Our Vision
We believe that pregnancy, birth & the early years of parenthood are some of the most vulnerable, beautiful, and overwhelming years of a person’s life. Many of us wish that we had more support as we navigated the many challenging decisions, sleepless nights, feeding struggles, and feelings of isolation that commonly arise during this season of parenthood. We want to be a hub for families to find community, build friendships, empower themselves through education, and create fun enrichment opportunities for their kids.
Want to check us out for yourself?
Elisa Havens-Stokes (She/Her)
Elisa Havens-Stokes (She/Her)
Elisa is mommy to Joachim(14) and Xiomara(6) and has been serving families throughout Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties for over 7 years as a Full Spectrum doula. With intentional focus on serving low income families of color, her commitment to equity and respectful is the driving force behind her vision for The Circle. In her role as Director of Operations, Elisa is excited to combine her business management skills, non profit experience, and passion for birthing people in this space.
Kim Guiley (She/Her)
Kim Guiley (She/Her)
Kim, CD(DONA), is a mama to Hazel (8) and Theo (5). She has been a birth doula for many years and is deeply passionate about creating equity and supporting ALL families through this major life transition. She also owns Aptos Village Creative, a web design & photography business, with her husband Travis. In her role as the Director of Marketing, she is thrilled to be combining her love of families with her skills in photography, branding and web design.
Marlene Kleffel (She/Her)
Marlene Kleffel (She/Her)
I am a (new) momma, wife, photographer, and fur momma to four cats and two dogs. I am born and raised in Santa Cruz. You’ll likely find me crafting, traveling, or hiking in the woods with my husband, daughter Ramona, and our little doggos. The Circle has truly allowed me to be open about the joys and challenges of parenthood. Being seen and heard has allowed me to grow as a person, partner, and mom. I am here to pay it forward and provide parents a safe space to share their journeys.
Britta Patterson (She/Her)
Britta Patterson (She/Her)
I have been working with children and families for over 15 years. I am originally from Tulsa, OK and moved to Santa Cruz in 2017. I have my Bachelors Degree in Social Work. I have an incredible daughter named Stevie, who you will see running around the Circle. The Circle saved me during postpartum and the support I received from here changed my life. I am honored to be able to give back and journey through parenthood with the families I meet while working here.
The Advisory Board
We are thrilled to have a team of dedicated community members helping to shape the vision & offerings for this space.
Brie Buxton (She/Her)
Brie Buxton (She/Her)
Brie Buxton is a local birth worker, student midwife, and mother of three. She serves the Santa Cruz area as a full spectrum doula, supporting families in the childbearing years. She is a reproductive and birthing justice advocate, childbirth educator, and intuitive parenting champion.
To learn more about Brie’s work and her services, visit https://briebuxtondoula.com or visit her Instagram @mamadoulabrie.
Brenda Gisela Guzmán Ehle (She/Her)
Brenda Gisela Guzmán Ehle (She/Her)
Brenda was born and raised in San Diego, California and now lives in Santa Cruz with her husband and three sons Tommy, Ollie and Milo.
With over 15 years experience as a caregiver and Spanish interpreter/translator, Brenda is a full-time madre passionate about birth, parenthood, early childhood education, and mental health.
She is currently pursuing her call as “La Madre Doula”—to serve, empower and mother all expectant people and their families during this major life transition as a Birth & Postpartum Care Specialist.
When not chasing after her niños, you can find her singing to Mariachi music in la cocina while cooking a meal, teaching her sons how to dance Cumbia around her home, collecting treasures on the beach shore or taking a stroll through the Santa Cruz Redwoods with her familia.
Marlene Kleffel (She/Her)
Marlene Kleffel (She/Her)
I am a (new) momma, wife, photographer, and fur momma to four cats and two dogs. I am born and raised in Santa Cruz. You’ll likely find me crafting, traveling, or hiking in the woods with my husband, daughter Ramona, and our little doggos. The Circle has truly allowed me to be open about the joys and challenges of parenthood. Being seen and heard has allowed me to grow as a person, partner, and mom. I am here to pay it forward and provide parents a safe space to share their journeys.
Diana Narva (She/Her)
Diana Narva (She/Her)
Diana is a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, Cleo Guide Manager, and mom of two.
Journey Talkovic, CNM (She/Her)
Journey Talkovic, CNM (She/Her)
Dr. Terry Williams (She/Her)
Dr. Terry Williams (She/Her)
Terry works with individuals, groups and organizations focusing on transformational leadership and coaching. She integrates a wealth of experience in coaching, leadership and organizational development in her work with people from diverse backgrounds within schools, non-profit organizations, and corporations throughout the U.S. and internationally. Her work with groups and organizations is focused on strength-based experiential curriculum and facilitated programs emphasizing participatory processes, performance, and teamwork in corporate and educational environments.
Our Teachers
Sofía Bisbee (She/Her)
Sofía Bisbee (She/Her)
Hola! My name is Sofía Bisbee. I was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. I have been practicing yoga and working with children for over 10 years. Most recently, I was a yoga instructor at an elementary school in Sunnyvale. I discovered yoga as a teenager when I was experiencing hard times, and it brought balance to my life as I was discovering my place in the world. I enjoy the peace of mind, and the mind-body connection I experience as I am doing yoga. I look forward to working with you!
Brie Buxton (She/Her)
Brie Buxton (She/Her)
Brie Buxton is a local birth worker, student midwife, and mother of three. She serves the Santa Cruz area as a full spectrum doula, supporting families in the childbearing years. She is a reproductive and birthing justice advocate, childbirth educator, and intuitive parenting champion.
To learn more about Brie’s work and her services, visit https://briebuxtondoula.com or visit her Instagram @mamadoulabrie.
Emi Cyan Lery (She/Her)
Emi Cyan Lery (She/Her)
Emi is passionate about perinatal health and healing arts. She has been a yoga instructor and massage therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2012. She is a new mom to Selena Peach born in Watsonville November 2021. With over 1000 hours of yoga training in restorative and Hatha yoga, her classes are geared towards cultivating joy and leaving one with a sense of well being and ease. She is a nanny and family assistant and has been a birth and postpartum doula since 2014.
Carolyn Eckman (She/Her)
Carolyn Eckman (She/Her)
Carolyn is the owner of FIT4MOM Santa Cruz and an Aptos mama of two who loves the outdoors, dancing, sports, and group fitness. Her passion for wellness, strength, and community in motherhood is what inspires her to bring classes like Groovaroo Dance to all the families of Santa Cruz County.
Diane Farkas (She/Her)
Diane Farkas (She/Her)
I have lived here in Santa Cruz for over 40 years. I initially came as a student to do my undergrad at UCSC and found myself always returning here no matter where I travelled off to. I worked as a nurse in Dominican’s Level III NICU for over 25 years. I am a certified breastfeeding consultant and was about to sit for the boards to become an IBCLC when Covid hit, and like everyone, life and plans changed dramatically. I was introduced to Kim West’s ‘Sleep Lady Shuffle’ when I helped with my oldest granddaughter’s sleep coaching. It was literally life changing. I was so impressed by the methodology I went on to study with Kim and became certified both as a Gentle Sleep Coach and Gentle Potty Coach and am a Twiniversity Approved Gentle Sleep Coach. In addition to my private practice I am a consultant with a Telehealth company whose focus is women’s and family health issues and am the senior sleep consultant with Sleepy Planet out of LA. I am passionate about working with families, helping them sort through the endless amount of sleep coaching and potty training advice that is out there, and guiding them through a plan customized to their parenting philosophy, lifestyle and child’s developmental stage to achieve both solid sleep and a transition with potty learning that is smooth, avoids power struggles and builds their child’s self esteem in the process.
Kate Giampapa Friel (She/Her)
Kate Giampapa Friel (She/Her)
Kate has been fortunate to travel and live in many beautiful places where she immerses herself into community through teaching yoga. She spent a decade in Colorado practicing and teaching yoga to X-Games and Olympic athletes, students, and people of all ages and sizes. Living in Santa Cruz county since 2014, she has found herself in “the hot room” teaching larger groups of all levels, working with private clients and customizing classes, and teaching prenatal and postpartum yoga.
Kate has been teaching yoga since 2005 and just recently got certified (and is so excited!) to be a birth Doula. She also runs a yoga retreat business called Journey Yoga Retreats and has been traveling the world with students since 2007. She enjoys introducing yoga to beginners and shows a great amount of patience and compassion towards novice yoginis. Teaching yoga to pregnant mamas is a passion for Kate as she knows how much yoga and breath work can help prepare women for labor and delivery. Having two young children of her own she also understands how important postpartum care is for families. Kate is so happy to be part of The Circle and hopes to meet you soon!
Kim Guiley (She/Her)
Kim Guiley (She/Her)
Kim, CD(DONA), is a mama to Hazel (8) and Theo (5). She has been a birth doula for many years and is deeply passionate about creating equity and supporting ALL families through this major life transition. She also owns Aptos Village Creative, a web design & photography business, with her husband Travis. In her role as the Director of Marketing, she is thrilled to be combining her love of families with her skills in photography, branding and web design.
Elisa Havens-Stokes (She/Her)
Elisa Havens-Stokes (She/Her)
Elisa is mommy to Joachim(14) and Xiomara(6) and has been serving families throughout Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties for over 7 years as a Full Spectrum doula. With intentional focus on serving low income families of color, her commitment to equity and respectful is the driving force behind her vision for The Circle. In her role as Director of Operations, Elisa is excited to combine her business management skills, non profit experience, and passion for birthing people in this space.
Thistle Hofvendahl (They/Them)
Thistle Hofvendahl (They/Them)
Thistle is a therapist, facilitator, and parent of a toddler and baby. They are part of Santa Cruz Therapy Collective, where they work with couples, children, teens, and individual adults. Thistle specializes in supporting new parents, the LGBTQ+ community, and people experiencing climate anxiety. They also offer walk and talk therapy sessions and postpartum home visits.
Deutron Kebebew (He/Him)
Deutron Kebebew (He/Him)
Deutron Kebebew is a father, husband, and mentor to fathers, father figures, and young people in our community. He is the Founder and Executive Director of MENtors Driving Change for Boys, Men, and Dads, a local social justice 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Previously, He was the Program Director for the Family Resource Collective division of the Community Bridges, overseeing a 2.4 million dollar budget and 27 employees. Before that, he worked for Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center for fifteen years as Project Director for Father and Family Services. As Director, Deutron managed and directed Supporting Father Involvement (SFI) evidence-based clinical research project for over a decade in Santa Cruz County in partnership with UC Berkeley and Yale University. He received his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from UC Santa Cruz.
He has a strong passion and commitment to representing, supporting, and working for children, youth, fathers, and families. Deutron has extensive fatherhood involvement intervention expertise, training, knowledge, program experience, and background in evidence-based program implementation with fathers and co-parents. He has over seventeen years of leadership and performance expertise and nonprofit leadership and operations. Deutron has engaged and served over 4200 fathers and father figures over seventeen years. Deutron has served on several community boards, such as Children’s Network, CASA, Smith Society, and California Youth Connect(CYC). Deutron is a certified parenting educator in the Positive Discipline curriculum and Positive Parenting Program (Triple P).
Currently serves as Commissioner for Santa Cruz County Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission, is a member of Children & Family Services Citizen Review Panel for the State of California, National Facilitator Brazelton Touchpoints Center and Club President for Rotary Club Watsonville.
Clara Miller (She/Her)
Clara Miller (She/Her)
Clara, a local birth/postpartum doula and yoga instructor, brings a unique and thoughtful approach to her classes. Infusing traditional yoga philosophy with modern anatomical insights, her teachings reflect a harmonious blend of wisdom. Her classes are nourishing, soft, and grounded. Expect to leave feeling satisfied, connected, to Self and at ease.
Clara has completed training under Joy Ravelli at Purusha Yoga in San Francisco as well as private study with Jennifer Durand.
In all aspects of her work, Clara strives to help new and expanding families experience more empowered and easeful transitions into parenthood. As a birthworker, she provides grounded and nourishing whole family care, aiming to preserve the sanctity of the birth and postpartum period. Beyond her role as a doula, Clara is a passionate home cook, aspiring folk herbalist, avid rock climber, and knitting enthusiast.
Chelsea Moyer (She/Her)
Chelsea Moyer (She/Her)
I am a licensed therapist, expressive arts therapist, and eco (nature-based) therapist. I have worked with a diversity of people in a variety of human services settings since 2008 doing administration, program development, case management, and therapy. In this time, I have witnessed the change possible in therapeutic relationships. I am grateful to each who has trusted me with coming alongside them.
On a more personal note, I value my roles as a partner, mother, and community member. My own experiences of trauma and oppression inform my work, as well as my ongoing commitment to racial and environmental justice as a white settler. I love living in the Santa Cruz mountains and making time to learn, camp, swim, quilt, mushroom hunt, and engage my spiritual practices. I am excited to work outside, where I find peace, beauty, and wisdom.
Britta Patterson (She/Her)
Britta Patterson (She/Her)
I have been working with children and families for over 15 years. I am originally from Tulsa, OK and moved to Santa Cruz in 2017. I have my Bachelors Degree in Social Work. I have an incredible daughter named Stevie, who you will see running around the Circle. The Circle saved me during postpartum and the support I received from here changed my life. I am honored to be able to give back and journey through parenthood with the families I meet while working here.
Jenny Putt (She/Her)
Jenny Putt (She/Her)
Jenny Putt PT is a pelvic floor physical therapist in Santa Cruz. She is also a certified orthopedic specialist so she treats the whole body including all the holes. Jenny specializes in all perinatal diagnoses and chronic pain. As a mother of a 3 year old, she understand the ins and outs of both the physical and emotional journey of having a child. Jenny aims to make pelvic floor physical therapy a universal standard for all. She wants everyone to feel empowered and hopeful when it comes to their bodies. She also takes pride in making what most deem uncomfortable topics, as comfortable as talking about the weather. Jenny offers in-person and virtual individual physical therapy. She also has a virtual program that teaches individuals how to be their own pelvic PT so they can navigate pregnancy and postpartum with every tool needed to feel good…maybe even better than before they had a kid.
Journey Talkovic, CNM (She/Her)
Journey Talkovic, CNM (She/Her)
Teri Sexton (She/her)
Teri Sexton (She/her)
Teri is passionate about early childhood education and sharing yoga and mindfulness with
children. She holds a master’s degree in education, a master’s certificate in Trauma in Learning and is a certified yoga instructor, including Trauma-Informed Yoga and Mindfulness and
Inclusive Yoga. As the co-founder of BALANCE4KidsⓇ, LLC and BALANCE Workshops, Teri has brought her vision to life. These initiatives are the culmination of her life’s work, focusing on building children’s social-emotional skills, fostering resilience, and nurturing a lifelong love for learning.She’s excited to continue this work here in Santa Cruz, creating a positive impact on the community she loves.