CAROLINE CRISTAL

About Me

My goal is to empower the people I work with to trust themselves, to feel comfortable in seeking out guidance, and to find and create community as they navigate pregnancy, prepare for birth, and enter parenthood.

Inspired by my experience giving birth to both of my children, I was called to birth work after feeling disappointed at the lack of guidance available for pregnant people. Even with the wealth of information that the internet provides, it can be difficult to find the person-specific guidance many entering parenthood are seeking. My work is to help pregnant people and their growing families sort through all of the noise, help find what works for them, and empower them to feel confident in their own intuitive knowledge. 

With a deep respect for the importance of honoring everyone’s unique journey and experience, I strongly and firmly believe that families are created in so many different ways. I bring empathy, care, and strong listening skills to my practice, with the goal to make sure that those I work with feel prepared for the journey ahead.

Background

I hold an MA in Higher Education & Student Affairs from NYU, and spent over 10 years advising and supporting university students. Through this career, I developed a deep understanding of, and effective strategies for providing individualized guidance. I’ve honed my natural ability to connect with people to help those I work with feel heard, understood and confident. 

Currently, I also work for TED’s education initiative, TED-Ed, and am mama to two little ones, Zadie Boon and Wyatt Clash. I was born and raised in the midwest, but spent the majority of my adulthood in New York City, with a brief stint in Los Angeles. Newly transplanted to Portland, I’m enjoying getting to know my new home with my children and partner, Zack. You can also find me knitting, reading, doing yoga, watching TV, and/or eating the milk chocolate chips usually hidden in my refrigerator behind the butter.

Education

I have completed Childbirth Educator coursework through Whole Body Pregnancy. This journey reflects my unwavering dedication to empowering and assisting pregnant individuals as they navigate the transformative phases of pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.