About Heather, Soothing Angels’ Sleep Consultant
I have 3 beautiful daughters. I can honestly say that I cried more than my oldest when she endured the extinction method (cry-it-out with no reassurance). Everyone told me that was what to do. I swore that would never happen again! Next, I found myself with a toddler of 19mo who did sleep all night and a colicky baby who wouldn’t. I learned a lot about patience and how to reassure an alert/responsive baby. I also learned more about many other sleep methods and what lack of sleep does to Mommy. Finally, I learned of The Sleep Lady from our pediatrician’s office when my youngest was 1 year old. (Wow – I wish I had learned about this 8 years ago!) I enrolled immediately in her first certification class. I learned how to coach my baby to get to sleep independently while I was nearby maximizing her reassurance and minimizing her frustration. She started to lay herself down and go to sleep on her own within 3 nights! She was able to do it alone within 10 nights! We now have calm and relaxing bedtimes and everyone is much happier and healthier.
I continued my training because I wanted to offer more options to families – 1 method doesn’t fit everyone. I want to be sure families are doing what is best for the whole family – Mom and Dad’s comfort level and their angel’s personality are important factors to consider. I also look after Mom’s health and help her know what to expect for herself; in terms of sleep, anxiety, and confidence.
Certified Maternity & Child Sleep Consultant ™
IMPI set out to develop the most comprehensive, all-inclusive and integrative program that family sleep consulting can offer. Graduates from the IMPI sleep consultant certification program™ are educated and trained in all proven sleep solutions and methods. IMPI is committed to providing the best and most well-rounded education!
- An objective approach with families in order to develop healthy sleep habits that are age and developmentally appropriate for their client’s needs, lifestyle, and values
- Support the mother during pregnancy with her sleep
- Education and to raise awareness about health, fitness and nutrition for mother (pre/postnatal) in relation to sleep
- Support parents postpartum with their sleep issues during their time of transition
- Understand the most widely recognized international sleep training methods and practices
- An in-depth look at sleep products and safety
- An in-depth look at green and eco-friendly practices
- A comprehension of their scope of practice, boundaries to practice, and when to refer out.
- Awareness of issues that involve medical attention, abuse, trauma, post-partum depression in order to provide their client’s the proper guidance and referral.
The Gentle Sleep Coaching Program with Kim West, LCSW-C
The Gentle Sleep Coach ® program involves you staying in the room to gently reassure your child as he/she learns to fall asleep without you using any ‘sleep crutches’ to help with this process. You are nearby to offer comfort and encourage the skill of independent sleep and will gradually be withdrawing from the room.
- Basic counseling and child development
- Sleep Science and Behavioral Modification Techniques
- Secure Attachment Theory
- Supporting the Breastfeeding Mom
- Recognizing potential medical issues
- 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
Canadian Regional Director for the APSC
Heather is the Canadian regional director for the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants. Their mission is to promote the best practice standard for professional sleep consultation. Heather is also the Chief Financial Officer for the APSC.
For additional information, their full site can be found at internationalsleep.org.
Further Certifications:
Babies in Mind: Why the Parent’s Mind Matters
A journey that begins in pregnancy; exploring the importance of the ability of the mother-to-be to think about her baby while still in utero, alongside the impact on the unborn baby of mental states such as anxiety and depression.
We then explored what the research tells us about the way in which the parent’s emotional and cognitive mind, can shape the interactional context of the baby during the first two years of life, and the impact of this interaction on the baby’s developing mind.
developed by: accredited by:
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/babies-in-mind
2014/ 2015 Infant Mental Health Community Training Institute
This training program aims to increase knowledge about infant mental health among all staff within community-based agencies in order to affect a cultural shift among agency staff, to empower individuals to be agents of change in their roles and to ensure that every child served by their organization has access to the best mental health outcomes possible.
- Understanding of just how critical early mental health is for a child, a community, and society at large;
- Understanding of risk and protective factors that contribute to early mental health and development;
- Promotion of infant mental health practices within a community agency that can be shared with families and other community agencies;
- Integration of practices that focus on the prevention of infant mental health trauma;
- Embedding of screening practices to identify when a child may be experiencing poor mental health in the first three years of life; and
- Integration of interventions, policies and practice that can be provided to a child who is experiencing poor mental health or at risk of experiencing poor mental health within the community.
presented by
Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMHP), and the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Proud supporter of the Make-A-Wish foundation by creating Soothing Spaces for sick kids.
Heather designs rooms, unique for each child’s wish, to give each special child the room of his/her dreams. Heather and her team create a Soothing Space where the child can escape the world of hospitals and treatments and enjoy being a kid.