About this course
Problematic sleep is a common challenge for current and former emergency service members, particularly those who have experienced trauma or have PTSD. Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia and recurring nightmares, can cause significant distress, worsen mental health conditions, and impair daily functioning. Research highlights that sleep problems should be treated as a primary concern, as traditional trauma-focused interventions often fail to resolve them.
This course provides practitioners with the knowledge and skills to conduct best-practice assessment and intervention for problematic sleep in emergency service workers. Participants will explore the biological mechanisms of sleep, common sleep disorders, their relationship to PTSD, and the use of evidence-based treatment approaches tailored to this population.
Course content
By completing this course, practitioners will be able to:
- Explain the nature of sleep and common sleep disturbances.
- Identify the impact of trauma and PTSD on sleep.
- Implement evidence-based strategies for assessing sleep problems in clinical practice.
- Develop case formulations that guide treatment planning for sleep-related issues.
- Apply evidence-based interventions to manage sleep disturbances in individuals with PTSD.
Who should do this course?
Our courses are free for eligible mental health clinicians working with clients from emergency service agencies. If your clients include personnel from the following organisations, you may be eligible to enrol:
- Victoria Police
- Fire Rescue Victoria
- Ambulance Victoria
- Victoria Triple Zero
- State Emergency Service
- Forest Firefighters Victoria
- Country Fire Authority
- Other (please specify)
If you are currently treating an emergency service worker from the agencies represented in Responder Assist, a coupon code will be provided for free access to the course. Clinicians with an interest outside the scope of Responder Assist are invited to contact Phoenix Australia through this link to discuss access options.
