Doula & Maternal Health
Personalized pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support rooted in informed choice, advocacy, and respect.
Explore doula supportA SAFE PLACE FOR TRANSFORMATION
Support for every season of becoming.
Through maternal health support, doula services, education, coaching, wellness, and advocacy, we help women feel informed, supported, confident, and empowered.
Where women are held
through every season of becoming.
THE CHRYSALIS PROMISE
Change needs a safe place.
A chrysalis is the protected space where change happens—quietly, intentionally, and often before anyone else can see it. That is what Chrysalis is designed to be for women.
We meet you where you are and support you as you move toward where you want to be—with education, advocacy, personalized guidance, and room to discover what comes next.
HOW WE SUPPORT YOU
Support shaped around your life.
Every woman’s journey is different. Your support should be, too.
Education & Birth Prep
Practical, evidence-informed education that helps you understand your options and confidently speak up for your care.
Explore birth supportLife & Health Coaching
Compassionate coaching for clarity, healthier habits, personal growth, and meaningful change at your pace.
Explore BecomingWomen’s Wellness
Support through fertility, motherhood, hormonal changes, perimenopause, menopause, and the seasons in between.
Explore women’s wellnessFIND YOUR STARTING POINT
Which season are you in?
You don’t need to know exactly what kind of support you need. Choose the season that feels closest, or start with a conversation.
EXPECTING
Prepare + Plan
Explore birth preparation, doula support, and education rooted in informed choice and your preferences.
Explore birth supportPOSTPARTUM
Heal + Adjust
Talk through postpartum support and education that may help as you adjust to life after birth.
Explore postpartum supportGRIEF / LOSS
Grieve + Restore
If you are navigating pregnancy or birth loss, start a conversation about the nonmedical support and education that may fit your needs.
Talk with ChrysalisPERIMENOPAUSE / MENOPAUSE
Balance + Renew
Explore women’s wellness education and coaching to clarify questions, priorities, and possible next steps.
Explore women’s wellnessNot sure where to begin? A complimentary 20-minute Discovery Consultation is a no-pressure way to talk through what you need and explore your options.
Start with a ConversationTHE BECOMING EXPERIENCE
Space to grow, with support along the way.
Becoming is a 10-session coaching experience for women navigating life transitions, stretched by responsibilities, or ready to reconnect with themselves. Together, we explore your priorities, practice boundaries, and choose realistic steps toward the life you want to build.
- Get clearer about your goals and priorities.
- Choose practical next steps that fit your life and values.
- Make space to build confidence and use tools that support your progress between sessions.
YOUR JOURNEY
You don’t have to navigate change alone.
Whether you are preparing for birth, rebuilding after a difficult season, adjusting to hormonal changes, or simply ready to feel more like yourself, you deserve support that sees the whole woman.
Find Your Next StepFertilityPregnancyBirthPostpartumMotherhoodPerimenopauseMenopausePersonal Growth
WHAT TO EXPECT
We begin by listening.
Every woman comes to Chrysalis in a different season. Here is how we find the support that fits yours.
Let's talk
Start with a complimentary 20-minute Discovery Consultation. Tell me where you are, what you’re navigating, and what you hope to change. There is no pressure to decide on a service during the call.
Explore your options
We’ll discuss which service may fit your needs, what it includes, and whether virtual or in-person support may work for you. Coaching and education can be offered virtually across Louisiana; in-person doula support depends on location and availability.
Choose your next step
Before you decide, we’ll review the details and full investment for the service you’re considering, discuss available payment options, and explain how to get started. There’s no obligation to move forward.
MEET WILLIE HOBDY
A source of strength while you find your own.
Willie supports women navigating pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, loss, midlife transitions, and personal growth. She brings together healthcare leadership, doula support, coaching, and education to help women feel heard, understand their options, and choose practical next steps that reflect their goals and lived experience.
She currently serves as Senior Manager for Strategic Care Coordination Initiatives at Upward Health, where she helps strengthen care-delivery processes, improve patient engagement, support cross-functional teams, and advance better outcomes for individuals with complex healthcare needs.
Her healthcare leadership experience also includes serving as a Nursing Home Administrator, overseeing clinical operations, regulatory compliance, workforce performance, quality, budgets, and the care of hundreds of residents. Her leadership contributed to a zero-deficiency annual state survey—an achievement reflecting her commitment to quality and accountability.
Willie volunteers with Mary’s Hands Network and serves as Vice President of its Board of Directors. Through that work, she supports doula education, training quality, mentorship, community and healthcare partnerships, scholarship growth, and advocacy focused on improving maternal-health experiences and outcomes.
Willie holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management. She has earned MEGI High-Risk Doula Certification, with education focused on supporting high-risk pregnancies and postpartum care. She is also a Louisiana Registered Doula and ICEA Certified Birth Doula, HCI Certified Health Coach, HCI Certified Life Coach, and Adult Mental Health First Aid USA certified through October 2029.
Her additional training includes perinatal mood disorders, perinatal mental health, and substance use during pregnancy and parenting. She has also completed VSteam Academy training in holistic womb wellness and yoni steaming practices.
Her approach centers each woman’s voice and informed choices. She offers a supportive space to reflect, ask questions, and identify meaningful next steps—without rushing the process.
Credentials & Specialized Training
Certifications & Registration
- HCI Certified Health Coach (HCI-CHC) — Health Coach Institute
- HCI Certified Life Coach (HCI-CLC) — Health Coach Institute
- ICEA Certified Birth Doula (ICBD) — International Childbirth Education Association
- Louisiana Registered Doula
- MEGI High-Risk Doula Certification — MEGI Health
- Adult Mental Health First Aid USA — National Council for Mental Wellbeing (October 2026–October 2029)
Completed Specialized Training
- Certified Holistic Womb Practitioner training — VSteam Academy
- Holistic Womb Wellness Specialist training — VSteam Academy
- Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care — Postpartum Support International
- Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy — Postpartum Support International
- Perinatal Mental Health: Identification, Resources, and Support — Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health
- Introduction to Substance Use and Use Disorder: In Pregnancy and Parenting — Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health
Continuing Education
- “Doulas as First Responders in Lactation” — Pennsylvania Doula Commission webinar, 1.5 CEUs/contact hours (August 31, 2026)
Healthcare Operations LeaderLouisiana Registered & ICEA Certified DoulaHealth & Life CoachMaternal Health Advocate
“Transformation does not have to be rushed. You deserve a safe place to become.”
A CLIENT'S EXPERIENCE
In her own words.
“Working with Willie has been a truly transformative experience. The coaching sessions were fantastic, deeply supportive, and gave me a fresh perspective on the challenges I was facing. Willie is an amazing listener who asks the exact right questions to help you unlock your own solutions. I left every session feeling lighter, more confident, and equipped with practical tools to make real progress in my life. I cannot recommend Willie highly enough!”
— T. N., coaching client
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions before you begin?
Here are a few things you may want to know before we talk.
What is the Becoming experience?
Becoming is a 10-session coaching experience. Your sessions focus on your goals, with space for reflection, practical tools, action steps, and support as you move forward.
How do I know if Becoming is right for me?
Start with a complimentary Discovery Consultation. We’ll talk about what you’re navigating and what you hope to change, then explore whether Becoming or another Chrysalis service fits your needs.
What happens during the Discovery Consultation?
It’s a complimentary 20-minute conversation about your goals and the kind of support you’re looking for. You can ask questions, hear about your options, and take time to decide what feels right. There is no obligation to enroll.
How can I learn about the cost?
During your complimentary 20-minute Chrysalis Discovery Consultation, we’ll discuss what support you’re looking for and review the full investment and available payment options before you decide. If you’re wondering whether a sliding-scale arrangement may be possible, we can talk about that, too. There’s no pressure to move forward.
Can I meet with you virtually?
Coaching and education can be offered virtually. In-person doula support depends on your location and availability. We’ll confirm what works for your needs during your consultation.
Is coaching the same as therapy or medical care?
No. Coaching offers goal-focused support and education. It does not diagnose or treat medical or mental health conditions or replace care from a licensed clinician.
What else does Chrysalis offer?
Chrysalis offers maternal health and nonmedical doula support, birth preparation and education, life and health coaching, and women’s wellness support. Your consultation is a chance to discuss which service may fit your season.
LET’S BEGIN
Your next season can start with one conversation.
Choose a convenient time for a complimentary 20-minute Discovery Consultation. We’ll talk about where you are, what support you need, and whether Chrysalis is the right next step.
Schedule Your Discovery ConsultationHave a question before booking? Call (504) 345-9731 or email hello@chrysaliswomenshealth.com.
Based in the New Orleans area · Virtual support available
In-person doula support is arranged by location and availability. Coaching and education can be offered virtually; we’ll confirm whether your location and the service you want are a fit during your consultation.
What to expect from Chrysalis
Chrysalis offers education, nonmedical doula support, and goal-focused life and health coaching. We help you understand options, prepare questions, and make your own informed choices. Our services do not diagnose or treat medical or mental health conditions and do not replace care from a licensed clinician.
Messages are answered during business hours and are not monitored for emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For emotional crisis support, call or text 988. If you are pregnant or within a year after birth and notice an urgent maternal warning sign, seek medical care immediately.