MSc Neuroscience (UCL, Distinction) | MEd Montessori Person-centred Learning & Leadership | ICF Certified Leadership Coach | Nonviolent Communication Certified Trainer | B.A. Physics (honours)
I believe we change the world when each and every infant is treated with respect and love, and when each mother and family are supported to bond, communicate, and breastfeed from the very beginning.
My journey into this work began with my own children. I breastfed all three, worked as a doula in New York City, and became captivated by how babies attempt to communicate from their very first breath, and how can we decipher what they need. I noticed how profoundly the empathy and presence of the people in the room shape what becomes possible for the mother and baby—and, unfortunately, how negatively lack of empathy and connection affect outcomes. Lactation consultants were essential in my own experience as a mother, with a complicated breastfeeding 3rd time experience. I am delighted to share the neuroscience of empathic communication to future IBCLCs so that they can connect heart to heart with mothers, fathers, and the families they serve, and stay connected even when the news is difficult to share, or when people are emotional.
I hold an MSc in Neuroscience with Distinction from University College London, where I researched how the brain processes emotional language, focusing on how the amygdala and prefrontal cortex interact under stress and what this means for our capacity to empathise, listen, and communicate with care. I was a research contributor at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, where we studied the calming effects of breathwork on the brain and nervous system. In addition, I hold a Master of Education from Endicott College studying person-centred approaches to learning and a B.A. in Physics with honours from Mount Holyoke College. I have been a Certified Nonviolent Communication trainer for over twelve years, and am a accredited coach with the International Coaching Federation. I support healthcare professionals and leaders to develop the inner capacity for genuine empathic presence and connection, especially through difficult moments.
In my session at CBER, I teach person centred, empathic communication in breastfeeding support. This includes how to arrive with presence, regulate yourself before speaking, listen beneath the words to understand what a person truly needs, be able to translate messages from upset people, and share difficult truths while keeping the human connection intact.
Publications and research
Kartar AA et al. (incl. Beltrán N). Neurobiological substrates of altered states of consciousness induced by high ventilation breathwork accompanied by music. PLoS One, 2025.
Beltrán, Nati, 2023, Masters in Neuroscience dissertation: Inverse activation pattern between the amygdala and language prediction motor areas during naturalistic movie viewing.
Mi cerebro solo se construye una vez (My Brain Only Gets Built Once): evidence-based parenting approaches based on Montessori pedagogy for improved outcomes in the early years. 2024.
Montessori for Social Justice: Notes from a Pilot Program. Montessori Collaborative World Review, 2019.
Applying Montessori Principles to Rehabilitation. Crime and Consequence, The Monument Trust, 2019.