Tackling Anxiety and Sleep Issues in Children: A Psychologist’s Perspective

In this episode, Dr. Canapari and Arielle welcome their first guest, pediatric psychologist Dr. Danielle Garay from the Yale Pediatric Sleep Program to discuss the role of psychology in treating children's sleep difficulties, focusing on anxiety, nighttime fears, tantrums, and separation anxiety. 

Important Sections:

• [00:03:09] The role of a psychologist in the care of children with sleep difficulties
• [00:07:47] Discussion on temperament and its relevance to sleep difficulties
• [00:10:12] Advice for dealing with nighttime fears in children
• [00:17:56] Managing nighttime tantrums in toddlers and preschoolers
• [00:39:49] Explanation of separation anxiety and its manifestation at night
• [00:44:58] Understanding accommodations and their role in managing anxiety
• [00:52:55] Using reward structures and incentives for behavior change in children

Highlighted Quotes:

"It is such a powerful intervention to be able to help people with their sleep." - Dr. Danielle Garay

"Tantrum has such a negative connotation, and it's not like a child is choosing to have a tantrum, and I feel like sometimes parents see it as the child choosing to have that tantrum and cause chaos at bedtime. And it's really just not the case." - Arielle Greenleaf

"True boundaries should require the other person to do nothing. It's you setting the boundary for yourself." - Dr. Danielle Garay

"Small changes in parental behavior can lead to significant improvements in a child's sleep." – Dr. Craig Canapari

Links

• How to stop cosleeping including an evidence based plan for children with separation anxiety
• Huggy puppy treatment for night time fears
• How to help an anxious child sleep better
• Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents By Eli Lebowitz PhD
• Treating Childhood and Adolescent Anxiety: A Guide for Caregivers by Eli Lebowitz PhD and Haim Omer PhD
• Psychology Today - find a therapist, screening for your insurance type and specialty of provider
• https://www.spacetreatment.net/space-providers - Find SPACE treatment providers (excellent parent training for treating anxiety in children
• The Sleep Edit CIO episode
• Books on dealing with fears of the dark:
• Uncle Lightfoot Flip That Switch: Overcoming Fear of the Dark
• Orion and the Dark
• The Rabbit, the Dark and the Cookie Tin.

(Note that we use Amazon Affiliate links to support the podcast).

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