In this episode, Dr. Nishi Bhopal, an integrative psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician, speaks with Irina Macare, a former corporate employee to sleep coach with her own consulting business about how she expanded her sleep medicine knowledge in the Clinical Sleep Kit online program. Irina shares her background and transition to Sleep Coaching after struggling with her own sleep issues, including insomnia that led to a car accident. This personal experience inspired her to help others improve their sleep and performance. Irina highlights common problems such as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and disconnecting from work. She also mentions revenge bedtime procrastination, where individuals delay sleep to have personal time, often engaging in counterproductive activities like social media. Irina discusses the value of the Clinical Sleep Kit (CSK) Program in providing a supportive community, continued learning from reliable sources, and practical tools and resources. The Clinical Sleep Kit (CSK) program has enhanced her confidence and knowledge as a sleep coach by combining theory with clinical practice and offering case discussions and expert Q&A sessions. Irina advises practitioners to use comprehensive sleep assessments, consider cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) over medication, and encourage patients to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, create relaxing bedtime routines, and manage light exposure. These tips are aimed at improving sleep quality and overall health.
IntraBalance Integrative Psychiatry & Sleep is now Pacific Integrative Psychiatry.
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