Overview

Over the past 2 years, the APS and the Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) have worked together to provide insomnia and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi) education to over 2,000 Australian psychologists. This webinar forms part of a series  informed by feedback from psychologists on additional sleep education needs and specific areas of interest.

This webinar will focus on the prevalence, presentation, diagnosis, and management of insomnia in typically developing children. Children can present with a diverse range of sleep difficulties and underlying causes. This webinar will explore the assessment, diagnosis and differential diagnoses specific to childhood insomnia, effective behavioural treatment approaches, and adaptations to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia in children to include family/caregivers and contextual settings.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those who are new to the topic.

Duration of access

This webinar will be recorded. Access to the recording and presenter slides is for 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Related activities

Insomnia management in clients with comorbid mental health symptoms

Insomnia management in clients with comorbid sleep apnoea

Insomnia management in clients with neurodevelopmental disorders

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this webinar, participants should be able to:

• describe the prevalence and impact of insomnia symptoms in children.

• navigate the assessment, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis of insomnia in children.

• outline the benefits of treating insomnia symptoms in children.

Presenter(s)

Sarah Blunden, Caroline Donovan

About the presenter(s)

Professor Sarah Blunden (MAPS, BAPsych (Hons), MSocSc, MClinPsy, PhD) holds adjunct roles at Central Queensland and Monash Universities in Australia has a dual role as Head of Paediatric Sleep Research and Professor of Clinical Psychology at Central Queensland University, and is a clinical psychologist in her private clinic specialising in the treatment of children’s sleep problems and related mental health issues. Sarah is the Founder/Director of the Paediatric Sleep and Psychology Clinic, Director of SensibleSleep and Sleep Education Centre in Australia (www.sensiblesleep.com.au). She is a member of the Education Committee, Behavioural Sleep Medicine subcommittee and Indigenous Sleep Health Special Interest group of the Australasian Sleep Association and on the board of the International Pediatric Sleep Association. With over 130 peer reviewed publications and 120 conference presentations, and has developed a Practice Certificate in this method for psychologists interested in sleep therapy for children (https://sensiblesleep.com/course/blunden-responsive-gemss-method/). Her research passions include the impact of poor sleep on development and wellbeing across the life span, sleep education, Indigenous sleep and health, and sleep interventions for young children.

Professor Caroline Donovan is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor within the School of Applied Psychology and the Centre for Mental Health at Griffith University. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Queensland in 2005, has full registration as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and is a member of the Australasian Sleep Association. She has received over $10 million worth of funding throughout her career and has published 14 book chapters and 109 peer reviewed journal articles. She as presented at numerous national and international conferences, is an Associate Editor of Anxiety, Stress and Coping, and is currently on the Editorial Boards of Child Psychiatry and Human Development and Australian Psychologist. She has supervised 19 PhD students, 10 DPsych students, 16 MPsych students and 32 Honours students through to completion. She also has a small private practice that she runs through the Griffith University Psychology Clinic. Her research philosophy centres around a strong belief in early intervention and its ability to change the otherwise problematic trajectories of youth with mental health disorders. Her interests lie in youth anxiety, depression, sleep and body image issues, with a strong emphasis on digital mental health interventions to increase reach and access to evidence-based psychological interventions for young people.