Why Sleep Could Save Your Life: FBI Psychologist Dr. Leah Kaylor on Sleep, Trauma & High-Pressure Environments

Sleepless No More: Trauma, Recovery, and the Science of Sleep with Dr. Leah Kaylor
In this eye-opening episode, Marcus and Melanie welcome Dr. Leah Kaylor—a distinguished clinical psychologist whose expertise spans forensic mental health, trauma recovery, and the intricate world of sleep science. With a career built on helping those affected by trauma, Dr. Kaylor brings unique insights into how sleep disturbances intersect with mental health challenges and recovery. Here's what you can expect from our conversation:
· Foundational Expertise:
o Dr. Kaylor earned her Master’s in Forensic Mental Health Counseling at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she conducted forensic assessments for the Brooklyn Supreme Court.
o She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Saint Louis University, specializing in trauma-informed assessments and evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy and Imagery Rehearsal Therapy for survivors of sexual trauma.
· Forensic and Crisis Intervention:
o Dr. Kaylor has administered forensic assessments and competency restorations for the Shelby County Justice System, demonstrating her ability to bridge the gap between clinical psychology and legal requirements.
· Scholarly Contributions & Thought Leadership:
o With 5 book chapters and over 15 peer-reviewed journal articles to her name, she has significantly contributed to research on trauma, stress responses, sleep disorders, and mental health interventions.
o A respected speaker on national and international stages, Dr. Kaylor discusses topics ranging from the human stress response and EMDR to practical techniques for addressing sleep disturbances in trauma-impacted populations.
· Deep Dive into Sleep Science:
o During her residency at the Memphis VA Medical Center, Dr. Kaylor honed her sleep-related expertise by working in the sleep clinic. Here, she helped active duty members and veterans overcome sleep disturbances by addressing issues such as sleep hygiene, nightmares, insomnia, and CPAP adherence.
o In our discussion, she reveals how proper sleep management plays a critical role in trauma recovery and overall mental health, sharing actionable strategies to improve sleep quality and resilience in high-stress environments.
Join us as Dr. Kaylor unpacks the powerful connection between sleep and trauma recovery, offering a blend of clinical insights, practical sleep hygiene tips, and strategies to manage nightmares and insomnia. Whether you're a mental health professional, a veteran, or someone struggling with sleep issues, this episode is packed with knowledge to help you reclaim restful nights and resilient days.
Tune in now for a transformative discussion on how quality sleep can pave the way for healing and recovery!

In this episode you will hear:
• My dad sells drugs and my mom’s in prison. My dad is a pharmaceutical drug representative, and my mom is a dental hygienist in a maximum security all-male prion. (5:42)
• Sexually violent predators are people who have committed some type of sex crime. They have been deemed to have some type of mental illness or defect, and there’s a belief that they will commit another sex crime. (15:59)
• Whenever we sleep – if you’re a normal, average healthy sleeper, you should go through various sleep cycles. You should be cycling through light sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep and you’re gonna be cycling through these several times a night. (23:18)
• REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, is most famous for having dreams. (23:44)
• Folks who have problems sleeping – there are so many things you can to help yourself. (38:12)
• Going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning. This is key. (39:4)
• We are inducing our own jet lag when we go from 6am Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, then go down to 9am on Saturday and Sunday. The brain gets very confused. (43:11)
• I have been a psychologist for the FBI for 5 years now, and that entire time I will be helping people with trauma. I’m certified with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and brain spotting. I love those, but I also help people with sleep. (45:10)
• In my work, folks experience things and see things that we should not be asking normal human beings to see. (47:04)
• [Marcus] When you’re doing your job and you’re runnin’ and gunnin’ - no matter what it is - and it tarts creeping into your dreams, that means your database is full. (50:25)
• Taking time to reflect either alone or with someone you trust: How is this impacting me? What’s happening? (51:36)
• I have a book coming out on sleep coming out on sleep. It’s called The Sleep Advantage. (56:02)
• If you’re really getting good sleep, it can impact your decision-making, and your reaction time. It can make you the best of the best; it can impact your performance. (57:01)

Socials:
-- https://www.drleahkaylor.com/
-- https://www.facebook.com/drleahkaylor

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