[Recording] Recharge: The Health Benefits of Sleep

Presented on: Wednesday, January 28th 2026 at 7:00 PM EST

Understanding how and why we sleep is essential to maintaining both physical and mental well‑being. Drawing on insights from her McMaster Continuing Education courses, Understanding Sleep for Health and Wellness and Exploring Interventions for Sleep Issues and Disorders, Stephanie Kersta will explore the science of sleep, the wide‑ranging cognitive and emotional benefits of healthy rest, and the risks associated with chronic sleep deprivation. Don’t miss this important talk where you will learn practical, evidence‑based strategies for improving sleep hygiene and managing common challenges such as insomnia. Step into 2026 with the insights and skills to build sustainable, restorative sleep habits to improve your long‑term wellness.

About our speaker: Stephanie Kersta holds an Honors Bachelor of Science with a specialist in Psychology, and a Masters of Science in Psychology. Additionally, she holds a number of certifications, namely, a post-graduate certificate in Addictions and Mental Health Counselling and including advanced training in Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia, Attachment Therapy, and Psychometric Assessments. As a compliment to her strong clinical education, Stephanie has incorporated additional evidence-based holistic certificates to further round out her training, including certifications in four mindfulness and meditation clinical modalities. Stephanie holds teaching positions at multiple post-secondary institutions and she has a clinical psychotherapy practice where she primarily treats anxiety, depression, self-esteem and insomnia. She is also a trainer for ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) certifying individuals in these two important modalities.