18+
Teaching contraception & abortion inclusive sex-ed : 23+
Teaching the Sympto-Thermal Method of Fertility Awareness : 18+
Providing care & counsel supporting all pregnancy outcomes : 20+
Teaching miscarriage & abortion support skills to professional care providers : 10+

My Teachers & Resources

All of the individuals listed below have had a profound impact on my work both practically & philosophically. Some, I have had the deep honor of learning from via in-person classes or conferences. Other teachers listed here are individuals whose books & voices I return to for guidance again & again, & folks who I consider intellectual & spiritual elders or ancestors.

Whapio Diane Bartlett

Molly Dutton Kenny

Carol Downer

Elizabeth Davis

Rosemary Gladstar

Michel Odent

Christiane Northrup

Audre Lorde

Tirzah Firestone

Martin Prechtel

Aviva Romm

Demetra George

Emma Goldman

Naomi Wolf

Mantak Chia

Carolyn Myss

Carl Jung

Annie Sprinkle

Kat Bohannon

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