Background:
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!
The GSC Program also includes an exclusive advanced training specifically focused on how to gently work with babies 0-5 months of age.
Some of the curriculum training topics include:
This specialty training is designed to give Gentle Sleep Coaches the knowledge, education and all the tools and resources they need to successfully work with families of newborns through 5 months of age in a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate manner.
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.
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!
The GSC Program also includes an exclusive advanced training specifically focused on how to gently work with babies 0-5 months of age.
Some of the curriculum training topics include:
- In-depth knowledge of the importance of attachment and infant mental health
- The sleep science behind the first six months of life
- What special considerations need to be taken when working with and supporting families during this delicate period.
- Specialized instruction on how to evaluate families in the first six months
- Guidance on how to assess when the baby is ready for sleep coaching based on current research and evidence-based strategies
- Review of gentle sleep solutions and strategies that are developmentally appropriate, breastfeeding and attachment friendly and promote a solid foundation for sleep learning and long-term healthy sleep patterns.
This specialty training is designed to give Gentle Sleep Coaches the knowledge, education and all the tools and resources they need to successfully work with families of newborns through 5 months of age in a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate manner.
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.