Free Consultation (Virtual) Archives

Kat Schussman

Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator

Kat is certified as a Birth Doula (DONA International), a childbirth educator (ICEA), and Perinatal Mental Health (PSI) and has additional training in trauma-informed care and Evidence-Based Birth Practices.

She is a strong advocate for the rights of birthing people, and firmly believes that each birthing person deserves to know and understand their options, and choose for themselves what is best for them and their baby.

Kat believes that evidence-based childbirth education is the foundation of a positive birthing experience and envisions a world where everyone giving birth has access to the tools and information they need to choose what is best for them.

She provides an optimistic and grounding presence in the birth room.

Kat is part of Harmony Doula Group. Other members of the team are:

Teri Nava-Anderson

Susan Jessee

Birth & Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Midwife’s Assistant

Susan is our lead Postpartum Doula, certified through DONA International. She has additional training in acupressure for postpartum, infant sleep, breastfeeding support, and trauma-informed care in working with survivors.

She is also a certified Midwife’s Assisant and certified by the American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth (AAHCC) as a birth doula and childbirth educator. She has 17 years of experience teaching Bradley Method Childbirth Classes and is passionate about supporting the laboring person and their partner(s) before, during, and after birth. Susan has extensive experience attending both home and hospital births.

Susan is a former Board Member of the Mt. Diablo Doula Community and is actively involved with fundraising for the McHenry House, a shelter for unhomed families in Tracy. She also volunteers as a childbirth educator at the Tracy Pregnancy Resource Center and is a Childbirth Preparation and Parenting Instructor at the Stein School for pregnant teens and teen parents.

Susan is part of Harmony Doula Group. Other members of the team are:

Teri Nava-Anderson

Kat Schussman

Teri Nava-Anderson, PhD

With over 30 years as an educator, mentor, and researcher, and nearly two decades as a professional doula, Teri is an experienced and enthusiastic perinatal professional. She has a passionate commitment to educating and preparing pregnant people and their supporters for the year surrounding birth. She leads the childbirth and lactation education series for the Harmony Doula Group and, as a DONA approved trainer, her birth and postpartum doula workshop qualify for certification with DONA International. Teri has previously taught doula skills to nursing students at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts and coordinated and taught a community-centered (also called community-based) birth and postpartum doula training program in the California Central Valley. Teri is approved to teach the full trauma-informed care training program, When Survivors Give Birth, for perinatal professionals and others who work with pregnant and postpartum survivors of adverse childhood experiences. Teri is available to travel and train for agencies and community-based programs who are looking for DONA approved workshops. She also facilitates workshops online.

Teri is additionally certified as a Birth and Postpartum Doula (DONA International), Lactation and Childbirth Educator (ICEA), Lactation Educator & Counselor (Evergreen Perinatal, Gold Lactation), and Midwife’s Assistant. She is also a Certified Professional Aromatherapist and holds a PhD from Stanford University. She is a VBAC specialist with additional training in acupressure, rebozo use, pelvic floor balancing, Spinning Babies (optimal baby and maternal positioning), mindfulness, hypnosis for childbirth (both Hypnobirthing / Mongan Method and Hypnobabies), and placenta processing. As a trauma-informed care birth plan consultant, she was trained and mentored by industry leaders Penny Simkin, Phyllis Klaus, and Selena Shelley.

Teri is an established, active member of the doula community, dedicated to the advancement of the doula profession. She currently volunteers with the 501c6 non-profit DONA International as the Director of Certification and Chair of the Continuing Education Committee (and have previously served as the Regional Director for US West and as the Director of Membership), as well as the Board President of the Mt. Diablo Doula Community, and as a peer support group leader for the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) and La Leche League (LLL). Teri has volunteered with the California Department of Health Care Services (CA DCHS) as a member of the Doula Implementation Stakeholder Group and is currently a member of their Pregnancy-Related Mortality Review Committee.

Teri is part of Harmony Doula Group. Other members of the team are:

Susan Jessee

Kat Schussman

Valerie Ybarra

Valerie is highly experienced with over 35yrs of experience working with newborns and families from all walks of life. She is a Professional Certified Newborn Care Specialist, Certified Postpartum Doula, and Certified Lactation Educator, as well as a baby sleep trainer.

She is a former Beverly Hills nanny of many years back in the 80s, and had worked within the maternity unit of the 3rd largest hospital in the country for the most births as a nurse assistant and patient care technician.

She has worked with several high profile and High Net worth families from within the U.S. and out of the country. Valerie is known to be very accommodating, flexible, a direct communicator, and brings a calming demeanor with her. She does travel with families whenever needed and if it works with her schedule.

Valerie has been featured in several newspaper and magazines articles for her work. She was featured in PBS television as well for her work with new moms. She then started her small boutique business, A Doula on the Go, providing postpartum care in 2002

Victoria Ramirez

Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula (fluent in Spanish)

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Victoria offers compassionate, evidence-based support for families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. With a calm and grounded presence, she helps parents feel informed, empowered, and nurtured throughout their journey. Her approach blends professional care with genuine warmth, honoring each family’s unique needs and choices. From birth planning to postpartum recovery, her goal is to be a steady and supportive guide every step of the way. When she’s not supporting moms, she’s tending to her home, volunteering at her local church, and staying active outdoors when she can!

Victoria is part of the team at Great Expectations Doulas, run by Maria Pokluda.

Courtney Jones

Certified Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Lactation Consultant & Childbirth Educator

Courtney is a proud mother of 3 kids and wife. Born and raised in Texas she enjoys toiling in her garden and baking. Courtney’s journey into all things baby and birth began in 2020. She had her daughter April 2020 during Covid. After that experience, it kicked off her passion for helping new parents feel empowered and prepared for birthing their own babies. Whatever type of birth you desire that being, homebirth, medicated, unmedicated, induction or c-section she is well versed to support you.

Courtney is part of the team at Great Expectations Doulas, run by Maria Pokluda.

Misty Gigler

Certified Birth Doula.

Misty is a native of Texas but feels blessed to have had the experience of traveling and living in a lot of different places in the world, She loves to travel and experience different cultures. Misty had a hospital birth in 2000 and a home birth in 2003. After those experiences, she knew her passion was to support women through their pregnancy and birth journey.

Misty is part of the team at Great Expectations Doulas, run by Maria Pokluda.

Gina Occhipinti

Certified Postpartum Doula.

Gina is a certified postpartum doula with 14+ years of experience, focusing on newborns, premies, multiples, and medically complex infants. She holds a degree in Psychology and Child Development from UT Dallas, is registered to care for children in the Texas foster system, and also has a background in the hospitality industry. Outside of work, Gina enjoys yoga, weight lifting, hiking, reading, and spending time outdoors—bringing her grounded, nurturing energy into every family she supports.

Gina is part of the team at Great Expectations Doulas, run by Maria Pokluda.

Michael Szewczyk

Michael is part of the Okkanti team, working on Product and supporting Customers. He is available to chat with if you have any questions or feedback about the platform.

You can connect with Michael on LinkedIn.

Maria Pokluda

Certified Doula & Childbirth Educator, Placenta Specialist
Owner of Great Expectations Birth and BEST Doula Training.

Hi, I’m Maria – doula, community builder, mother of four and all-around birth advocate.
I entered this field after my own experiences with infertility and birth where I discovered how much more support and information is needed. I’m a longtime doula, agency owner, and doula trainer with a fierce belief in informed consent and everyone’s right to make their own choices in birth.

I believe that building strong families starts at birth. That’s why I’m here—to walk alongside your family to help you find the support you need to have the best birth and postpartum experience possible. I’ll make the paperwork parts of finding and hiring your doula simple and I am committed to having an agency staffed with the best of the best doulas in DFW.
When I’m not training doulas, thinking about placentas, or running my agency, you’ll probably find me playing pickleball, racking up steps in a competitive step-counting challenge, or sipping a Diet Coke by the pool. It’s all about balance!

My approach is real, grounded, and heart-led. I believe birth is powerful, people are wise, and support should always come with a dose of humor and a whole lot of heart. I’d love to be a small part of your big day!

Here are the profiles of some members of the Great Expectations Birth Team: