My Story
You ask, “How does one become a sleep coach?” You know how people always talk about career changes like they’re some big “this is my destiny” moment? Yeah, not me. My career history is more like a game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. Blindfolded. On a windy day.
Every few years, I’d jump into a new career—civil servant, editor, translator, IT consultant. On paper, I was fine. Pretty good, even, if you squinted. But inside? I was a ghost. No spark. No soul.
I couldn’t sleep. That’s where it started. Helping myself, then others, get better at something so basic—sleep. Early in my career, I thought, “Here comes the next disaster”. Except … it wasn’t. Turns out, being a dreamer (literally and figuratively) fits the role. Funny, how that works, isn’t it?
I used to think sleep was just something babies did. Turned out, not always. Our daughter—adorable as she was—had zero interest in it. My husband and I? Total opposites. I was all about structure. He liked winging it. So, I tried his approach. For a moment, it seemed like it might work. But the truth? Winging it wasn’t me. And what happened? Chaos. One day, she was up at 6 AM, the next at 8. Naps? A mess. Soon, she was overtired, cranky—and so were we.
Then it hit me: the problem wasn’t my way or his. The problem was trying to follow something that didn’t fit our family. So, I stopped chasing advice and started trusting what felt right. And it worked. Now, I help parents do the same—because sleep isn’t about a magic method, it’s about understanding what actually works for you. And figuring that out is hard enough without doing it alone.
The Truth about Sleep
When I started sleep coaching, I thought, “Finally, an evergreen topic! Sleep—it’s universal! Instant conversation starter!” Spoiler: I was wrong. Sleep, it turns out, is the least exciting thing to talk about.
People only care about sleep when they don’t have it. People only talk about it, when they’re sleep-deprived and cranky. Nobody genuinely cares about sleep—except maybe your mom, but only when you’re little and adorable. Once you grow up? You’re on your own.
Given the choice—“Would you rather sleep or be entertained?”—we all know what wins. We’ve built a world that makes sleep optional, and when we finally give in, we don’t even get to enjoy it. It’s like spending a third of your life in a blackout, only to wake up and think, “Cool. Another dream where I was late to class but also flying.”
And yet, here I am—dedicating my career to getting people to care about the one thing they can’t live without, but never think about. It’s an uphill battle. But it’s worth it.
What's it like being a Sleep Coach?
For anyone thinking, “Sleep Coaching! What a fascinating career!”—let me stop you right there.
It’s not the kind of job that rockets you to the top of the food chain. There’s a reason sleep coaches aren’t on every street corner. Most of my time? Reading research, asking awkwardly personal questions, and helping people untangle their sleep mess.
It’s not glamorous. But it is important.
And sleep? Sleep is endlessly fascinating. After decades of research, we still don’t fully understand it. And that’s what I love about it. Every discovery is a triumph overshadowed by unanswered questions.
When I started, I worked mostly with parents of sleepless kids. Sleep training seemed simple. Except…it wasn’t. Sure, behavioral methods worked sometimes, but not always. Something was missing.
So I dug deeper. Read more. Experimented. Failed. Learned. Repeated. And slowly, a bigger picture formed.
Studying psychology at the University of Glasgow, gaining hands-on experience in Italy, I stumbled onto something unexpected: a global tribe of researchers, coaches, and professors, all obsessing over sleep. It felt like discovering a secret club working to make life better.
And I’m proud to be part of it. It’s not flashy. But it’s fulfilling. Because helping people sleep isn’t just about sleep. It’s about helping them wake up to their best selves.
How I work
Sleep is personal—as unique as a fingerprint, as unpredictable as a dream. My job isn’t to hand you a one-size-fits-all fix. It’s to uncover your solution, together.
That’s why I only work with a handful of clients at a time. If I spread myself too thin, I’d miss the details—the little, hidden patterns that make all the difference.
People often ask, “So, how are you going to fix my sleep?”
And my honest answer? “I have no idea. Yet.”
Not because I don’t know what I’m doing—quite the opposite. It’s because every case is different. And that’s the beauty of it.
We figure it out together. One conversation at a time. One habit at a time. Until we find the thing that works.
Sometimes, we land on the perfect solution. Other times? They fall asleep mid-session because I talked too much. 😉
Either way, I’d call that a win.
Why it matters
This isn’t just about sleep.
It’s about giving people their lives back.
Sleep isn’t just rest—it’s renewal. Clarity. Transformation.
When you finally get it right, you wake up—literally and figuratively. And when that happens, you show up differently. You’re more patient with your kids. You think clearer at work. You feel alive again.
For me, helping someone recover their sleep isn’t just about getting them through the night. It’s about giving them back their days.
That’s not just a career. That’s a purpose.
And that’s why, no matter how complicated, frustrating, or sleep-deprived this journey gets—every single moment is worth it.
Are you sleep-deprived?
Time hasn’t solved your sleep problem? Others told you that you need to accept that parenting means no more sleep for you? Do you postpone improving sleep because you think there is no middle way between this struggle and cry it out?
Important FAQs
So many asked me these questions
Sleep is a complex deal and it’s not just about a one-way approach—it’s a mix of biology, psychology, environment, and culture. Trying to solve it by focusing on just one area would be like fixing a car by only checking the engine. Here’s why I keep my approach broad:
Sleep is messy and complicated. If I only focused on one thing, I’d miss out on other factors that mess with your sleep. Everyone’s different, so having a broad toolkit lets me find what really works for you.
Sleep science is always changing. By keeping up with the latest across different fields, I can bring fresh, effective strategies to the table. Specialists are great for specific issues, but they might skip over lifestyle or environmental stuff that affects your sleep. That’s where I come in—I help connect the dots and make sense of it all.
I’m not here to replace medical professionals or specialists but to bridge the gaps and offer a personalized, holistic approach. If there’s something beyond my expertise, I’ll make sure to point you in the right direction.
Great question, and it’s key to understanding what I do! Here’s how we’re different:
- Diagnosis and Treatment: Doctors handle diagnosing and treating sleep disorders or medical conditions. I don’t do that. If I think there’s something medical going on, I’ll send you to a pro.
- Prescriptions: Only a doctor can give you meds. I focus on natural, non-medical ways to improve your sleep.
- Therapy: I’m not a therapist. I can offer advice and techniques, but if you’ve got deep mental health stuff affecting your sleep, I’ll point you to a licensed therapist.
- Seven Realms: I look at your sleep through seven key areas—mind, body, spirit, emotions, lifestyle, social environment, and physical environment. This holistic view lets me dig into how different parts of your life are impacting your sleep.
- Education and Empowerment: My job is to teach you about sleep and help you make smart choices to improve it. Doctors may do this too, but they often don’t have as much time to break things down.
- Working Together: I’m here to complement what your doctor says. If they give you advice, I’ll help you put it into action in your day-to-day life.
- Prevention: While doctors focus on fixing problems, I’m all about stopping sleep issues before they start.
- Custom Game Plan: I work with you to create sleep strategies that fit your lifestyle—not just a one-size-fits-all solution.
- Ongoing Support: I’m here for regular check-ins and support. You won’t need to wait for the next doctor’s appointment to get help.
If you have a sleep disorder or health condition, see a healthcare professional first. I’m here to help you along the way, not replace medical care. I stick to my lane and always refer out when needed.
Dream analysis is an option, not a must. If you’re not into it or don’t believe in it, no worries—we can skip it. While some research suggests dreams can reflect what’s going on in your body and subconscious, it’s not about fortune-telling. Sometimes, talking about dreams can lead to useful insights, but if you’re skeptical, we can focus on other techniques. My approach is flexible and holistic, so dream analysis is just one tool in a bigger strategy. We’ll only use what works for you, and I respect your comfort zone. It’s all about improving your sleep.
Your pediatrician might mean well, but no, you don’t have to stop breastfeeding to help your baby sleep better. It’s a myth that weaning leads to magical sleep improvements. Babies need both sleep and feeding, and you shouldn’t have to choose between them.
I’ve seen moms exhausted from constant night feedings, like one who went to the ER because her baby was waking up every 20 minutes. The doctors suggested stopping breastfeeding, thinking that would solve the problem. But the real game-changer wasn’t quitting breastfeeding—it was starting a proper sleep routine. That same mom breastfed for almost two years, but her baby started sleeping better way before she stopped nursing.
Here’s the truth: Better sleep isn’t about weaning, it’s about finding the right balance. Your baby can sleep well and keep breastfeeding. You don’t have to give up one for the other. Let’s find a balance that works for both of you.
Your doctor might not have been able to help with your sleep problem for a couple of reasons. First, most doctors aren’t sleep specialists—they’re trained to treat diseases, not dive deep into your sleep patterns. And let’s be real, many of them are sleep-deprived themselves! Some doctors do notice the link between poor sleep and health issues and take the time to learn more about it.
Second, they usually focus on meds, which can help in some cases, but sleep problems often go deeper. Real solutions usually need changes in the seven realms: mind, body, spirit, emotions, lifestyle, social environment, and physical environment. Sleep is more than just taking a pill; it’s about finding balance across all areas of life, not just treating the symptoms.
Your psychologist might not have been able to help with your sleep problems for a couple of reasons. First, they’re focused on treating mental health issues, and are not specialized in sleep disorders. Sure, some do see the link between mental health and sleep, and then they can be a great help offering cognitive approaches. Analysts may be interested in your dreams, but it won’t work if you’re not sleeping enough to dream! Sometimes, psychiatrists will prescribe sleeping pills, but that might not be the real fix. If your external circumstances are keeping you up (e.g. children), no pill will change that.
And if the problem is an internal inability to sleep, meds often aren’t the answer either. Sleeping pills can create rebound insomnia—when you stop taking them, your insomnia comes back even worse. Plus, tolerance builds up fast, meaning the pills stop working, but people keep taking them out of habit. That can lead to dependency, and it’s a slippery slope. It’s better to avoid sleeping pills unless absolutely necessary because they can mess with your mood, slow your reaction time, and leave you feeling groggy the next day.
Sleep issues need a broader approach than just popping pills or analyzing dreams—you’ve got to tackle both the mind and lifestyle factors.