Hi, I'm Angie Watts
The passionate founder of Sage Parenting Solutions, and mom to two remarkable teenagers.
My personal journey through motherhood, nurturing a spirited, sensory-sensitive child, has taken me on a path of exhaustion, frustration, and self-doubt. The heartache of not knowing how best to support and soothe my child was a true test of resilience. Through trial and error, coupled with sound guidance and patience, we persevered, learning and growing along the way. Now, my mission is to guide and uplift other parents, sharing the reassuring light at the end of the tunnel.
This desire to effect positive change in the lives of others led me to pursue my Gentle Sleep and Potty Coach certifications in 2023 under the mentorship of Kim West, baby and child sleep expert and author of ‘The Sleep Lady's Good Night Sleep Tight.’ I look forward to sharing my expertise and guiding your family toward more restful nights and easier days.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, you are in the right place. I’m here, ready to listen and explore how I can support you, holding the light at the end of the tunnel for you until you, too, can see it for yourself.
My Training
Gentle Sleep Coaching Program
The Gentle Sleep Coach (GSC) Program is the first and most extensive professional sleep coaching certification program available. The program involves over 80 hours of training with a faculty panel that includes medical doctors, a family therapist, pediatric occupational therapist, lactation counselor and postpartum doula. Each coach must pass an exam and participate in case mentorship with Kim West, LCSW-C (a.k.a. “the Sleep Lady”) who has been helping tired families for over 25 years. Clinical mentorship and ongoing advanced training are required to maintain certification as a Gentle Sleep Coach.
Some of the training topics include:
- Basic counseling and child development
- Sleep science and behavioral modification techniques
- Secure attachment theory
- Support for the breastfeeding mother
The training also consisted of lectures from top specialists, including:
- Postpartum Depression, led by Dr Shoshana Bennett, author and leading specialist on Postpartum Depression
- Medical Conditions and Sleep Apnea in Children, led by Dr Lewis Kass, Director of Children’s Sleep Center
- GERD and Sleep, led by Dr. Anthony Loizides, pediatric gastroenterologist
- Sensory Processing, led by Lindsey Biel, OTR/L
0-5 Month Program
The GSC Program also includes an exclusive advanced training specifically focused on how to gently work with babies 0-5 months of age
Some of the curriculum training topics include:
- In-depth knowledge of the importance of attachment and infant mental health.
- The sleep science behind the first six months of life.
- What special considerations need to be taken when working with and supporting families during this delicate period.
- Specialized instruction on how to evaluate families in the first six months.
- Guidance on how to assess when the baby is ready for sleep coaching based on current research and evidence-based strategies.
- Review of gentle sleep solutions and strategies that are developmentally appropriate, breastfeeding and attachment friendly and promote a solid foundation for sleep learning and long-term healthy sleep patterns.
This specialty training is designed to give Gentle Sleep Coaches the knowledge, education and all the tools and resources they need to successfully work with families of newborns through 5 months of age in a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate manner.
Gentle Potty Coaching Program
The Gentle Potty Coaching Program was created by Kim West, LCSW-C (a.k.a “The Sleep Lady”) to provide parents with a realistic, respectful and effective method that’s evidence-based and aligns with their positive parenting style.
Under the mentorship of Kim, I completed comprehensive training and coursework that included:
- Basic Methodology in Modern Potty Learning Philosophies and Child Development
- The Gentle Potty Coaching Method
- How To Identify and Troubleshoot Common Toilet Learning Problems
- The Real Reason Behind Toilet Learning Problems
- Parent Coaching Skills
- Tools to Navigate Power Struggles
- How to Adapt Our Method to a Child’s Unique Temperament
- Determining Parent and Child Readiness
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Effect on Potty Learning
- Sensory Strategies for Potty Learning with Lindsey Biel, OTR/L
- Constipation, Bedwetting and Potty Learning with Dr. Howard Bennett
Clinical mentorship and ongoing advanced training are required to maintain certification as a Gentle Potty Coach.
