Hidden Gems: Meet Porsche Williams of Soul Sisters Wellness and Beauty

Today we’d like to introduce you to Porsche Williams. 

Hi Porsche, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Porsche Yanitza Williams. I am a mother to two beautiful humans and a Yaya. I am most inspired by my mother, she is an amazing woman, I aspire to live my life the way she does with tenacity, with strong values and leading with love. I love learning about history and spirituality. I enjoy reading, good food and travel! I began working as a birth and postpartum doula in 2020. FUN FACT…I was born at St. Mary’s hospital and I have now attended several births with the same physician that delivered me, Dr. Brabson! I am the owner of Soul Sisters Wellness and Beauty. The concept of Soul Sisters has always been to create a safe space for all humans to feel pampered and taken care of. I started my business after the birth of my son in 2013. I wanted a more flexible schedule so that I could provide the best care for him and be there during his early stages of development. I am a licensed manicurist and have been pampering clients all about Downtown Knoxville for the past 10 years. I’ve slowly been trying to move away from salon work and take on more doula clients. I definitely feel like I was called to do this work and look forward to all that is coming into fruition. I am grateful to be able to work in a field I am so passionate about!

How did you get into this work?
I initially began learning about doula support during my daughter’s pregnancy as she was researching natural childbirth methods. I decided to do some research so I could learn how to better support her throughout her pregnancy and postpartum. We read many evidence-based articles that teach about the midwifery care model and doula support. I felt called to support women in this unique, specialized, and intimate way.

After her birth experience, and watching how she felt empowered to work towards the birth she wanted and deserved. I knew firstly that birthers need more information and knowledge about how our bodies function and a deeper understanding of the birth process in order to feel empowered to advocate for the birth they desire to have. I understood secondly that birthers need emotional and physical support to help encourage them through the labor and delivery process. When I am working with a family, I learn what coping skills they normally use when stressed and pushed to their limits and either help them to develop better-coping skills and breathe work to manage pain and stress or remind them to lean into those techniques that have helped them during stressful situations.

When searching for a certifying organization I knew I wanted to work with an organization that upheld diversity in their training with diverse trainers, culturally competent materials, and that included inclusive language and support for all humans. I chose Bebo Mia. I studied/trained with them for 10 months completing the full spectrum doula training.

I began rebranding an existing business to include my doula services and support. And relaunched Soul Sisters Wellness and Beauty in 2020. I decided to focus on birth and postpartum doula support. This way I stay with a family throughout their pregnancy and also support them during the postpartum period which is deemed one year after birth. I have also recently started supporting birthers and their families through loss.

I have supported over 13+ families to date, in different capacities. I have supported single mothers, married couples, same-sex partners, mothers in postpartum, help with breastfeeding, providing resources for those struggling with issues around mental health, helped women and families connect with networks of professionals that work in reproductive health, including Urology, midwifery, pelvic floor therapist, chiropractors, and placenta encapsulators.

Lets switch gears a bit and talk business (What should we know?)
Through this work and learning of the disparities that exist in childbirth, especially where it pertains to black women, the Knoxville Black Doula Collective was formed. Together with another local doula (Alexis Alsup), we decided it imperative to form the KBDC to bring awareness and educate, empower and engage with our community for better birth outcomes. Formed in my living room in June of 2021 we came together to help solve a greater problem one family, one event, and one workshop at a time. Within the last year we partnered with the Knox County Health Dept. to form the Knoxville Birth Equity Alliance. The KBEA and KBDC work in alignment to raise awareness about birth as it is and through education push forward equity in birth practices and outcomes for families of color.

I am currently taking courses to learn how to better serve our LGBTQI community so that I can inform them mostly of their rights and actions that need to be taken during pregnancy to ensure their rights and partners’ rights are being respected during the childbirth experience.

I am happy to be doing this work and look forward to all that I still have to learn. I love working with families to inform them of their options, help them understand policies, practices, and the birthing process. I’m most proud of my ability to help families better support one another and to honor their bodies and this most important transitional time of their lives.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Wow! Absolutely not. I started training to become a doula in January 2019. I had no idea that the world would shut down and everything upend in March. Initially, I felt totally discouraged wondering how I was going to pay for training once the salon where I was working shut down and how I would study once my family was all together staying safe at home. But after the initial shock wore off, I realized I could use this time to really dig into my studies and focus primarily on this work and I felt relieved. I always look for the blessings during hard times in my life and this was no different.

Being that I have only been a doula during the pandemic, when I began taking on clients in Nov. 2019 each day was different. One day birthers were allowed to have one support person, the next a partner and doula, then back to only one support person, and this varied based on the hospital. It was imperative I stayed on top of the ever-changing regulations in all local birthing facilities. This was a trying time but necessary to guide me in staying on top of the ever-changing practices and regulations etc that exist within birth work!

What are you most proud of? ( Was this the question?)
My approach to life and to my doula support is a Holistic one. We are whole human beings with physical. emotional and spiritual needs. I believe it is most important to develop and practice daily habits that will help reduce stress including physical activities and mental health exercises to include deep breathing, meditation, and affirmations.

I am most proud of the connections that I have made with my clients and their families, the respect and trust we develop for each other and the resources outside of my skill set that I am able to connect my clients with because of the networks and relationships I’ve built with my community and local providers.

I am a reproductive justice advocate. I serve all humans regardless of race, gender identity, sexuality. I am a doula for all! I have trained and cross-trained to be able to support the LGBTQI community. After being immersed in birth work, I see the disparities that exist for all oppressed people and want to offer support to marginalized folks, especially. I want LGBTQI persons to feel equipped with information about barriers and laws that are oppressive against them and want them to feel supported throughout the perinatal period.

Postpartum is my jam. I am especially passionate about the postpartum period. Many women suffer from PMADS (postpartum mood and anxiety disorders) in silence. I spend a lot of time with families preparing them for postpartum support and helping them to design a plan of action if someone needs crisis intervention or mental health services, and help partners and families understand what to look for when their family member is experiencing a Mood or anxiety disorder.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Quality time with family and friends, outdoor activities, Sunshine, Herbal Tea, DANCING, a good playlist, A good book, The beach, and my plant babies!!!

Pricing:

• Birth Support 1000-1400 with sliding scale options
• Postpartum Support $25/hr (20 hour minimum with sliding scale option)
• Birth Photography $150 for doula clients
• Postpartum Care Boxes $100+

Contact Info:

• Email: soulsisterswellnessandbeauty@gmail.com
• Website: soulsisterswellnessandbeauty.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/soulsisterswellnessandbeauty
• Facebook: facebook.com/soulsistersknoxville