GSC Training Summary

GSC Training Summary

The Gentle Sleep Coach Program is the first and most extensive professional sleep coach training and certification program available to teach gentle sleep strategies. The program involves over 80 hours of training with a faculty panel that includes 2 medical doctors, a psychologist, an attorney, lactation counselor, postpartum doulas and a family therapist. Each coach must pass an exam and participate in case supervision with Kim West, LCSW-C (a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”) who has been helping tired parents for over 20 years. I completed my GSC training in May 2020. Clinical supervision and ongoing advanced training are required to maintain certification as a Gentle Sleep Coach.

 

Some of my training topics included:

Basic counseling and child development.

Sleep science and behavioral modification techniques to help parents of children age 0 to 6 years old.

Secure attachment theory.

Support for the breastfeeding mother.

The training also consisted of lectures from top specialists, including:

Postpartum Depression from Dr. Shoshana Bennett, author and leading specialist on Postpartum Depression.

Medical Conditions and Sleep Apnea in Children led by Dr. Lewis Kass, Director of Children’s Sleep Center.

GERD and Sleep led by Dr. Anthony Loizides, pediatric gastroenterologist.

Kim West is a pioneer in the field of sleep coaching for babies and children, is a family therapist and the author of the book ‘The Sleep Lady’s Good Night, Sleep Tight’, which offers a gentle approach to get children to sleep without crying it out.

Several years ago, when Kim West started her sleep coaching certification program, she decided she wouldn’t do it unless it was the best and the most comprehensive, all-inclusive training and certification program in the world. Since that day Kim has continued to expand and grow the program so that it remains the most comprehensive in the world.
And that's why I chose this program.

0-5 Month Old Training Summary

The GSC Program also includes an exclusive advanced training specifically focused on how to gently work with babies 0-5 months of age using the Baby-Led Sleep Shaping and Coaching.

 

This gentle approach aids families to first shape their baby's sleep and then when appropriate (and according to their baby's unique temperament) offer alternatives to the "cry it out" method for newborns, based on an infant's developmental readiness to self soothe.

Some of the curriculum training topics include:

How feeding, attachment, soothing, and temperament all factor into your infant's sleep

The key developmental milestones from birth through five months and how to encourage sleep at every stage

Safe co-sleeping guidelines

Guidance on how to assess when the baby is ready for sleep coaching based on current research and evidence-based strategies.

This specialty training is designed to give Gentle Sleep Coaches the knowledge, education and all the tools and resources they need to successfully work with families of newborns through 5 months of age in a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate manner.