Behavioral Sleep Medicine Speaker & Clinical Expert
Making complex sleep disorders understandable, practical, and immediately useful
Want to give your audience more than just a fleeting "aha!" moment? I provide engaging, down-to-earth presentations that equip attendees with practical, evidence-based tools for improving sleep and daytime functioning. From professional workshops to podcast conversations, I specialize in making complex sleep topics accessible, relatable, and immediately useful. Whether discussing insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, nightmares, hypersomnia conditions, or PAP adherence, my goal is to leave audiences with a clearer understanding of sleep and a path forward.
Sleep Expert Featured In
Topics I Can Discuss
Available for keynotes, clinical trainings, podcast interviews, and expert media commentary. I can tailor these topics for both clinical professionals and general audiences.
-
Getting good sleep is about much more than following sleep hygiene tips. I break down the science of sleep and explain evidence-based behavioral treatments for insomnia, helping audiences understand why sleep problems persist and what actually works to improve them.
Key Talking Points: CBT-I, sleep drive and circadian rhythms, common insomnia myths, why trying harder to sleep often backfires, and practical strategies for improving sleep.
-
Excessive daytime sleepiness is often misunderstood and frequently dismissed as laziness, depression, or poor sleep habits. I help audiences understand hypersomnolence disorders and the unique challenges faced by people living with narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.
Key Talking Points: Narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, recognizing excessive daytime sleepiness, common misconceptions, quality-of-life impacts, and behavioral strategies that complement medical treatment.
-
Nightmares are more than bad dreams—they can become a chronic sleep disorder that affects emotional well-being, daytime functioning, and overall quality of life. I discuss how nightmares develop, why they persist, and the behavioral treatments that can help.
Key Talking Points: Nightmare disorder, trauma-related sleep disturbances, imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), the relationship between nightmares and mental health, and evidence-based treatment options.
-
Sometimes the problem isn't sleep itself—it's timing. Circadian rhythm disorders can make it difficult to fall asleep, wake up, or function during socially expected hours, even when someone is doing everything "right."
Key Talking Points: Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, advanced sleep-wake phase disorder, shift work, social jet lag, circadian biology, and behavioral approaches to treatment.
-
Sleep advice is everywhere, but much of it is oversimplified, misleading, or outright incorrect. I help audiences separate evidence-based sleep science from popular trends and viral wellness claims.
Key Talking Points: Sleepmaxxing, sleep hygiene myths, the 8-hour sleep rule, wearable sleep trackers, viral sleep hacks, and how to evaluate sleep information critically.
-
While many therapies focus on dysregulation, I shine a light on the hidden struggles of being "too put together." I help audiences understand the overcontrolled coping style and how to find freedom from rigid behaviors.
Key Talking Points: Perfectionism, rule-governed behavior, chronic depression, loneliness, and repairing therapeutic alliance ruptures with overcontrolled clients.
-
Physical pain takes an undeniable toll on mental health. I discuss the complex intersection of chronic pain and psychology, offering practical, evidence-based coping strategies for those living with chronic, invisible illnesses.
Key Talking Points: The psychological impact of chronic pain, moving from suffering to functioning, and building a meaningful life alongside physical limitations.
Behavioral Treatment for Sleep Disorders
Here is a recording of a presentation I gave to the Network of Behavioral Health Providers in Houston, TX.
Short on time? Skip to [57:08] to hear my "cat analogy" and why trying too hard to fall asleep is actually keeping you awake. Or Skip to [2:52:30] to watch me handle live audience Q&A, covering exercise, eating before bed, and the 8-hour sleep myth.
Media Appearances
Instagram Live with Michelle Risser. Skip to 3:08 unless you’d like to watch 3 minutes of me not understanding how Instagram Live works. I figured it out eventually, haha.
Article Quotes
12 Easy Ways to Outsmart Jetlag for Good - Reader’s Digest
CBT-I May Help Reframe Insomnia as a Treatment Target in Psychiatric Care - Physician’s Weekly
Why Do I Wake Up Tired After 8 Hours of Sleep? - BetterSleep
Becoming Pain-Free: Jessica Fink LCSW on How to Alleviate Chronic Pain - Authority Magazine
Sleep Deprivation and Obesity - Is There A Link? - Glamour
Solving Insomnia: Jessica Fink On 5 Proven Strategies to Help You Sleep Through the Night - Authority Magazine
What is Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR)? - Everyday Health
Is Sleeping In a Good Idea? You’d Better Watch Those Extra Winks - Celebrity Parents
Is Napping Good For You? - Tom’s Guide
Sleepmaxxing Explained - Next Avenue
Can’t Sleep? TikTok Says This Weird Sleep Position Works Like A Charm - Bustle
The Surprising Sleep Hacks Sleep Specialists Swear By - Forbes
Why do Older People Sleep So Much - Or Do They? Aging Sleep Changes Explained - Care.com
13 Weird Ways Your Body Tells You That You Need More Sleep - Parade
Want Better Sleep and More Self-Awareness? Try This 5-minute Habit - VeryWellMind
TV Appearances
Flood Recovery Should Include Your Mental Health - KENS5
Podcasts
Comments from Past Attendees
“I got WAY more than I expected out of your presentation. Thank you for showing up SO authentically and for breaking down the ideas so well.”
“The instructor was engaging. I really liked that she didn’t just read the slides.”
“I especially enjoyed the way you organized the information and provided helpful anecdotes to drive home the concepts.”
“Speaker managed to make it engaging even though she basically talked alone for 2.75 hours.”
Grab and Go Bios
-
Jessica Fink is an Austin-based Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor (LCSW-S) and Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist. She specializes in insomnia, nightmares, idiopathic hypersomnia, narcolepsy, circadian rhythm disorders, PAP adherence challenges, chronic pain, and overcontrol.
-
Jessica Fink, LCSW-S, is a Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Austin, Texas. She specializes in evidence-based behavioral treatments for insomnia, nightmares, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and PAP/CPAP adherence challenges.
Known for making complex topics accessible and engaging, Jessica combines clinical expertise with practical, real-world strategies that audiences can apply immediately. In addition to her work in sleep medicine, she has specialized training in chronic pain and overcontrol.
Jessica has been featured in national media outlets including Forbes, Glamour, Bustle, Parade, Verywell Mind, and Tom's Guide. Her fully virtual practice serves adults throughout Texas.
-
Jessica Fink, LCSW-S, is a Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist, speaker, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Austin, Texas. She specializes in evidence-based behavioral treatments for insomnia, nightmares, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and PAP/CPAP adherence challenges. Jessica also has specialized training in chronic pain and overcontrol.
Throughout her career, Jessica became increasingly interested in the role sleep plays in mental and physical health. What began as a focus on insomnia evolved into advanced training in behavioral sleep medicine and the treatment of a wide range of sleep disorders. Today, she helps individuals better understand the factors affecting their sleep and develop practical, science-backed strategies for improvement.
Known for making complex topics accessible and engaging, Jessica combines clinical expertise with a clear, down-to-earth communication style. Whether speaking to healthcare professionals, podcast audiences, community organizations, or the media, she translates research into practical tools people can understand and apply immediately.
Jessica has received specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares (CBT-N), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hypersomnia (CBT-H). She is a member of both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine (SBSM) and remains actively engaged in continuing education and professional consultation to stay current with emerging research and best practices.
Her expertise has been featured in national media outlets including Forbes, Glamour, Parade, Bustle, Verywell Mind, Tom's Guide, and KENS 5. She also provides continuing education presentations and professional trainings on sleep disorders, overcontrol, and chronic pain.
Jessica earned her Master of Social Work degree from Texas State University and provides telehealth services to adults throughout Texas. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys travel, musical theater, 90s alternative rock, and finding opportunities to incorporate pop culture references into learning and education.
Suggested Interview Questions
Sleep Disorders
Why can't some people sleep even when they're exhausted?
What is CBT-I and why is it considered the gold standard treatment for insomnia?
What's the difference between insomnia and a circadian rhythm disorder?
What is sleepmaxxing and which trends are actually evidence-based?
Hypersomnia
What's the difference between being tired and having hypersomnia?
Why are narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia often misunderstood?
Can behavioral treatment help hypersomnia if the disorder is neurological?
Nightmares
Why do nightmares persist long after trauma?
What treatments actually work for chronic nightmares?
Presentations Given
-
2/26/26
University of Houston School of Social Work
3 hours
2/10/26
Network of Behavioral Health Providers - Houston
3 hours
-
3 hours
2/6/26
Austin Group Psychotherapy Society
-
1.5 hours
2/2/26
Georgetown Counseling Center
-
2 parts at 1 hour each
Part 1
7/30/24 and 10/28/25
Part 2
9/4/24 and 12/02/25
Dell Medical School
-
1.5 hours
5/16/26
Overcoming Miles Counseling
5/22/2025
Austin Family Counseling
8/16/24
Autonomy Therapy
-
2 hours
7/26/24
Travis County
-
1.5 hours
11/17/23
Autonomy Therapy
1/26/23
University of Texas Counseling Center
-
1 hour
9/19/23
Dell Medical School