Julie Kennedy, MA, LMHCPediatric Sleep Consultant
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Background:

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I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Gentle Sleep Coach.  I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Washington State University and Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Gonzaga University. 

I live in Bellevue, Washington with my husband and three boys.
I was just starting my own private practice when my oldest son was 15 months, and I found out I was pregnant with twins!  So that was put on hold, and four and a half years later I become a Certified Gentle Sleep Coach, trained by Kim West, LCSW-C (aka “The Sleep Lady
®”).

I graduated from the Gentle Sleep Coaching Program (GSC) in June 2011.  I am one of the "First 50" graduates of the GSC Program, which is currently the most extensive & professional sleep certification program available.  The program involves over 80 hours of training with a faculty panel that includes 2 medical doctors, a psychologist, an attorney, lactation counselor, postpartum doulas and a family therapist. Each coach must pass an exam and participate in case supervision with Kim West, LCSW-C (a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”) who has been helping tired parents for over 20 years. Clinical supervision and ongoing advanced training are required to maintain certification as a Gentle Sleep Coach.

Some of my GSC training topics included:
- Basic counseling and child development
- Sleep science and behavioral modification techniques to help parents of children age 0 to 6 years old.
- Secure attachment theory
- Support for the breastfeeding mother

The training also consisted of lectures from top specialists, including:
- Postpartum Depression from Dr. Shoshana Bennett, author and leading specialist on Postpartum Depression
- Medical Conditions and Sleep Apnea in Children led by Dr. Lewis Kass, Director of Children’s Sleep Center
- Sensory Processing Disorders and Sleep by Jodi Jennings, OTLR
- Temperament and Sleep by Helen Neville, BS, RN
And much more! 

I have also completed the 4/5 month old training program to work with this very fragile age group. This entailed an additional 40 hours of training (with mentorship) working with babies under 6 months of age. 


As part of my Mental Health License I must take continuing education courses.  Some of the courses I have taken include:
​-Attachment & Attuned Parenting

-Assessment in Early Childhood
-Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Recognizing & Treating the             Emerging Epidemic
-Anxiety Treatment Techniques that Really Work
-Comprehensive Child Therapy: Practical Approaches, Treatments and Interventions
-The Healing Power of Sleep

Outside of my coaching business I enjoy hangout out with my family, hiking, spinning, and yoga. We also enjoy family RV trips during the summer months. 

 
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