Our Doula Team
The people behind Doula Differently are here to make sure you never feel like “just a number.” Our team brings together experience, education, compassion, and a whole lot of heart to support you through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We believe every family deserves care that is personalized, evidence-based, judgment-free, and rooted in respect for your choices. Whether you’re navigating your first pregnancy, growing your family through fertility support, preparing for birth, or finding your footing in those early postpartum days, we’re here to listen, educate, advocate, and remind you that you don’t have to do this alone.
A Little Note About Your Doula
At Doula Differently, you’re never just handed off to a stranger. Our team of experienced doulas provides warm, personalized support throughout your journey. Collin personally serves families enrolled in The Empowered and Elite experiences, while The Essentials and Empowered experiences may be supported by one of our trusted team doulas. If you’re specifically hoping to have Collin as your primary doula, be sure to choose The Empowered or Elite package when you book.
Collin Parsons
Founder, Labor and Postpartum Doula
-
For a decade and a half, I’ve been passionately dedicated to empowering my clients' experiences through continued education, real-world experience and hands-on relationships.
I’ve spent more than 15 years gaining and becoming proficient in a wide range of versatile methods and modalities for uplifting, easing, and elevating each stage of the parenting journey, from fertility to pregnancy, childbirth and all the way to infant feeding.
I hold the highest level of certification as a Certified Elite Labor Doula through the training organization, ProDoula. In addition to my Labor and Birth Doula Certification, I am proud to hold certifications as a Reproductive Health Specialist, Fertility Doula, Childbirth Educator, VBAC Specialist, Postpartum and Infant Care Doula, Newborn Care Specialist, and Infant Feeding Specialist.
I fiercely believe in compassionately offering: unbiased, evidence based, and judgment-free support. I actively choose to support all families throughout any type of birth and to do so intentionally, every single time.
I also strongly believe in giving back to our community and watering where we are planted. Those are just two reasons I started the Doula Differently Mentorship Program and why 10% of each client fee goes directly back into community programs.
When I’m not elbow-deep in doula work, I love spending time with my two rescue pups, doing artwork, practicing mindfulness + meditation, hanging with my fam’, eating Indian food, snuggling my godchildren, and DIYing ALL THE THINGS!
Liz Smith
Labor and Postpartum Doula
-
My name is Liz, and I’m a labor and postpartum doula with ten years of experience helping families navigate pregnancy, birth and the early days and weeks with their newborns. As a Charlotte, North Carolina native, I’m passionate about supporting parents in my community as they adjust to life with a baby (or babies!) Through my years of both professional and personal experience and education, I’ve developed expertise in prenatal education, labor support, infant feeding (including breastfeeding, bottle feeding, and pumping) and helping families maximize their time to rest during the postpartum period. I also specialize in providing compassionate care to families experiencing postpartum mood disorders, ensuring they feel supported and understood. My goal is to empower parents with the knowledge, resources, and confidence they need to thrive.
I’ve been married to my husband Kyle for seven years and together we have a 5 year old daughter and a 2.5 year old son. Parenting is a wonderful AND challenging journey, and I’m here to walk alongside families, offering practical support and emotional reassurance every step of the way. Whether we’re creating your birth plan, learning about infant care or the stages of labor, helping establish feeding routines, addressing sleep concerns, or simply being a calming presence, I’m committed to making the pregnancy and postpartum period a positive and supported experience. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, or snuggling up with a good book, a cup of coffee, and our cat Henry for an evening of cozy reading!
I joined the Doula Differently team because I believe wholeheartedly that every family deserves compassionate, comprehensive care that is fully curated to their specific needs and wants. I believe all types of families deserve to feel supported during pregnancy, birth and postpartum without fear of judgment.
My certifications include:
Postpartum and Infant Care Doula, ProDoula
Labor Doula, ProDoula
Newborn Care Specialist, Newborn Care Solutions
Infant Sleep Specialist Training, BeboMia
SIDS/Safe Sleep
CPR/First Aid
Stephanie Trantham
Labor and Postpartum Doula
-
Hi, I’m Stephanie! I’m a wife of 19 years, mom to two young boys, and Godmother to three teenagers. I was raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina before eventually making my way to the Charlotte area, but those mountain roots are still a big part of who I am.
My background is in psychology and human services, and I’ve completed the majority of my master’s work in Marriage and Family Therapy.
For the past 18 years, caring for and supporting families has been a meaningful part of my life.
I deeply value connection, compassion, and creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and supported. I especially love walking alongside families through seasons of transition and change. I believe that some of the most important work we can do is simply being present, listening well, and noticing the needs that aren’t always spoken out loud.
Outside of my work, I love spending time with my family, hiking, enjoying a good cup of coffee, and cozy spaces on a rainy day. I’m passionate about supporting and nurturing mothers and families, strengthening relationships, and being part of a team that believes people deserve to be cared for—not just physically, but emotionally and relationally.
My own journey into motherhood has been one of the most formative parts of my life. After 12 years of infertility, my husband and I were blessed to become parents to our two sons through IVF. I know firsthand that the path to growing a family can hold so many emotions—hope and excitement alongside uncertainty, grief, waiting, and fear. That experience has given me a deep appreciation for the uniqueness of every family’s story and a desire to create space for people to feel seen and supported without judgment. I carry that perspective with me in the way I care for families and honor the experiences that have led to where they are today.
I’m so grateful to be part of the Doula Differently community, where we share the same heart for families. I’m excited for the opportunity to join a team that believes doula work should go beyond the basic principles of birth and postpartum support.
Simply put, every family deserves to be seen, heard, respected, and supported exactly as they are. Doula Differently places emphasis on compassionate, honest, and evidence-informed care while leaving room for each family’s unique story, choices, and circumstances.
I believe we can hold space for both the joy and the hard things, offering empathy without judgment and honesty without losing tenderness. My hope is to be someone who helps families feel safe enough to be fully themselves, be vulnerable, and trust themselves, while knowing they never have to navigate a new season alone.
Certifications:
ProDoula Postpartum & Infant Care Doula
ProDoula Labor Doula
American Red Cross CPR and First Aid
Crisis Intervention training through Montreat College
Jalia Robinson
Labor and Postpartum Doula
-
I’m a Certified Labor Doula, postpartum doula, and a career nanny with a background in Exercise Science. I’ve spent the last several years working closely with women, babies, and families, and I’m passionate about supporting families through some of the biggest transitions of their lives. I’m naturally nurturing, calm, encouraging, and very education-focused. I love helping people feel confident in their decisions and reminding them that they are capable of more than they realize.
Outside of my work, I’m a big lover of fitness, boxing, running, good coffee, traveling, spending time with my dog, and creating content. I’m also someone who really values faith, community, personal growth, authenticity, and showing up for people in meaningful ways. I believe in creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, respected, and supported.
I chose to join Doula Differently because Collin has been such an important part of my journey into doula work. She has been a mentor to me and supported me from the very beginning, when becoming a doula was just a thought I was exploring. Having someone believe in me, encourage me, and help me navigate the early stages of this career meant so much to me.
As I’ve grown in this work, I’ve realized how valuable community and having a strong team around you really are. I wanted to be part of Doula Differently because I believe in the power of doulas supporting not only families, but also one another. The team environment, shared knowledge, and commitment to supporting families align so closely with the kind of doula I strive to be.
I also really believe in the core values of Doula Differently because they reflect how I naturally approach this work. I want every family I support to feel seen, heard, respected, educated, and empowered in their choices. I believe in meeting families where they are, providing evidence-based information without judgment, and being a calm and supportive presence throughout their experience.
Trainings & Certifications
• ProDoula Certified Labor Doula
• CPR & First Aid Certified
• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science
• Professional experience as a career nanny specializing in newborns, infants, and toddlers
• Experience supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum transition