Patricia Connolly-DeTura, RN, CNM, MS Known as Trish DeTura
Formal Qualifications
Certified in Clinical Homeopathy
Council for Homeopathic Certification 1041 2020
Certified Trauma Professional
Spirit2Spirit Healing 2018
Certificate of Nurse-Midwifery
American Midwifery Certification Board 1989-Current
Gentling Way suite of trainings 2018-21
(Plus private tuition)
Certified Mercier Therapist Mercier Therapist
Mercier Therapy© 2016
Certified Whole Woman ® Practitioner
Whole Woman, Inc. 2015
Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)
The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, Inc. 2013- 2025
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, AED
American Safety & Health Institute 2022
Basic First Aid
American Safety & Health Institute 2022
Neonatal Resuscitation Procedures (NRP)
Barnabas Health 2017
Mother Massage
Massage During Pregnancy: Professional Certification 2013
Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE)
Lamaze International 2022
Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM)
Infant Massage USA 2009- Current
Certified Arvigo Technique Maya Abdominal Therapist
Arvigo Institute 2009
Post Masters Certificate of Teaching
Department of Nursing – University of Pennsylvania, 1996
Certificate of Nurse-Midwifery
American Midwifery Certification Board
American College of Nurse Midwifery 1989
Trish DeTura, Supporter of Women
I happen to be a Midwife, and all so many other tittles that are just words that do not even begin to describe the depth and the breadth of what it is that I have to offer you.
As a practitioner, I offer women a safe space to unpack the trauma that has occurred in their lives~ from an early age to where they are now.
Women show up on my doorstep, often as a last resort to address issues with what I refer to as ‘femarche’ referred to in our culture as menarche: with first period issues, to Some ‘fertility challenges’ to fusion (pregnancy)-related issues to femopause (aka menopause).
Unfortunately, one out of three to one out of four women, per research, happen to have histories of sexual abuse. For some, it began early in life with a person that was meant to protect them. I am speaking of incest that “I Too” experienced. The impacts incest had on my life has led to a life of healing and facilitating healing in other women’s lives. “Thanks, Dad, for the gift that never stops giving.”
I will also say that I am doing a damn good job with being with women who are hurting because I understand in a way that other professionals who have never experienced a traumatic life.
This author wants the reader to know that I have worked hard on myself to become who I am and that I have learned to maintain healthy boundaries.
There is a line from the play Wicked that has helped me to deal with my trauma and keep positive along the way, “Because I knew you, I have been changed for good…” I give no one or anything permission to take me down as a woman. I am here to help the women I serve. I am here to champion them on until they find their strength, and it is a genuine honor to walk with and support each woman who comes through my door or who reaches out to me in the world of zoom. I defined my career because of my past and no regrets. And yes, I have continued to learn lessons along the way in my midwifery role as a result of my history of abuse…
Recognizing I still had work to do after becoming a certified nurse midwife, I studied with Penny Simkin, PT and Phyllis Klaus, LMFT, LMSW the authors of When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women and became a certified trauma professional. I learned so much about the impacts of early childhood sexual abuse and its impacts upon a woman’s life.
These are some of the impacts of Early Childhood Sexual Abuse:
- The sympathetic nervous system is constantly in charge of a woman’s nervous system
- Cortisol constantly is released when the sympathetic nervous system is in charge; Cortisol helps us “fight the tiger”
- Women abused live their lives in fight/flight/freeze or fawning
- Women abused often lack boundaries, and can’t always read a room
- Women experience fear of men, of authority figures or worse yet, become afraid of themselves, of their reactions when they feel threatened, challenged, or when they realize that there is another woman in the room who may have an experience similar to hers and is struggling in some way.
- Many experience loss of their voice (This occurs when they are threatened by their abuser- being told not to tell anyone about their abuse because no one would believe them.); Many have not had the ability to develop their voice, and do not speak up for themselves.
- . Night-watching: not sleeping well due to an inability to be comfortable with sleeping is something that women can wrestle with throughout their lifetime. Many women, such as myself claim to be night owls. Unfortunately, this at times leads to exhaustion which has had a negative impact on our health.
- Health-wise, you witness many of these women develop health-relates issues such as obesity, hypertension, and so many more common diseases
- Many women who experience abuse do not seek out medical care which can contributes to missed diagnoses and treatments“Childhood sexual abuse survivors are at further traumatization during birth.” ~ Simkin and Klaus
Luckily for me, I have been called by my higher power to serve women during this lifetime who have experienced early childhood sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and those who have experienced a traumatic birth.
You ask how do I do this?
I do this by sitting with women and listening with an open heart, counseling, and coaching them as well as when indicated assist women in writing a birth and post-partum plan.
I begin this by helping the women to ground, so they can be in their bodies and numerous activities such as art exercises and help those to address their physical challenges using multiple modalities inclusive of body work from Heather Bruce’s Gentling Ways, Abdominal and Womb Massage steeped in the lineage of Rosita Arvigo, ND, Shaman Don Elijio Pante, and numerous healers from Central America and Jennifer Mercier of Mercier Therapy.
Why I Became a Gentling Way Practitioner:
I became a Gentling Way Practitioner because I was searching for a valuable tool to assist my client base to heal. I have witnessed women go from entering my office door, sitting down and not looking at me nor answering questions audibly to sitting on a vaginal steam pot to receiving a Gentling Way treatment inclusive of womb massage end their session asking for hug on their way out of the office, and thanking me for collecting my knowledges and providing such a healing treatment… This is what the provider in me receives. My heart is full because I am able to do the work I have been called to do. The care that I provide is working here on Earth and in Heaven!
Contact Trish
185 Center Ave. 2nd fl Westwood NJ 07675
trish@womensholistichealing.com
Phone: 201-384-4955