SPECIAL NEEDS SLEEP COUNSELING
with Melanie Champagne
West Coast Sleep is proud to offer a tailored sleep training program for children with Special Needs.
This 6 week comprehensive and compassionate program is designed with a focus on toddlers and young children (2.5 years+) with special needs who are living with diverse diagnosis. These diagnosis may include: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Anxiety Disorder, or other developmental or neurological conditions. First and foremost, we understand that sleep challenges can be uniquely complex for children with special needs, so this program offers a personalized and flexible approach to help families reclaim rest.
The initial primary focus of this program will be to slowly implement changes in the bedtime routine before implementing the full sleep training plan that has a focus of independent sleeping skills. Our slow approach in this program allows a strong focus of empowering your little one to feel safe and secure in their bedtime routine, while introducing independent sleep skills. This allows children to drift off feeling confident, calm, and relaxed.
I am a certified Special Needs Sleep Consultant through the Institute of Pediatric Sleep and Parenting, as well as a Registered Social worker with a background in pediatric nursing. Through my professional experience, I have had the pleasure of supporting children, youth and families who are navigating mental health and special needs diagnosis. I have seen time and time again the importance of sleep and how this closely relates to individual mental health and wellness and the overall health and wellness of families.
The benefits of our program not only include improved sleep quality and duration of sleep, but together we will establish an environment for success, create a calming bedtime routine that reduces bedtime anxiety/fears, strengthen cohesiveness of the family unit and help your child to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when leading and participating in a successful routine.
*As a Registered Social Worker specializing in pediatric sleep and postpartum mental health, my services may be covered under your extended benefits package. Be sure to check with your provider to see if you have RSW coverage!
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6 weeks of tailored support led by a Registered Social Worker who has a background in pediatric nursing specific to the special need’s population.
An extensive intake form to help us learn about you, your little one and any existing sleep or health challenges.
2 45-minute consultations to explain your sleep plain in detail. This is where we insert the sleep education, discuss the sleep plan and realistic expectations as well as give you the tips, tricks, and tools to implementing healthy sleep habits. The first consultation is to outline the attainable steps and stages in slowly moving towards independent sleep skills by removing sleeping crutches and creating a calming bedtime routine. The second consultation will take place to implement sleep training methods.
A detailed sleep plan that is unique to your child’s needs. This sleep plan includes attainable steps to removing lingering sleep associations, routines, age appropriate scheduling, strategies and methods to dealing with bedtime behavioral challenges, night wakings, early morning wake ups, poor naps and any other issues your family may be experiencing. This plan will be re-evaluated as we go depending on how your child is responding.
A customized social story that will change throughout the program to help your child understand and adapt to small, manageable changes in their bedtime routine
Daily sleep log monitoring.
6 phone calls and unlimited email support (during working hours).
Resources and education to support your continued journey.