Education. Wellness. Care.
Caroline Kirkpatrick Niebuhr’s work with families began while working as a nanny as she studied to attain her Bachelor Degree in Psychology (focus in Development). Through this work, she was inspired to pursue a Master Degree in Early Childhood Special Education with the intention to work as an Early Interventionist in the home with families. After studying and working in Early Intervention, Caroline found her place as a classroom teacher. She taught in San Francisco and Silicone Valley leading progressive and innovative preschool and Junior Kindergarten programs. While working in the classroom, Caroline recognised her passion in supporting parents through the many joys and challenges of early parenthood. How do I get my child to eat healthy foods? How can I put a stop to these tantrums? Caroline responded to this need by training in children’s yoga. She brought yoga and mindfullness to the classroom as well as her to her school’s faculty and parents. She was so inspired by this that she continued on to complete her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training to develop her own practice and give her the knowledge to work with adults.
After years of incorporating the yogic lifestyle into her classroom with students and families, Caroline felt an itch that her path was leading her somewhere anew. After a move to Austria and gaining experience in the international teaching world, she left the classroom to begin to explore how she could reach more people and affect their wellness, learning and expansion.After a brief stint in EdTech helping to develop Social Emotional Curricula and working with an NGO writing an Early Childhood Curriculum, Caroline knew it was time to step out of the education arena and begin to educate people in a new way.
In 2019, Caroline completed her certification as a Holistic Nutritionist and Pre and Post Natal Fitness Specialist. With her toolbox growing, she traveled to Santa Rose, California and completed her training as a Postpartum Doula. It was in her DONA Postpartum Doula workshop where she found her calling. All of her experiences working with families for fifteen plus years, led her to being perfectly prepared to nurture, educate, assess and refer new parents in the beautiful period that is now appropriately referred to as the Fourth Trimester. Caroline brings her knowledge, patience, compassion and care into her work, educating and caring for new parents and parents adding new additions to their families.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (Roger Williams University, 2008)
Master of Arts, Early Childhood Education (Columbia University, 2010)
Yoga for Kids Training (Tiffany Belzar, YGSF, 2013)
200-Hour Yoga Certified (Yoga Garden San Francisco, 2013)
First Degree Reiki Certified (San Francisco Reiki Center, 2017)
Certified Holistic Nutritionist (American Fitness Professionals and Associates, 2019)
Certified Pre&Post Natal Fitness Specialist (American Fitness Professionals and Associates, 2019)
DONA International Postpartum Doula Workshop (HeatherGail Lovejoy, PDT, PCD, 2019)
Caroline is not a licensed medical professional. All qualifications are listed above. Caroline does not diagnose or perform any medical or clinical tasks.
