Sleep is My Waking Passion
Hosted by Dr. Alison Kole—a triple-boarded pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine physician, reformed chronic insomniac, devoted mom, and unapologetic sleep health creator—this hit podcast takes you on the real, unfiltered journey inside the science and soul of sleep. Each week, with wisdom forged from the trenches of night shifts and the chaos of motherhood, Alison sits down with top-tier experts and ordinary people with extraordinary sleep stories, unraveling how sleep shapes happiness, health, and destiny. If you want the 360° truth—the wins, the setbacks, the breakthroughs—about why every hour of sleep could be the most important hour of your life, this is the show that will change how you see your pillow forever. Sleep isn’t just her passion—it’s the key to waking up to your potential. Hit subscribe and transform your nights, days, and dreams.
Sleep is My Waking Passion
Yes, Nightmares Are Treatable featuring Dr. Courtney Worley, PhD.
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Nightmares aren’t just “bad dreams”—and you don’t have to live with them.
In this episode, Dr. Alison Kole sits down with behavioral sleep medicine expert Dr. Courtney Worley to break down what actually defines a nightmare disorder, why nightmares happen (far beyond trauma), and—most importantly—how to treat them.
They dive into the gold-standard, evidence-based therapy you’ve probably never been offered (imagery rehearsal therapy), how your brain can be retrained to stop recurring nightmares, and when it’s time to seek professional help. If you—or your patients—are struggling with persistent nightmares, this episode is a must-listen.
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Nightmares are common. Nightmare disorder is not—and it’s highly treatable.
In this episode of Sleep Is My Waking Passion, I sat down with Dr. Courtney Worley, a clinical psychologist and behavioral sleep medicine specialist, to unpack one of the most overlooked sleep conditions: nightmares.
Here are 3 key takeaways:
- Nightmares are a transdiagnostic symptom: They’re not just about trauma. Nightmares can show up in insomnia, narcolepsy, depression, anxiety, medication effects, and more—making proper evaluation essential.
- There is a first-line, evidence-based treatment: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) helps patients “rewrite” their nightmares using neuroplasticity—and it works in as little as 4–6 sessions.
- Not all “nightmares” are the same: Distinguishing between REM nightmares, non-REM parasomnias, and conditions like obstructive sleep apnea can completely change management.
Most patients never report nightmares—and many clinicians don’t ask.
That needs to change.
Listen to the full episode to learn how to recognize, treat, and rethink nightmares in your patients (and yourself).
