Featured Trainee - Yishan Xu

HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN BSM?

I grew up in China and never knew that sleep disorders exist. However, I have always been curious about sleep e.g., why we dream and why does my father snore so loudly?

When I first met with Dr. Fiona Barwick several years ago, I realized there are sleep centers that provide good assessment and treatment for sleep disorders. Since then, I have become a passionate follower of BSM.

WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?

For the big picture, I want to become a bridge between China and US in the field of psychology, introducing sleep science and cognitive behavioral sleep treatments to the Chinese community both locally and internationally. I also want to educate the general population as a preventive measure, encouraging everyone to learn how to establish and promote healthy sleep early and how to address sleep problems appropriately. I am excited to be part of this great development in the field.

WHO ARE YOUR BSM MENTORS?

I have worked and studied with Dr. Fiona Barwick at the Stanford Sleep Medicine Center over the past two years.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB?

I am doing my dream job now. I run my own group practice (Mind & Body Garden Psychology) in SF Bay Area, with a great team of clinicians. I continuously learn about sleep at the Stanford Sleep Medicine Center, especially with Dr. Barwick, and get inspired by her passion, wisdom, and openness. I run CBTi groups in both English and Mandarin to local clients (offline) and to patients who are in China (online), and I participate in related research projects in collaboration with doctors in China. I am also in the process of launching a podcast about sleep this year that I am calling “Deep into Sleep”, and I hope I can interview all of you who are in this field, to help the public know more about sleep. As my dream job continues to evolve, I hope I will always have opportunities to work in this wonderful and exciting field.