Our Story
ha·ven
/ˈhāv(ə)n/
(noun) a place of safety or refuge
Our name reflects our mission: to be a sanctuary for bereavement doulas and grief-informed professionals to find real-world support, practical training, and a compassionate community to navigate the complex challenges of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss with confidence and care.
Founded by Dr. Abby Jorgensen, Ph.D., Haven emerged as a response to the profound lack of resources available for those working in grief support.
Abby’s journey began more than a decade ago, when she found herself supporting families through the pain of perinatal loss across multiple roles. As she became increasingly aware of both the limits of her own training and the broader gaps in support, she recognized the urgent need for specialized, practical guidance, and took her first steps toward creating a haven for other bereavement doulas.
Today, Haven offers practical, research-driven training and certification that empowers bereavement doulas and grief-informed professionals to walk alongside families facing miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss, while also nurturing their own wellbeing.
Dr. Abby Jorgensen, Ph.D.
Founder & Current Director,
Haven Bereavement Doulas
Abby is a sociologist, educator, and certified birth and bereavement doula whose work blends her love of teaching with research, faith, and compassionate care.
In addition to being the founder of Haven Bereavement Doulas, Abby serves as an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Health Care Ethics at Saint Louis University, where her research focuses on family, health, and culture with a grief-informed lens. She also teaches at the Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death.
Abby currently lives in St. Louis with her husband, daughter, dog (Millie), and cat (Benedict Cumbercat). You can learn more about community work at abbythesociologistdoula.com and about her academic work at abbyjorgensen.com.
Meet the Haven Team
Dr. Abby Jorgensen, Ph.D.
Founder & Current Director, Haven Bereavement Doulas
Abby is a sociologist, educator, and certified birth and bereavement doula whose work blends her love of teaching with research, faith, and compassionate care.
In addition to being the founder of Haven Bereavement Doulas, Abby serves as an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Health Care Ethics at Saint Louis University, where her research focuses on family, health, and culture with a grief-informed lens. She also teaches at the Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death.
Abby currently lives in St. Louis with her husband, daughter, dog (Millie), and cat (Benedict Cumbercat). You can learn more about community work at abbythesociologistdoula.com and about her academic work at abbyjorgensen.com.
Dr. Abby Jorgensen, Ph.D.
Founder & Current Director,
Haven Bereavement Doulas
Abby is a sociologist, educator, and certified birth and bereavement doula whose work blends her love of teaching with research, faith, and compassionate care.
In addition to being the founder of Haven Bereavement Doulas, Abby serves as an Assistant Professor of Sociology (with a secondary appointment in Health Care Ethics) at Saint Louis University, where her research focuses on family, health, and culture with a grief-informed lens. She also teaches at the Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death.
Abby currently lives in St. Louis with her husband, daughter, dog (Millie), and cat (Benedict Cumbercat). You can learn more about community work at abbythesociologistdoula.com and about her academic work at abbyjorgensen.com.
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Ph.D.(Sociology)
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Haven Certified Bereavement Doula (HCBD)
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Certified Birth Doula (DONA)
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Certified Labor Doula (ProDoula)
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Lamaze-Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE)
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Julie McKay
Creative Director & Instructor,
Haven Bereavement Doulas
Julie McKay is the Creative Director of Haven Bereavement Doulas, where she brings together her passions for storytelling, design, and women’s health. She also instructs the Haven Bereavement Doula Training and leads our NFP/FABM instructor courses. Her journey into women’s health began with fertility awareness, leading her to become a trained FertilityCare Practitioner to empower women to chart their cycles and better understand their bodies
A writer and advocate, Julie focuses on the intersections of women’s health, family life, and theology. She is also a Haven-trained Bereavement Doula and an active community leader, volunteering with a peer-to-peer babywearing group that helps parents—moms and dads alike—care for their children with confidence and connection.
Julie holds a B.S. in Zoology and lives with her family in Michigan. You can learn more about her work at julierosemckay.com.
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Dr. Carli Herzog, Ph.D.
Instructor,
Haven Bereavement Doulas
Dr. Carli Herzog is an Instructor (Haven Certified Bereavement Doula training) for Haven Bereavement Doulas.
Dr. Herzog is an English Professor by training who specializes in the medical humanities. She leads the Behold Your Child Ministry for families experiencing perinatal loss at her parish and recently launched Everstead Path Bereavement Doula Services to serve the wider community both in person and online.
She lives with her family in Iowa.
You can learn more about her at EversteadPath.com.
TaKiesha Smith
Instructor,
Haven Bereavement Doulas
TaKiesha Smith (she/her), is an Instructor (Lactation After Loss) for Haven Bereavement Doulas, a passionate Neurospicy birth advocate, Certified Community Health Worker, and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist.
Serving as the Indiana State Ambassador for Count the Kicks, TaKiesha is devoted to enhancing maternal health and advocating for equity. Through her company, Neuro Spicy Birth, she equips doulas with the skills to support neurodiverse families.
TaKiesha’s mission is to ensure that every birthing experience is unique and that all families receive the highest quality support. You can learn more about her at acaringdoula.com.
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Br. Bobby McFadden, C.S.C., Ph.D.
Community Facilitator,
Haven Bereavement Doulas
Br. Bobby McFadden, C.S.C. is the Community Facilitator for Haven Bereavement Doulas, and lives in Notre Dame Indiana. His interest in grief work began when he first started reading the Roman philosopher Cicero and was moved by his love for his daughter Tullia, whom he lost when she was young. Since that time, Br. Bobby has desired to bring his academic work to the community. For this reason, he now seeks to accompany authentically those who experience miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss as a Haven Trained Bereavement Doula.
Br. Bobby is also a Brother in the Congregation of Holy Cross. He teaches at Holy Cross College as Assistant Professor of Theology and Literature. His research focuses on friendship and grief in St. Augustine and Cicero. He loves teaching courses on Classical and early Christian literature. His favorite authors are St. Augustine, Cicero, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Flannery O’Connor. In his
spare time, Br. Bobby loves reading, good conversation, traveling, writing poetry, and all things French!
If you are interested in his research or need support in times of grief, please contact him at mcfaddre@gmail.com.