Caroline is the founder of Holistic Health Midwifery, which presents complementary and integrative health concepts and interactive education through our Integrative Healing Studio. Holistic and Integrative health is an expansive topic, and Caroline focuses on four areas based on experience and expertise to address the mind, body, and spiritual components of health and wellbeing: Pilates, Art, Mindfulness, and Nutrition. The deepest hope is that introducing these mind-body-spirit modalities into your life will foster self-awareness and empowerment, deepened healing, and increase well being. The Studio is meant to serve clients and patients just as much as health care students or providers, as both will benefit equally from these deeply life-changing sessions.
“Over the years, I have educated patients on reproductive health care and provided care in sexual health clinics, and for almost 20 years have served soon-to-be parents, new families, and babies as a public health activist, nurse, midwife, and educator. I have also served as a clinical educator to medical students and nurses. I realized through my clinical care and role as a nursing educator, that I needed a space to offer non-clinical holistic health education and integrative healing to both my clients whom I served, and my fellow nurses and health care providers, so I created this Integrative Healing Studio. This studio allows me to present complementary and integrative healing concepts and practices, which serves as an addition, not a replacement, to medical care. Holistic Health Midwifery and this Integrative Healing Studio does not provide any medical services, so we do not diagnosis or make treatment plans. Many influences over the years guide my approach to holistic education. I have a Bachelor of Arts in neuroscience, which serves as a foundation to all my understanding of our mind-body-spiritual connection. As an artist, I make art, had formal art education, have facilitated art classes in college and community settings, and used Birthing from Within Birth Art as a tool to prepare for my own births and parenthood. I have practiced Pilates for injury prevention and as a mindfulness movement practice for almost 20 years, and became a certified Pilates instructor to offer unique courses through Holistic Health Midwifery. I have completed trainings in Mindfulness over the years, and attended my first Silent Mindfulness Meditation retreat in 2007. Like Mindfulness, I have completed continuing education trainings and developed my own practice over many years in using food and nutrition as a powerful source of healing. Some of this formal education includes Integrative Gynecology trainings and Chinese Traditional Medical approaches to food and healing. I hope this Integrative Healing Studio and the workshops I present can help to foster resilience, curiosity, and joy”. - Caroline
Credentials, Skills, & Trainings
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Holistic Women’s Health Care Provider
Integrative Gynecology
Breastfeeding Educator, TX Department of State Health Services
Childbirth Education
Birth Art facilitator
Birthing from Within Mentor
Trauma Informed Care
Mindfulness
AFPA Certified Pilates Fitness Instructor
Solution-Focused Dialogue
Certifications and Memberships
American Midwifery Certification Board
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Holistic Nursing Association
Neonatal Rec & CPR
Central Texas Breastfeeding Coalition
Birthing from Within
American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA)
Holistic Health
A holistic perspective tends to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of a client. Further, each client lives as interconnected with their surrounding environment (all living beings, our living and sleeping spaces, the air we breathe, water we drink & food we eat). Each person has a unique set of resources, social support, world view, and wellness goals. The holistic nurse cares for each person understanding the impact that all of these factors have on our health & well-being. Holistic nurses may have special knowledge about certain complementary or integrative healing modalities. It is very common to integrate the use of herbs , nutrition, or aromatherapy into the care plan if a client is interested. Mind-Body healing modalities are safe and wonderful and can be incorporated into every care plan if desired. Some examples of stress reducing and relaxation techniques include mindfulness practices, guided imagery, practicing gratitude, use of deep breath and yoga, meditation, and self-compassion.
Integrative Health
Integrative health is a dynamic field in our health care system today. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health with the National Institutes of Health defines “complementary” health as as approach to healing that is not part of our conventional medical system or has origins outside of Western medicine that is used in combination with Western or conventional medicine. Likewise, “integrative” health is when conventional Western medicine is used in combination with multiple complementary healing approaches. Complementary health approaches include mindfulness-based stress reduction, deep breathing practices, art therapy, nutrition programs, the use of herbs, probiotics, vitamins, massage, acupuncture, yoga and much more.
-US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 12/2021 https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/complementary-alternative-or-integrative-health-whats-in-a-name
Integrative Gynecology
Gynecologic care, or Women’s health care, is always focused on disease prevention, and sometimes addressing a concern. Disease prevention starts with self-care and self-love, and then includes a variety of screenings. Routine screenings with your gynecology provider aim to prevent or identify cancers of reproductive organs, depression, anxiety, hypertension, any exposure to environmental toxins, and more. A holistic or integrative care plan considers a natural and a minimally invasive approach to preventative care and common problems. Food and nutrition, rest and practicing relaxation, a strong support system, cleaning your environment from toxins, and finding a movement routine are all critical to your health and balance. Our holistic education incorporates complementary and integrative healing modalities to care for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of our clients from puberty through menopause that safely complements your traditional or Western medical care.
Holistic Health Education for Pregnancy, Birth, Postpartum, & Parenting
Pregnancy, labor, and postpartum are times of personal growth and sacred transformation. Just as a new baby is born, so is a parent, and a family! It is an opportunity for self-reflection & presents unique opportunities to discover one’s own wisdom; it is a time to practice loving kindness to one’s self & foster curiosity into the unknown. Midwifery honors and respects this time and process and supports the birthing person through the journey. Pregnancy and postpartum, or any way that one becomes a new parent is a time of great joy and excitement, but is also can be a challenging learning curve, so we acknowledge it all. Our sessions aim to prepare you on a mind-body-spirituality level; and is meant to supplement your medical care that you receive from any medical provider you choose.