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the family sleep consultant
the family sleep consultant

FAQs

Below are the answers to questions I receive most often.

If you have a question that is not answered below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Contact me
Who do you work with?

I work with people of all ages, with all kinds of sleep difficulties. This includes adults, children and families.

I also provide consultation and advice for professionals e.g. psychologists who are supporting clients with difficulty sleeping.

 

Working with Children

For babies (under six months) sleep training is not recommended but I can work with you to create good routines that will help to lay the foundation for good sleep. 

For infants and younger children I work primarily with you as the parents/carers as you are a key influence on your own child’s sleep.

For older children and adolescents I still work alongside you as the parents/carers but may also work directly with your child.

Typically this assessment will include the following:

  • Two 60 minute consultations: These are an opportunity for you to talk to me in detail about the difficulties you are experiencing. We will meet either with or without your child present, depending on what feels most appropriate. 
  • Sleep questionnaire: You’ll be asked to complete this before our first meeting. This allows me to gather background information that is relevant to sleep. 
  • Sleep diary: This provides information on sleep patterns and habits and gives me a sense of your family routines. The sleep diary can be completed by parents/carers on behalf of their child, or by older children and teens with the support of parents/carers. 
  • I may also wish to speak to other professionals working with your family, including the referrer if a referral was made. I will only do this if you give your explicit consent for me to do so.

 

What is sleep psychology and how do I know if it's right for me?

Most sleep problems are psychologically grounded, which means that psychological intervention is often the most helpful approach. Other professionals can also help in understanding your sleep problem, so I often work alongside GPs, counsellors, psychiatrists and other professionals. 

Psychological approaches to improving sleep address the underlying psychological factors maintaining your sleep problem. I use a range of methods to understand your sleep in the context of your physical and mental health, and your physical and social environment.

Some of the ways I can help to improve your sleep include: 

  • Customising your daily schedule to make it more conducive to sleep.
  • Coaching you to change daytime and nighttime behaviours that are maintaining your sleep problems.
  • Addressing any misconceptions or unhelpful beliefs you may have about sleep.
How long will we need to work together?

This will depend on the nature of your sleep difficulty and the support you need to overcome it. Sometimes a single consultation is enough to get you back on track. For more complex sleep issues we might work together for several weeks. I will guide you in terms of what will be most effective for your particular sleep issue. 

While we work together I will be continually reviewing your progress to make sure we’re on track to meeting your sleep goals. 

You can stop working with me, or take a break at any time.

Do I need a referral?

No. GPs, psychiatrists and other professionals often refer people to me, but you do not need a referral in order to access support from TFSC. You can simply get in touch here to enquire further or book your initial consultation. 

What if I need to change or cancel my appointment?

If you need to cancel or reschedule please give at least 48 hours. This gives me time to offer your appointment slot to other clients. 

If you need to cancel within 48 hours of your appointment you will be reimbursed 50% of the cost of that consultation. 

If you cancel or reschedule with less than 24 hours notice you will not be reimbursed the cost of your consultation. This is because it may not be possible for me to offer your appointment time to another client at such short notice.

You can find further information about my terms and conditions here

 

How do I book my first appointment?

To book your initial consultation simply follow this link to find an appointment time that suits you. 

You will be asked to answer a few simple questions, so that I can ensure I am able to provide the support you are looking for.

Once you have requested your initial consultation I will send you a confirmation email with follow-up instructions. I will gather some further information from you before we meet so that I can be fully prepared for our consultation. 

Can you help me with insomnia?

Yes. In fact, many of the people I help are struggling with insomnia, and psychological management of insomnia is known to be far more effective in the long-term than medications. 

Can I refer clients to you?

Thank you for considering referring one of your clients to TFSC. You can refer clients directly to me by emailing me at [email protected]

Please also feel free to book a free 20 minute consultation here if you are unsure about whether to refer. 

Please do not send personal health information unless you have gained the informed consent of your client.

How do I pay?

You will receive an invoice upfront for each consultation. 

You should make payment at least 48 hours before your scheduled appointment. Once payment is made your appointment is confirmed, and you will receive a link to our online consultation. 

Payments can be made by bank transfer to the following accounts:

Singapore DollarsDBS account number 885-074-183-915.

New Zealand Dollars: Wise account number 04-2021-0098624-39.

British Pounds: Wise account number 4966 2165, sort code 23-14-70

Payments can be made in any other currency. Just let me know your preferred currency when booking your initial consultation.

How do sleep consultations work?

I will work collaboratively with you to decide on your sleep goals, and then use a range of evidence-based psychological approaches to help you reach those goals. 

Here’s how it usually works:

  • We start with an initial consultation, where I assess your sleep difficulties and provide feedback and advice. During this consultation we discuss your current and past sleep issues, your goals and priorities, and any other information relevant to my assessment of your sleep.
  • Sometimes the initial consultation is enough to get you back on track. In which case you will have a range of new strategies to try, and can get back in touch any time for follow-up appointments.
  • If you need more support to get things back on track, we will meet regularly (usually once weekly once or fortnightly) for 50-minute online follow-up consultations to problem solve and work on new skills.

You are welcome to ask questions between sessions and I will respond within 48 business hours in most instances.

For insomnia, a full course of intervention usually lasts between 5 and 8 sessions. People often experience significant benefits after 1 to 3 sessions.

For other sleep problems, we may only need 1 or 2 consultations, or engage in ongoing coaching, depending on your needs and preferences.

What are your prices?

Initial 60 minute consultation (includes assessment, feedback and strategies): $170 USD

Follow-up 50 minute consultation (includes ongoing review and feedback): $150 USD

I work with clients all over the world, so although prices are quoted in US dollars, you can pay in your local currency. Enquire here for more details.

Note: All clients begin with an initial assessment & feedback session, during which I will provide information about sleep, and propose a sleep management plan. I will also give you recommendations (or referrals, if appropriate), so that you will have an actionable plan for improving your sleep even if we don’t end up working together beyond the initial consultation.

What is CBTi?

Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is one of the most effective approaches for managing insomnia.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends it more strongly than it recommends all sleep medications (including over-the-counter ones).

In practice, it involves:

  • Tracking your sleep and learning about factors that are contributing to your insomnia.
  • Learning about the science of sleep so that you can let go of unhelpful misconceptions.
  • Addressing your feelings of anxiety and worry about sleep.
  • Changing your daytime and nighttime habits to increase sleepiness and decrease arousal (racing mind).
  • Practising skills and gaining knowledge so that your sleep health is maintained long after we finish working together. 

Usually a course of CBTi lasts for between 5 and 8 sessions. 

How can I start getting my sleep back on track straight away?

My resources page is full of advice and information about how to start improving your sleep. 

A good starting point is to download and complete my free Sleep Diary. This can help you to start spotting unhelpful sleep habits you might not be aware of.

My free Sleep Sheet is a downloadable checklist you can use to see whether you’re getting the basics right, and to consider where you could make some improvements.

Will my health insurance cover me for working with you?

The Family Sleep Consultant is not affiliated with any insurers, but psychological services delivered by registered psychologists are often covered by standard health insurance policies. I can provide you with invoices for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. 

If you’re not sure if you are covered, speak to your insurers to see whether they will reimburse you for out-of-network sessions.

Do I need to stop taking sleep medications before seeing you?

No. We will review your sleep medication history and current medications during your initial consultation. We will discuss your goals regarding sleep medications and agree on a plan to work towards those goals.

Do not make any changes to your medications (including over-the-counter medications) without supervision from your doctor (or other prescribing healthcare provider). With some sleep medications, stopping too quickly can be dangerous or can increase sleep problems in the long term.

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