Stop Sending Sleep Problems to Doctors (When You Could Fix Them Instead)
Here's something that's been bugging me for months...
I was chatting with my client Sarah last week. She's been struggling with her 3 PM energy crash for ages. We've dialed in her nutrition, her workouts are solid, but she keeps hitting this wall every afternoon.
"Maybe I should see a sleep specialist?" she suggested.
And I almost said yes. Almost.
But then I caught myself. Why was I so quick to pass the buck when I probably spend more time with Sarah than her doctor ever will?
The Sleep Doctor Shortage Nobody's Talking About
Here's what really gets me fired up: We're sitting on a massive sleep crisis, but we keep funneling everyone toward the same overloaded specialists.
Dr. Chris Winter (yeah, the guy who works with pro athletes) actually said something that blew my mind. He thinks trainers and health coaches might be better positioned to help with sleep issues than doctors are.
Coming from a sleep specialist? That's... wow.
And honestly? It makes total sense when you think about it.
Your doctor sees you for what, 15 minutes every six months? Meanwhile, you're working with clients week after week, building trust, understanding their lifestyle, their triggers, their excuses (we all have 'em).
Why We're Already Halfway There
Look, I get it. The imposter syndrome hits HARD when someone starts talking about their insomnia. Your brain immediately goes to "refer out, refer out, this is medical stuff."
But here's the thing - most sleep issues aren't actually medical problems. They're habit problems.
That person chugging coffee at 4 PM? They don't need a sleep study. They need someone to help them figure out why they're reaching for that coffee and what they can do instead.
The client who scrolls TikTok until midnight? Also not a medical emergency. They need behavior change support.
And guess what we're actually pretty damn good at? Behavior change.
Think about what you already do:
- You help people identify their why (motivation, anyone?)
- You're basically a professional listener
- You guide people through habit transformations all the time
- You know how to meet people where they are
That's like... 80% of effective sleep coaching right there.
The Scope Thing (Because I Know You're Worried About It)
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room. "But Maya, what if it's sleep apnea? What if there's something seriously wrong?"
Fair point. But think about it this way - you already navigate scope of practice with nutrition and fitness, right?
You don't diagnose eating disorders, but you can help someone develop a healthier relationship with food.
You don't treat injuries, but you can help someone build strength and mobility.
Same deal with sleep. You're not running sleep studies or adjusting CPAP machines. But when the doctor tells someone to "practice better sleep hygiene"... well, who do you think is better equipped to actually help them DO that?
The Real Game Changer
Here's something that took me way too long to figure out: Sleep isn't separate from health and fitness. It's the foundation of literally everything else we're trying to help people with.
I've watched clients struggle for months with weight loss goals, only to see everything click once they started sleeping better. Energy levels, mood, cravings, recovery - it all improves.
Professional sports teams get this. That's why they're hiring sleep specialists. But somehow in the regular world, we're still treating sleep like this mysterious thing that only doctors can touch.
It's kinda ridiculous when you think about it.
What This Actually Looks Like
So what would sleep coaching actually look like in practice?
Well, remember Sarah and her 3 PM crash? Instead of sending her to a specialist, we dug into her sleep patterns. Turns out she was getting decent hours but terrible quality - scrolling her phone in bed, irregular sleep times on weekends, that afternoon coffee habit.
We didn't need to diagnose anything. We just needed to experiment with some changes:
- Phone charges outside the bedroom now
- Consistent wake time (yes, even on weekends - sorry not sorry)
- Swapped that afternoon coffee for a 10-minute walk
Three weeks later? No more crash. Better workouts. Actually losing the weight she'd been chasing for months.
That's not medical treatment. That's good coaching applied to sleep.
The Confidence Problem
I'll be honest - I used to dodge sleep conversations because I felt like I didn't know enough. Like there was some secret sleep knowledge I was missing.
But the more I learned, the more I realized that most sleep improvement comes down to the same principles we use everywhere else: small changes, consistent application, troubleshooting when things don't work.
The technical stuff? Yeah, there's some of that. But it's learnable. And frankly, understanding circadian rhythms isn't harder than understanding macronutrients or training periodization.
Where the Real Magic Happens
You know what's actually magical about adding sleep coaching to your toolkit? It makes everything else you do more effective.
That client who can't stick to their workout routine? Better sleep = better willpower and energy.
The one who stress eats every evening? Improved sleep quality = better stress management.
Someone struggling with motivation? Quality sleep literally affects the brain regions responsible for decision-making and impulse control.
It's like... why wouldn't we want to get good at this?
The Uncomfortable Truth
Okay, real talk for a second. The healthcare system isn't going to solve the sleep crisis. There literally aren't enough specialists, and honestly? A lot of sleep issues don't require medical intervention anyway.
They require the kind of sustained, supportive behavior change work that we're already doing.
But we keep acting like we're not qualified. Like we need permission.
Meanwhile, people are suffering with preventable sleep issues because they can't get in to see a specialist for three months, or because their doctor's only solution is "sleep better" (thanks, super helpful).
Making the Shift
So here's my challenge for you: Next time a client mentions sleep struggles, don't immediately think "refer out."
Start asking questions:
- When do you usually go to bed?
- What's your evening routine like?
- How's your stress level been?
- Tell me about your caffeine habits...
You might be surprised by what you uncover. And even more surprised by how much you can actually help.
Look, I'm not saying you should start calling yourself a sleep doctor. But sleep coach? Yeah, with the right foundation, you could absolutely rock that.
The Bottom Line
We're already in the business of helping people feel better, move better, live better. Sleep is just... part of that puzzle.
And honestly? We might be better at the actual implementation piece than the medical system is. We have the time, the relationship, the behavior change skills.
We just need to stop talking ourselves out of it.
So what do you think? Ready to stop sending all the sleep problems elsewhere and start seeing what you can actually accomplish?
Because I've got a feeling you might surprise yourself.
What's your experience with clients and sleep issues? Have you ever felt like you could help but weren't sure if you should? Drop a comment - I'm genuinely curious about what's holding us back from embracing this part of our practice.
