Michelle H. El Khoury, PhD
Smart Parenting with Michelle
Lead with Presence
Structured holistic support to help women leaders navigate pregnancy and early parenthood while staying true to your values and purpose
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I know this all too well, having navigated the rollercoaster of balancing a demanding healthcare career and parenthood myself (and yes, I still do!).
Each of my pregnancies was a unique adventure, and the journey of raising my children taught me that achieving peace, resilience, and fulfillment while continuing to lead with purpose is not only possible—it’s transformational. I discovered that developing mental fitness techniques was key to identifying thought patterns that undermined my confidence and replacing them with perspectives that served both my professional and parenting roles. That’s why I’m passionate about guiding leaders, parents, and changemakers who value strategic approaches, providing the same care and guidance I needed along the way.
Life’s biggest transformations often arrive unexpectedly—pregnancy and parenthood are no exception.
Hi, I'm Dr. Michelle El Khoury
read my story
Listen in as I share what balancing career, motherhood, and mindfulness really looks like—and how The S.M.A.R.T. Journey to Parenting™ can help you lead with intention, not overwhelm.
(As seen and heard on the She Talks Confidence Podcast with Tony Dufresne, PhD)
Featured Episode
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Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of maintaining what matters most to you during pregnancy, birth, or early parenthood?
You’re not alone!
Whether you're planning to have a baby, are currently expecting, or have recently transitioned to postpartum, the constant juggling of personal commitments and parenting responsibilities can feel overwhelming. If you're an individual or an organization looking to support your team members, navigating major life transitions while still showing up with presence and purpose can also feel daunting. You may be questioning whether you’ll have the support to sustain your visibility and leadership voice through this transition, or wondering if you’ll ever feel truly prepared, especially if it’s your first time becoming a parent.
Approximately 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men may experience anxiety or depression during the perinatal period.
1/5
women
- Michelle H. El Khoury, PhD
I know firsthand how challenging it is to balance a career and parenthood.
My own journey was one of trial and transformation—from feeling uncertain and overextended to finding balance and fulfillment without compromise. I realized the overwhelm I felt came from not having a grounded, intentional system that truly supported my unique journey as a professional.
That’s why I developed The S.M.A.R.T. Journey to Parenting™—a proven framework inspired by the mindful practices and expert insights that transformed my own experience.
With this method, you’ll gain the clarity to make informed decisions, the confidence to embrace each stage of parenthood, and the calm to navigate even the most challenging transitions—all while building the mental fitness to balance life demands and commitments with resilience.
my journey
“I highly recommend working with Michelle! I learned so much through her childbirth course and appreciated her passion for educating parents-to-be. It was highly organized and informative, which helped me feel fully prepared and confident going into labor. The prenatal yoga was also very beneficial; the classes were slow- paced enough for me and I felt refreshed every time.”
- Liana, first-time parent
S
S.M.A.R.T.
Set your vision for a confident birth experience.
Define your birth goals and create a flexible, personalized plan to navigate your pregnancy and labor with confidence.
We're always evolving, and we deserve the same intentional review and growth, not just professionally, but personally.
My proprietary S.M.A.R.T. Journey to Parenting™ methodology guides you through five essential stages, providing effective strategies for navigating pregnancy to parenting, and other life transitions to help you build confidence in both your parenting journey and personal transformation.
Each stage offers soulful shifts that transform ‘just getting through’ seasons of change into leading them with resilience, presence, and peace.
My Methodology
“Working with Michelle completely transformed my perspective on the birthing process. She was patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly supportive throughout. I highly recommend her course! ”
- Tiffany, second-time parent
My Coaching Program
Perinatal Coaching for Peaceful Parenting
Navigate your journey with personalized one-on-one coaching designed to help you balance life demands with preparing for parenthood. Through five focused virtual sessions, you'll receive expert guidance on areas most important to your journey, such as creating a birth vision aligned with your values, developing mindfulness practices that enhance both parenting and personal impact, and building strategies for a confident reintegration to your commitments. Flexible scheduling ensures you and/or your partner receive the strategic support needed to thrive in both roles.
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My digital course
Pregnancy to Parenting:
A 35-Day Path to Confidence
Transform overwhelm into empowerment with this structured, step-by-step online course crafted for busy individuals like you. Through five comprehensive, self-paced modules over 35 quick lessons (each no more than 20 minutes), you'll master birth preparation, mindfulness practices, childbirth education, yoga, postpartum wellness and newborn care. This course delivers practical evidence-based tools and expert insights to approach pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood with clarity and confidence. This holistic program fits seamlessly into your demanding schedule while preparing you for the journey ahead.
explore the course
My community
The Peaceful Parenting Collective
Discover an online hub of perinatal support tailored for future, expecting, and new parents navigating their personal and parenting journeys. Connect with others at similar stages through monthly live Q&A sessions, specialized discussion spaces, and evidence-based resources. Our comprehensive online platform combines expert-led support with peer connections to help you confidently navigate pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood while maintaining your impact and the things that matter most to you.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
However you like to learn—1:1, step-by-step at your own pace, or inside a supportive community—I have a path for you!
Free Email video series
Calm Your Top Pregnancy Fears with Confidence
If you’re expecting a baby—or planning for one—this quick, engaging video series helps you tackle the five most common fears around pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Discover practical strategies and evidence-based insights to help you navigate preparation, complications, labor pain, control concerns, and postpartum challenges with confidence. Embrace this life-changing journey on your terms!
Sign up now for instant access and begin your journey from overwhelm to empowered parenthood
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My journey inspired me to establish Yogamazia, a maternal and children's wellness sanctuary dedicated to holistic education and support, providing a nurturing environment where families can thrive.
VISIT YOGAMAZIA
"I've had such an amazing experience with Michelle! Not only was her expert guidance amazing for my mind and body, but she makes sure you are well taken care of and checks in on your well-being throughout your journey. She has built a beautiful community and is so passionate about supporting parents-to-be. I'm grateful to have found such comprehensive support during this transformative time."
- Kelsey, first-time parent
Rooted in my 20+ years of healthcare and corporate experience, my approach blends evidence-based practices with holistic wellness, drawing on my expertise as a perinatal (birth & postpartum) doula, childbirth educator, lactation counselor and yoga instructor.
My mission is to offer you tools that foster clarity, confidence, connection, and calm—whether you’re planning for the future, preparing for your baby, navigating the stages of parenthood, or supporting others in this transformative process.
I’m passionate about supporting families, professionals and leaders through their transition to parenthood.
get to know me
When I’m not working with families, you’ll find me making memories with my own—my husband, three daughters, our dog, and cat—, traveling, or indulging in a Game of Thrones marathon.
Because when leaders are supported through life’s transitions, they bring that strength back to their families, their teams, and their communities. That’s why I’m committed to transforming not just families — but the systems that support them.
Through my own evolution as a parent and professional, I’ve learned how to navigate life’s transitions with purpose and ease—and I’m here to help you do the same.
I created The S.M.A.R.T. Journey to Parenting™ because it works. Rooted in mindful practices and holistic insights, this proven system transforms uncertainty into empowerment, offering you the clarity and peace I once sought in my own journey from pregnancy to parenthood.
I believe that as someone with high standards, you deserve to feel just as prepared, balanced, and resilient in your journey to parenthood as you do in other areas of your life.
Let’s embrace both the messiness and the joy of this journey together, turning uncertainty into empowerment, one step at a time.
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work with me
“Your presence IS the practice.”
- Michelle H. El Khoury, PhD
“Michelle is an incredible coach whose calming presence made me feel at home. Her prenatal yoga and childbirth education classes were invaluable, helping my husband and me achieve the birth we hoped for. As my doula, Michelle’s support was steady and empowering, guiding us through birth and postpartum with love, encouragement, and plenty of resources. I can’t recommend her enough for both parents and children.”
- Jamie, first-time parent
Work with Me
Get Personalized Support Tailored to Your Journey!
Step 1: Schedule Your Consult
Enter your details to take the first step toward confident, balanced parenting. You’ll be redirected to my scheduling tool to choose a time that works for both of us.
Step 2: Gain Clarity on Your Next Steps
During the call, we’ll explore your current challenges, identify specific needs, and outline the best path forward for your unique situation.
Step 3: Start Your Journey to Calm
By the end of our conversation, you’ll have a clear personalized plan. Together, we’ll decide how my support—whether virtual or in-person—can help you thrive in parenthood and beyond.
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