#045. Katie Holloran: How to get your kid to sleep

Since 2005 Katie Holloran has run her own business supporting families as a teacher, special education teacher, behavior analyst and sleep coach. Prior to starting her business, Katie graduated from Georgetown University and then earned her Masters in Special Education from George Washington University, both in Washington, DC.  While teaching and working with children with Autism and Developmental Delays in Public, Private, Charter schools as well as in-home therapy programs in the DC area, Katie completed the coursework and obtained her Board Certification in Behavior Analysis in 2010.

While she had worked with many children and helped many families since starting as a classroom teacher in 2000, having her first child in 2008 helped her to see first-hand how confusing and overwhelming information and advice from other mothers, friends, family, and the internet could be. The single most effective parenting step Katie took was to learn about the science of sleep, and how to utilize that knowledge to create a healthier and more supportive schedule for children. 

Since becoming a Certified Gentle Sleep Coach in 2012, Katie has combined her knowledge of sleep with her coaching practice.  Katie co-authored a book, The Good Night Sleep Tight Workbook for Children with Special Needs, with renowned sleep expert Kim West in 2019. Every child and family is different, but Katie’s passion is helping other families to understand the foundations of a supportive sleep environment, and then learning how to apply that to their own specific family dynamic. As a sleep coach with expertise in education and special education, Katie works with families with children with unique strengths and needs across the globe, many who have specific medical, psychological, cognitive, behavioral and developmental diagnoses. Katie’s sleep work centers on supporting children and their needs, working together with tired parents everywhere to create a more positive - and more restful - home life. 

Katie and her two kids, husband and rescue mutt Zoey live in the Capitol Hill area of Washington DC where they love exploring local attractions, nearby bike trails, participating in and watching all things baseball, swimming, and weekend backyard fire pit s’mores with neighbors.

Resources:
www.behavioristnextdoor.com
The Good Night, Sleep Tight Workbook for children with special needs (by Katie Holloran and Kim West)

Katie’s book recommendations:
Solving Sleep Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Terry Katz, Ph.D. & Beth Malow, M.D., M.S.

The Hate U Give,  Angie Thomas
The Book of Two Ways, and everything else written by Jodi Picoult