Welcome to
Joyful Roots

Rise into parenthood, rooted in heart-centered, joyful support.

Come As You Are

Doulas have the great honor of walking alongside birthing parents during one of life’s great journeys of transformation. This process is precious, but we hold on to it lightly, so that you are the owner of your experience and valued as the expert on your own path. Being a part of this is my calling and my absolute privilege.

My work is founded on the desire to bring compassionate, nonjudgmental, inclusive support to families throughout the San Diego County seeking Birth Support, Belly Binding, Birthing Story Healing, and Placenta Encapsulation.

Philosophy

Every parent deserves support that awakens their own resiliency, self-love, and compassion as they navigate the life-altering path of birth and parenting.

Pregnancy and birth are more than merely a physiological process, but one that is also social, emotional, psychological, and even spiritual.

Pregnancy, carrying a baby, birth, and becoming a parent is a rite of passage, each a pivotal life experience deserving of care and support. 

I am deeply honored to be invited to accompany families through such an intimate and miraculous time.

I welcome working as a team with medical professionals in our community, providing my clients with a complete circle of care.

Services to Support Your Journey

  • Birth Support

    I am your ally and am here to provide you with the emotional, informational and educational support you need so you can meet your baby with confidence.

    Feel Empowered

  • Placenta Encapsulation

    The placenta was made by your body to sustain the growth of your baby and now it can be used to nourish you during the postpartum period!

    Heal Faster

  • 1:1 Guidance

    Personalized support throughout pregnancy.

    Feel Supported

  • Belly Binding

    Belly massage and binding is a celebratory way to close the womb and begin the healing process after birth.

    Feel Nurtured

  • Birth Story Healing

    Birth processing sessions where you can have your birth story heard, and to reflect, re-frame, and begin to see your story in a new light.

    Find Healing

Our Roots

Joyful Roots Doulas was founded in 2018 by Joy Kobrick and Dara DeSoto out of the mutual desire to bring professional, compassionate and generous care to our clients. Dara stepped away in 2021 to pursue her dream of becoming a licensed midwife and Joy continues to bring seasoned doula support to families throughout the San Diego area.

  • "Joy is a unicorn, I have no idea how she does it all. She is a wealth of knowledge, a personaility that radiates, and she is forged with experience. It was an honor to work with her."

    Leslie K.

  • "I was drawn to Joy's calm, grounded energy from the very beginning. Her background and skillset was impressive but it was Joy herself that really sold me. She just has an ineffable presence about her that gave me deep comfort as I prepared to head into the wild unknown."

    Shari C.

  • "Feeling comfortable with my Doula in every capacity was very important to me for the day of, and she exceeded every expectation I had. First of all, her energy is contagious. She is compassionate, encouraging...and funny! She's genuinely fun to be around."

    Leyla B.

  • "Vast in her knowledge, intuitive in her wisdom, healing with her touch, fiercely protective of a mother's birth space, pure love and compassion in her heart, Joy embodies all of these and more. I will be forever grateful for her support on our birthing journey."

    Laura D.

  • "It has been such a blessing to know and work with Joy! She is a treasure chest of women's health knowledge and a true advocate for empowerment and choosing the birth that's right for you."

    Amy S.

  • "Something about Joy immediately put me at ease. I felt that she had the perfect combination of warmth and professionalism; I totally trusted her expertise from the very beginning and somehow knew I could relax with her."

    Caroline G.

  • "Joy is absolutely amazing!! I had the most wonderful experience having her as my birth doula. She is vastly knowledgeable, incredibly gifted at what she does and she has the most warm and beautiful personality. I cannot recommend her enough!"

    Jess S.

Follow My Journey

Welcome earthside, sweet one! 💕 📷 @joyful.roots.birth #uprightbirth #birth #doula #normalizebirth #birthprep #childbirth
Sway, move, be upright, and keep your face serene, loves. All of this helps our body to relax and in turn allow our uterus to be most effective in labor. ✨ I remember a yoga teacher, a long time ago, telling me as I struggled through some challengi
Maybe you have seen this already, maybe you haven't...but it's currently a favorite of mine! Our jaw and pelvic floor are connected, so when you hold tension in your jaw, your pelvic floor responds and also holds tension. In turn, keeping the jaw so
One of my go-to birth besties is the Elle TENS! I've been using these for over ten years now and have seen time and again how beneficial they can be. They're great for laboring at home, in the car, the birth center, hospital, or really anywhere (exce
She began to move her body in a new way and I could see her rising onto her toes. As baby descends during labor, the way we move intuitively shifts to create space wherever baby is in the pelvis. As doulas, we witness this; we observe this instinctu
“So we’re family now, right?” Yes! The connection between a doula and their client runs so incredibly deep. It is a very special kind of bond that develops over time throughout the pregnancy and deepens profoundly during their bir
These spiky acupressure balls for pain relief in labor are a favorite. I've had so many clients literally hold them for almost their entire labor; in the bath, in the bed, sitting on a birth ball, standing, leaning, you name it. They work similarly
Are you feeling stuck in making a decision? Maybe you are wondering if you should opt for the scheduled cesarean the doctor has recommended or move towards a vaginal birth? Should you give birth in a hospital, a birth center, or at home? Should you
Did you know that while pregnant, you aren't just growing a baby but a whole other organ, too? Understandably, we tend to focus on our baby, but the placenta is such a vital part of the process. ✨ The placenta is an organ that connects baby to the
Primal. Wild. These are both words that for some people are negative, pejorative. There are women who are afraid of their own wildness, thinking that wild means out of control, without boundaries, unkempt. But really - wild, primal - is a natural s
There is something incredibly special about getting to be a part of the birth vortex; witnessing all the magic, wild intensity, surrender, acts of will and becoming. I'm thinking about this incredible woman today - @whatsharisees - her darling son wh
I always say that a baby's mother is their natural habitat...so I love when they can be there as soon as possible. Your heart beat, the smell of your skin, your voice - these are familiar and calms them as they transition to life outside the womb. Sk
Holding this sweet baby was only a very small part of this home visit. Really, I’m here to check in on momma. To listen to her, to validate her, to hold space as she begins to share pieces of her birth story. It takes time to heal and to integr
I had the blessing of attending several births last week ✨ and this lady’s right here was one of them. I’m looking at this picture and I’m still just so blown away by her. My heart will be forever touched by the experience and I&r
I witnessed the most incredible birth this weekend, and as I waited for the family to call me in, I got to thinking about how sitting in the unknown, wondering when things will pick up requires such surrender and patience. As each new wave comes, eac

Let’s connect, today.