Sleep Disorders CEU Course for Texas Therapists

A 3-hour, on-demand behavioral sleep medicine training for Texas social workers, LPCs, LMFTs, and psychologists.

Learn how to recognize common sleep disorders, distinguish when sleep hygiene is—and is not—helpful, and use evidence-based behavioral interventions with clients experiencing insomnia, nightmares, circadian rhythm disorders, sleep apnea, and hypersomnia. This self-paced course provides 3 Texas continuing education hours and counts toward the BHEC 50% rule.

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Course Details

 

CE Credits

 

3 CEs for Texas SW, LPC, LMFT, and Psychologist

Complies with BHEC standards

Counts toward 50% rule

 

Format

 

On demand video/Self-paced

One year access

 

Cost

 

$75

Therapists Hear About Sleep Problems Every Day

Your clients mention:

  • difficulty falling asleep

  • nightmares

  • daytime exhaustion

  • frequent awakenings

  • poor sleep habits

But many therapists receive little or no formal training in sleep disorders.

As a result, sleep complaints often get reduced to basic sleep hygiene recommendations or referrals that may not address the underlying issue.

This introductory behavioral sleep medicine course helps therapists understand what may be happening when clients report difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, nightmares, excessive daytime sleepiness, irregular sleep schedules, or difficulty using CPAP. You’ll learn how to distinguish among common sleep disorders, identify interventions that fall within a therapist’s role, and recognize when medical evaluation or a sleep study may be appropriate.

Feedback from prior students

 

"I learned what questions to ask to assess for sleep disorders and to make competent suggestions for further testing."

— Social Worker

 

"The information broadened my understanding of sleep disorders versus mental health concerns."

— Social Worker

"I am well trained in sleep hygiene, but I enjoyed the extensive dive into other diagnoses. I learned much and appreciated the expertise of the presenter."

— Licensed Psychological Associate

 

"Probably my favorite training so far. I liked her style of teaching and it kept my attention."

— Social Worker

smiling woman with long brown hair in a purple top

About the instructor

Jessica Fink, LCSW-S (#50905) specializes in behavioral sleep medicine and has completed advanced training in CBT-I, CBT-N, CBT-H, circadian rhythm disorders, and PAP adherence. She has 19 years of experience as a social worker. She is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine. She gave this training to the Network of Behavioral Health Providers in Houston and the University of Houston School of Social Work before putting it in this on-demand format. Jessica’s expertise has been featured on podcasts and in publications.

Learn more about Jessica

Learning Objectives

  • Participants will examine the two-process model of sleep (Process S and Process C) to draw connections among ideas regarding how sleep drive and circadian rhythms impact a client's overall sleep architecture.

  • Participants will differentiate the clinical presentations of insomnia, nightmares, circadian rhythm disorders, sleep apnea, and hypersomnia to accurately identify specific sleep disorders and make appropriate treatment recommendations.

  • Participants will implement evidence-based behavioral interventions for the different sleep disorders discussed.

  • Participants will compare and contrast the clinical applications of objective sleep measurement tools, such as polysomnography and actigraphy, to determine when a sleep study is medically necessary versus when it is not.

Curriculum Outline

Biology of Sleep

  • Two-process model of sleep

    • Learn about the two biological processes that determine what sleep looks like

  • Sleep architecture

    • Learn about sleep stages and how we progress through them

Sleep Hygiene, Naps, Time Management, and Sleep Studies

  • Learn how sleep hygiene fits into the context of treating sleep disorders

  • Learn about good naps and bad naps

  • Learn how poor time management contributes to sleep loss.

  • Learn what a sleep study measures and when to refer for one

Behavioral Interventions for Common Sleep Disorders

  • Insomnia

    • Learn how insomnia develops, why it persists, and the behavioral principles behind CBT-I

  • Nightmares

    • Understand Nightmare Disorder and behavioral approaches that reduce nightmare frequency and distress

  • Circadian Rhythm + Disorders

    • Learn about the mechanism that governs when you fall asleep and when you wake up and how it gets dysregulated

  • Sleep Apnea

    • Recognize common symptoms, understand treatment options, and learn how therapists can support PAP adherence

  • Hypersomnia

    • Learn about Narcolepsy and Idiopathic Hypersomnia, two poorly understood disorders

Not Sure When a Sleep Study Is Necessary?

Download the free Therapist's Guide to Sleep Studies.

Download here

FAQs

 

  • No. This course includes some CBT-I interventions but is not a full CBT-I training.

  • Not at all. I provide more or less the same psychoeducation I provide to all of my sleep clients in the first module of this course. You’ll walk away with a solid understanding of the biology of sleep.

  • Yes. 3 CEUs are available for Texas social workers, LPCs, LMFTs, and psychologists. This course complies with BHEC guidance and counts toward the 50% rule as the instructor has the supervisor designation.

  • Yes. Many sleep disorders benefit from behavioral interventions that can be delivered by appropriately trained mental health professionals.

 
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Next

Therapist's Guide to Sleep Studies