Hi, I’m Janice and here is a little about me and my company, Rest is Best: Wellness Through Sleep.
First and foremost, I am a mother of two amazing boys. They are my greatest blessing and also what I considered, at the time, to be the worst sleepers on the planet. It is because of them that my passion for promoting healthy sleep flourished. Nowadays, it isn’t hard for me to remember the level of exhaustion that I felt in those early years. I also remember all the well-intentioned advice, the failed “sleep training” attempts, feelings of jealousy towards parents of ‘good’ sleepers, and the frustration I felt. Unfortunately, when my children were babies, I wasn’t able to find the support that suited the needs of my family. I devoted myself to investigating the root cause of their sleep problems and finding creative solutions unique to them. I chose an integrated approach to their sleep, side stepping mainstream sleep training, even before realizing that I was being holistic. My holistic nature probably was a result of my background as an occupational therapist.
My Education
I am also a healthcare professional. I graduated from the University of Alberta in 2005 with a bachelors in occupational therapy (learn more about occupational therapy here) . I strive to maintain my competency and practice excellence. I have participated in many continuing education courses throughout my career, including but not limited to: solution focused interventions, cognitive behavioural approach, motivational interviewing, therapeutic process, sensory integration, and many focused on various topics related to mental health.
My passion for mental health has been evident in my career and has led me to work with children and adults with:
Dual diagnosis
Developmental disorders
Mental illness
Experiencing acute, difficult life experiences
I believe that without restful, restorative sleep we are unable to experience mental and physical health. Ultimately, this limits our ability to maximize our potential and be our best selves at home, work, and socially.
In 2017, I convocated from the University of Alberta with my Masters in Occupational Therapy. At that time, I decided to focus my practice on supporting healthy sleep and eventually completed my certification as a holistic sleep professional through the International Parenting and Health Institute (https://parentinghealthinstitute.com).My education enables me to provide sleep support for infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
My Philosophy
My approach to sleep is based on the core belief that sleep is a natural, inevitable bodily function. It is intertwined with a person’s social context, physical environment, health, wellness, lifestyle, habits, routines, and skills (e.g. their ability to regulate). When one of these components is lacking, or is present in excess, it strains the individual’s system and impedes optimal sleep.
Visualize each individual as an elastic band. Stress (e.g. poor diet or strained relationships) causes tension on the elastic; thus, hindering the band’s ability to return to homeostasis - the ideal balance for sleep. When we relieve stress (i.e. relieve tension on the band) by resolving issues, sleep is optimized.
My approach, based on the Holistic Science of Sleep Method (HSS Method TM), emphasizes the importance of investigating, evaluating, and addressing imbalances in optimal human functioning (i.e. physical, mental, and emotional) and external forces (i.e. social, environmental, and cultural) that inhibit sleep. This means that sleep concerns are addressed within the context of the whole person and not just from a behavioural perspective. Once the root cause is determined, we can collaboratively act to resolve the sources of ‘stress’ negatively impacting our ideal sleep. The founder of the HSS Method TM and author of “Awakening Through Sleep”, Mar De Carlo, refers to these actions as sleep optimizing strategies.
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