Meet Your Doula Trainer

With a degree in sociology from Tufts University, and a background in law enforcement, Mari-Elena Leckel found herself searching deeply within for what mattered most to her. She had what seemed like a simple desire; how to turn her passion for supporting families into a rewarding lifelong career.

Having personally struggled with infertility issues that included years of doctor visits, moments of immeasurable excitement, and devastating heartbreak, Mari successfully conceived in 2012 and gave birth amidst the tremendous love and support of her birth team. The experience of her journey called to her to “give back” the caring compassion that got her through her own process.

This became the catalyst, and inspiration for Mari to become a doula and ultimately create Boston Birth Associates!

Mari has been featured in Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine’s “Ask the Experts”, and The Boston Globe. She is a published blogger for Motherly “A Pep Talk to Mamas during Coronavirus” and has written other featured articles relating to pregnancy, birth and early parenting. Mari is a workshop facilitator who presented at the 2017 International ProDoula Conference on running a successful doula agency.
In 2018 Mari was invited to facilitate a training for a Massachusetts hospital on comfort measures for labor for their labor and delivery staff. Mari earned her 200 hour Yoga Teacher certification in May of 2019 while co-creating the “Doc & Doula” Podcast.

Mari’s greatest accolade thus far is her certification as a Doula Trainer. Mari facilitates doula trainings worldwide and feels it is both an honor and a privilege to escort new doulas on their journey to supporting families.

The path to parenthood is unique to each person experiencing it. Mari listens. She validates, supports, and encourages. She does it with the desire for self-actualization for every client she serves. According to Mari, “To truly know what one is capable of is life’s greatest gift.”

Mari’s family is everything to her. Her husband Jeff, daughters, Tiana and Emma, her 2 grandchildren and her fur babies, Athena and Charlie all agree!

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