Symposia
Sleep / Wake Disorders
Nicole B. Gumport, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Stanford University
Stanford, California
Caitlin Gasperetti, M.A.
Doctoral Candidate
University of California at Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Garret Zieve, M.A.
Graduate Student
University of California, Berkeley
Oakland, California
Allison G. Harvey, Ph.D.
Professor
University of California, Berkeley
BERKELEY, California
This study investigated mental health care clinicians’ training in treating sleep problems. We examined (1) clinicians’ prior training in providing treatment for sleep problems, (2) clinicians’ interest in receiving training in treatment for sleep problems, and (3) clinicians’ perceptions of the importance of treating sleep problems and interest in incorporating sleep treatments into their practices. An online survey was completed by 137 clinicians to assess the study aims. The majority of clinicians (61.31%) reported receiving prior training in treating sleep problems, most commonly in the form of a workshop and after completion of a graduate degree. Most clinicians reported interest in receiving further training in treating sleep problems with 69.92% and 69.71% interested in learning about elements of sleep interventions or a manualized sleep treatment, respectively. The most commonly cited reason to learn more about sleep treatment was to better address comorbidity with mental health problems. Clinicians reported that the majority (66.67%) of their clients experience sleep problems, yet reported that they address sleep with less than half of clients. Addressing sleep in treatment was rated as “somewhat” to “very” important and most clinicians indicated further interest in receiving training in treating sleep. Mental health care clinicians receive limited training in treating sleep problems. As clinicians are interested in gaining further training to address sleep concerns within their clinical practice, training programs across disciplines and continuing education programs should consider increasing the amount of programming and training in sleep treatment and assessment.