Mar 5, 2020
In this podcast, Michelle Mullaley, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, discusses sleep issues, psychology, child psychology, and the techniques and tools she utilizes to help people at her clinic.
Podcast Points:
Dr. Mullaley is a seasoned
clinical psychology expert. She specializes in child and family
psychology. She earned her doctorate at Catholic University in
Washington, DC.
Dr. Mullaley discusses her background and current focus. As an
active researcher, Dr. Mullaley does a lot of testing in addition
to her regular schedule of therapy.
Dr. Mullaley talks in detail
about sleep problems, specifically sleep deprivation that kids and
teens struggle with. As she states, falling asleep can be difficult
for some, especially in kids who have ADHD. She provides a wealth
of information on circadian rhythms and how they can shift through
our lives.
As a result of this shifting, some teens tend to feel very awake
even late at night, but when they have to get up early to get to
school, their bodies feel sleep deprived because they are craving
that full nine hours of relaxing sleep but aren’t getting
it.
Dr. Mullaley discusses cases she
deals with, in regard to sleep problems and issues. The clinical
psychologist discusses multiple techniques and treatments—including
cognitive challenging, which is a cognitive behavior technique used
to bring on calming and relief from anxiety.
Continuing, Dr. Mullaley discusses breathing, yoga, various imagery
techniques, and even some apps that can help kids, and adults, to
relax and calm themselves, which can assist with falling asleep,
and getting better sleep. Expanding her discussion on sleep issues,
Dr. Mullaley talks about melatonin and how it can play a role in
sleep and why we have different issues as we get older.
Wrapping up, she talks about the impact of technology, and how
smartphones are one thing we should detach ourselves from when we
want to fall asleep, and get quality sleep.