Sleep Talk®
Gentle words. Positive connection.
Support that reaches beyond the conscious mind.
SleepTalk® for Children, Parents & Dementia
Sometimes the people we love are carrying worries, fears, uncertainty or emotions they simply cannot put into words.
And sometimes, talking about the problem isn’t what they need.
SleepTalk® offers a gentle and positive way of communicating supportive messages at a time when the conscious mind is quiet and relaxed.
I am a qualified SleepTalk® for Children & Adults Consultant and SleepTalk® for Dementia Consultant, and I guide individuals, parents, families and carers through this beautiful process in a way that feels simple, supportive and safe.
You have everything you need inside of you. Sometimes we simply need another way to reach it.
ORLA McKEOWN
Bunny Talk™ Practitioner & Trainer, Sleep Talk® Consultant, Clinical Hynotherapist, NLP Practitioner & Wellness Coach
What is SleepTalk®?
SleepTalk® is a gentle process using carefully structured, positive suggestions to communicate with the subconscious mind during sleep. The original Goulding SleepTalk® process was developed by Jim and Joane Goulding and has been used by families for decades.
For children, one of the things I love most about the process is the role it gives to the parent.
Rather than your child having to explain everything they are feeling, repeatedly talk about a worry, or even be consciously involved in a therapeutic conversation, you become part of the process.
I teach and support you to use SleepTalk® with your own child at home. It takes only a short time and can become a calm, loving part of your normal bedtime routine. There is nothing for your child to learn, remember or perform. Just familiar words, a familiar voice and positive messages offered consistently and with love.
SleepTalk® for Children
Helping your child feel loved, safe, confident and secure
Children don’t always have the words to explain what is happening inside them. You might notice it instead.
- The tummy ache before school.
- The sudden tears at bedtime.
- The child who worries about everything.
- The confident little person who suddenly starts doubting themselves.
- The frustration that comes out as anger.
- The child who desperately wants to join in, but fear seems to get there first.
SleepTalk® gives parents a gentle way to support their child’s emotional wellbeing without putting pressure on the child to explain or analyse how they feel.
The process focuses on consistently reinforcing positive messages of love, security, confidence and self-belief.
Parents may explore SleepTalk® when their child is experiencing:
• Worries, fears or anxiety
• Low confidence or self-esteem
• Separation anxiety
• Difficulty settling or sleeping
• Nightmares
• Bedwetting
• Nail biting or other habits
• School-related worries or school refusal
• Difficulty with concentration or study
• Sibling difficulties
• Behavioural or emotional challenges
• Changes within the family
• A need for greater emotional resilience
• Neurodivergence and associated emotional challenges
• Difficulty believing in themselves
SleepTalk® isn’t about changing who your child is.
It is about supporting the child who is already there.
Helping them feel secure in themselves. Reinforcing the knowledge that they are loved. Encouraging confidence and inner strength, one gentle bedtime at a time.
SleepTalk® for Parents
Nurturing your child’s confidence, happiness & emotional wellbeing while they sleep
Imagine being able to support your child’s confidence, self-belief and emotional wellbeing through the simple power of your own loving words.
As parents, we want our children to feel safe, happy, confident and secure in themselves. Yet sometimes, despite all the love and reassurance we give them, they can struggle with worries, fears, low self-esteem or big emotions they don’t quite know how to express.
SleepTalk® for Parents is a gentle, positive parenting programme designed to help nurture your child’s emotional wellbeing through the power of positive suggestion.
Using a simple, structured process while your child sleeps, you can help reinforce feelings of safety, love, confidence and self-worth, creating a positive foundation for emotional growth.
There is no need for your child to talk about their worries, revisit difficult experiences or even be aware of the process. Instead, you become an active part of supporting their emotional wellbeing in the comfort and security of their own home.
How Can SleepTalk® Support Your Child?
SleepTalk® is designed to encourage:
- Greater confidence and self-belief
- A stronger sense of emotional security
- Positive self-esteem and self-worth
- Resilience when facing everyday challenges
- A calmer, more positive outlook
- A deeper sense of connection and reassurance
Empowering You as a Parent
One of the most beautiful aspects of SleepTalk® is that it places a gentle, supportive tool directly into your hands.
You don’t need to have all the answers or know exactly what’s troubling your child. With guidance and a simple nightly routine, you can offer consistent, positive reassurance that supports their developing sense of self.
Small moments of connection can help nurture lasting feelings of love, safety and belonging.
Let’s Explore SleepTalk® Together
If you’re looking for a gentle, nurturing way to support your child’s confidence and emotional wellbeing, I’d love to introduce you to SleepTalk® and explore how it could fit into your family life.
Get in touch to learn more about SleepTalk® for Parents.
SleepTalk® for Dementia
Connection can still matter when words and memories become difficult
When someone you love is living with dementia, communication can begin to feel very different.
For families and carers, this can be emotional territory.
You may find yourself wondering what your loved one understands, what they remember, or how best to offer comfort and reassurance when ordinary conversation becomes more difficult.
As a qualified SleepTalk® for Dementia Consultant, I can guide families and carers through the specific SleepTalk® approach for dementia with compassion, dignity and respect for the individual.
The intention is not to challenge, correct or test the person.
It is to create an opportunity for gentle, positive and reassuring communication.
For me, this work is centred on the person first.
- Their dignity.
- Their emotional safety.
- Their need for reassurance.
- And the relationship that still exists between them and the people who love and care for them.
If you are caring for someone living with dementia and would like to understand whether SleepTalk® may be appropriate for your circumstances, please get in touch with me privately.
There is no pressure to decide anything immediately. We can simply talk.
Important note
SleepTalk® and the services offered by Orla McKeown Wellness are complementary wellbeing approaches and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, psychological care or treatment. If you, your child or the person you care for has a medical condition, significant mental health concern, dementia diagnosis or is receiving treatment from a healthcare professional, appropriate medical guidance should continue to be followed. Individual experiences and outcomes vary and no particular result can be guaranteed.
Clients, parents, guardians and carers will be provided with appropriate information about the nature of the service before proceeding. Consent may be withdrawn at any time. Where Orla believes that another healthcare or specialist professional is more appropriate, this will be discussed openly and sensitively.
SleepTalk® FAQs
Is SleepTalk® hypnosis?
SleepTalk® is its own structured process and should not simply be described as a hypnotherapy session. It uses positive suggestion while the person is sleeping. I am also a qualified hypnotherapist, so I can explain the differences and discuss which approach may be most appropriate for you or your family.
Does my child need to have a particular problem?
No. SleepTalk® isn’t only about responding to difficulties. The original process has a strong focus on developing emotional resilience, self-esteem, confidence and inner strength.
How long does it take each evening?
For the traditional children’s process, the SleepTalk® routine itself takes approximately two minutes each evening once the parent has learned the method.
Can SleepTalk® support an anxious child?
Anxiety, fear, confidence and emotional resilience are among the areas for which parents commonly explore SleepTalk®. Every child is different, so I will always look at your child’s individual circumstances rather than promise a particular outcome.
Can it be used with neurodivergent children?
Families may explore SleepTalk® as a gentle complementary approach for children with a range of needs. A child’s individual circumstances, existing professional support and overall wellbeing should always be considered.
Is SleepTalk® only for children?
No. I am qualified in SleepTalk® for Children & Adults, as well as SleepTalk® for Dementia. Contact me and we can discuss which service you are interested in.
What if my loved one has dementia?
Please contact me directly. Dementia requires particular care and sensitivity, and I will explain the SleepTalk® for Dementia approach and discuss whether it is appropriate for your loved one’s individual circumstances. SleepTalk® does not replace medical assessment, dementia care or treatment.
Will it definitely work?
No therapeutic or wellbeing approach can ethically guarantee an individual result. Everyone is different. Consistency and correct use of the SleepTalk® process are important, and I will guide you in how to use it correctly.