About Dr. Jonathan Kushnir

Clinical psychologist, HCPC registered (UK) — registration number PYL042430. Accredited by the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT). Specialist in cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for sleep disorders, bedwetting, and anxiety in children, teenagers and adults.

Background

I have over two decades of clinical experience treating children, adolescents and adults with sleep disorders, anxiety, and bedwetting. My doctoral and post-doctoral training focused specifically on the assessment and treatment of childhood sleep problems and anxiety disorders, with particular emphasis on how the two interact.

I have published extensively in international peer-reviewed journals on childhood enuresis, paediatric sleep, nighttime fears, and the relationship between sleep and anxiety. My clinical work has spanned private practice and anxiety clinics in public hospitals, and I have personally treated thousands of children and adults.

My approach to bedwetting

The bedwetting alarm is the most effective treatment for nocturnal enuresis — but only when used correctly and with the right support. Too many families buy an alarm, struggle through three or four difficult weeks, and conclude “the alarm doesn’t work for our child.” In almost every case, the alarm was working — the family simply wasn’t given the tools to recognise progress, troubleshoot the inevitable hard nights, or know when to adjust the protocol.

My role is to remove that uncertainty. Every family I work with receives:

• A thorough initial assessment covering sleep, bedwetting, bowel habits, daytime continence, family history, and any psychological factors
• A treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific pattern — not a generic protocol
• Continuous support throughout treatment — typically around five months on average — adjusted in frequency to where you are in the process, until dryness is fully consolidated
• Practical, calm guidance for the difficult moments at 3 a.m. when motivation is at its lowest

Why a fully online clinic?

Bedwetting and behavioural sleep treatment do not require physical examination by a psychologist. What they require is consistent, expert guidance from someone who has done this hundreds of times before. Online consultation removes geographical barriers — families anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland get the same level of specialist care that, until recently, was available only to those who happened to live near a paediatric sleep specialist. It also fits how families actually live: sessions can happen during a lunch break, after the school run, or once the children are in bed.

Selected research publications

I have authored or co-authored more than 25 peer-reviewed scientific articles. The following are particularly relevant to bedwetting and paediatric sleep:

• Kushnir et al. (2013). Night diapers use and sleep in children with Enuresis. Sleep Medicine, 14(10):1013–1016.
• Kushnir et al. (2013). Children treated for Nocturnal Enuresis: Characteristics and trends over a 15-year period. Child and Youth Care Forum, 42(2):119–129.
• Cohen-Zrubavel, Kushnir et al. (2011). Sleep and sleepiness in children with nocturnal enuresis. Sleep, 34(2):191–194.
• Kushnir & Kushnir (2011). Bed wetting. In Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for Children: Therapeutic Principles (book chapter).
• Goldberger-Raskin, Kushnir et al. (2018). The association between sleep disturbances of children with anxiety disorders and those of their mothers. Sleep Medicine, 43:77–82.
• Kushnir & Sadeh (2013). Correspondence between reported and actigraphic sleep measures in preschool children. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 9(11):1147–1151.
• Kushnir & Sadeh (2012). Nighttime fears in preschool children: assessment of two brief interventions. European Journal of Pediatrics, 171:67–75.
• Kushnir & Sadeh (2011). Sleep of preschool children with night-time fears. Sleep Medicine, 12:870–874.
• Kushnir et al. (2014). The link between Social Anxiety Disorder, treatment outcome and sleep difficulties among patients receiving CBGT. Sleep Medicine, 15(5):515–521.
• Kushnir & Sadeh (2010). Childhood fears, neurobehavioural functioning and behaviour problems in school age children. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 41(1):88–97.

View books written by Dr. Kushnir for parents and children →

Languages

Consultations are offered in English and Hebrew.