Meet Joanna Clark

We recently connected with Joanna Clark and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joanna, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

After years of fertility struggles, I was finally blessed with the gift of motherhood. But that joy quickly turned into frustration as I faced an unexpected challenge—helping my daughter sleep. She wanted to nurse all night, her naps were short and inconsistent, and my husband felt helpless trying to soothe her with bottles. We were exhausted, overwhelmed, and filled with self-doubt. I remember feeling like I was failing, especially when I compared my daughter to “other babies” who seemed to sleep so easily.

That’s when I knew I needed expert help. I sought out guidance, and what followed was nothing short of a Sleep Transformation. My daughter began sleeping peacefully, my husband could help, and suddenly, we had our lives back. It wasn’t just the sleep that changed—it was everything. Our family dynamic shifted, and the sense of hopelessness was replaced by peace and connection.

That experience sparked something deep within me. I knew it was my mission to help other families who were stuck in that same cycle of exhaustion, confusion, and frustration. I didn’t want other parents to feel as lost as I had felt. So, I became one of the first 50 certified baby sleep coaches in the U.S. Thirteen years later, I’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of families achieve easy bedtimes, peaceful nights, and confident parenting.

Building my practice wasn’t easy. Thirteen years ago, hiring a Pediatric Sleep Consultant was almost unheard of. I had to navigate a world where parents were terrified of sleep training because of outdated “cry-it-out” methods. I worked hard to educate families and professionals—pediatricians, doulas, lactation consultants—about the benefits of Gentle Sleep Coaching®, which is grounded in science and focused on protecting the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of both parent and child.

The challenge was convincing families that there was a better way. For so long, parents felt paralyzed by fear and guilt, living in a sleep-deprived haze that affected their health, relationships, and ability to enjoy time with their child. But I was determined to show them that sleep coaching didn’t have to be traumatic. It could be gentle, compassionate, and most importantly, effective.

My greatest purpose is to help parents reclaim their lives and their family vision—one peaceful night at a time. Through perseverance, continuous learning, and a deep passion for helping families, I’ve built a practice that is dedicated to empowering parents to approach sleep with confidence and compassion. There’s no need to suffer through sleepless nights or resort to harsh methods. I’m here to offer an alternative that works, and I am so grateful to have found my purpose in supporting families through this journey.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

As a tenured Trained and Certified Gentle Sleep Coach and Pediatric Sleep Expert, I help sleep-deprived families achieve what might seem impossible in the moment—easy bedtimes, peaceful nights, reliable naps, and a harmonious household, all without the need for the “cry-it-out” approach. What’s exciting and truly unique about what I do is that I offer Guilt-Free & Gentle Sleep Coaching Solutions for children ages 6 months to 6 years, rooted in proven, evidence-based methods that respect each child’s individuality. My mission is to guide families step-by-step through the process of teaching their child the “skills of sleep” in a tender, child-led way.

What truly distinguishes me is my proven, science-backed approach and my ability to act as a “Sleep Detective.” After 13 years of coaching experience and ongoing training, I pay close attention to every detail in a child’s life, as well as the family’s values, goals, and emotional needs. By creating customized, detailed plans and working step-by-step and day-by-day with the parents, I ensure that every family reaches their sleep goals and feels supported, confident, and connected with their child through the whole process. I’m not just helping parents solve sleep struggles—I’m enhancing the well-being of the whole family, and helping parents know their child more deeply. This, is turn, helps parents’ built confidence in their ability to lead with love and consistency.
Over the past 13 years, I’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of families experience this transformation. I’m honored to be recognized as one of the top 200 coaches in the U.S. and to be a 3-time International Amazon Best-Selling Contributing Author. But above all, what excites me most is empowering parents to reclaim their lives, free from guilt, and filled with the peace and joy that comes with well-rested, confident parenting.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey, I would say the three most impactful qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that shaped my path are: in-depth knowledge of sleep science and child development, a compassionate, child-led approach, and expertise in parent coaching and support. These areas have been crucial in my ability to help families find peace and rest.
In-depth Knowledge of Sleep Science and Child Development
Understanding the intricacies of sleep science has been fundamental to my work. This includes knowledge of circadian rhythms, sleep cycles, and how developmental milestones affect a child’s sleep. When I first encountered sleep struggles with my own daughter, I quickly realized that sleep wasn’t just a skill she could learn on her own—there’s science behind it. Through rigorous training and continuous education, I’ve learned how factors like nutrition, developmental stages, and behavioral changes impact sleep. This allows me to create personalized, evidence-based sleep plans for each family I work with. If you’re early in your journey, my advice is to invest time in understanding the science of sleep and child development. This knowledge will be your foundation, enabling you to offer effective and individualized solutions.
Compassionate and Child-Led Approach
Empathy is everything in this field. Families come to me feeling exhausted, stressed, and overwhelmed. It’s not just about fixing sleep, it’s about respecting the unique needs of each child while being sensitive to the challenges parents face. I’ve always believed in a child-led approach, grounded in attachment theory, where we nurture trust and emotional security alongside sleep skills. My advice to anyone starting out would be to develop your emotional intelligence and patience. A compassionate, empathetic mindset will help you connect with families and support them through what can be a very emotional process. Your ability to listen and respond to each family’s specific needs will set you apart.
Expertise in Parent Coaching and Support
It’s not just about coaching the baby—it’s about guiding the parents too. Strong communication skills and the ability to educate parents are essential. Many parents I work with feel lost and overwhelmed, and part of my role is to create a “judgment-free- zone” so we can talk honestly and openly about how their child’s sleep has impacted their personal, professional lives and overall health and vitality. I can then create a plan to not only solve the sleep struggles, but regain all the areas of their life that were hindered by sleep deprivation. The result is a family who “got their life back” and they feel empowered and confident. I learned this firsthand when I was sleep-deprived and needed help with my daughter. Kim West’s gentle coaching techniques not only transformed my family’s sleep but gave me the tools to empower other parents. To those early in their journey, I would say focus on developing your ability to coach and support parents. Learn how to provide clear, actionable guidance while also offering the emotional support they need to feel confident in the process.
My journey would not have been possible without the guidance of Kim West, whose Gentle Sleep Coach® certification program equipped me with the tools I needed. I am proud to be part of a global network of pediatricians, doulas, and lactation specialists who are dedicated to supporting families. For anyone starting out, I encourage you to seek out comprehensive training and become part of a supportive community that values gentle, science-based approaches. It’s a journey of continuous learning, and it’s so rewarding to be able to help families achieve restful nights and harmonious homes.

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client often fits into one of two profiles, like Kate and Melissa.
Kate is typically a first-time mother in her 30s, with a child between 5 months and 6 years of age. She’s a professional, college-educated woman in a dual-income household, and her main challenge is her child’s poor sleep habits—taking forever to fall asleep, waking frequently at night, and napping unpredictably. Kate is utterly exhausted, overwhelmed, and feels like she’s failing as a mom because she can’t “figure out” her baby’s sleep. She’s read all the books, consulted friends and family, yet nothing has worked, and she fears sleep training will be too harsh on her baby. Kate is usually skeptical of reaching out for help but hits a breaking point where she knows something has to change for her well-being and her family’s.
Melissa, on the other hand, is a mom of two or more children. Her first child was an easy sleeper, and she once felt immune to sleep struggles. But her second or third baby is entirely different. Now, she feels like she’s failed and is filled with guilt, shame, and anxiety as she struggles to find energy for her older child. Melissa’s frustration often stems from feeling like she’s lost her patience and emotional bandwidth.
Both Kate and Melissa are looking for a gentle, guilt-free approach that avoids traditional “cry-it-out” methods. They are deeply invested in finding a solution that not only helps their child but also restores balance and harmony in their household. That’s where I come in with a compassionate, science-based process that guides them step-by-step towards better sleep for their child and peace of mind for themselves.

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Christina Wert

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