The FBI's Sleep Expert

Dr. Leah Kaylor is a licensed clinical and prescribing psychologist, trauma specialist, and sleep expert dedicated to improving the mental health and resilience of first responders and law enforcement professionals. With extensive experience in forensic psychology, trauma treatment, and sleep science, Dr. Kaylor has devoted her career to helping those who serve and protect manage the unique psychological burdens of their work. She earned her Master’s degree in Forensic Mental Health Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Saint Louis University, where she trained extensively in psychological assessment and trauma-focused therapy. She earned a Post-doctoral Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is a prescribing psychologist, allowing her to integrate both therapy and medication management into her clinical approach. Dr. Kaylor completed her residency at the Memphis VA Medical Center, where she worked in the sleep clinic, helping veterans and active-duty personnel with insomnia, nightmares, CPAP adherence, and sleep hygiene. During her time in Memphis, she provided psychological debriefings, crisis response, and psychoeducation to firefighters, law enforcement, and EMTs, offering critical mental health support in the wake of traumatic incidents. Currently, Dr. Kaylor is a full-time clinical psychologist for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), where she provides trauma therapy and psychological debriefings to agents and professional staff exposed to high-stress, high-risk situations, including officer-involved shootings, exposure to graphic crime scenes, and handling child sexual abuse materials. Dr. Kaylor is certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Brainspotting—two leading treatments for processing traumatic events. She has aided in numerous psychological debriefings for some of the most impactful events in the FBI community’s recent history. Dr. Kaylor is widely recognized as the FBI’s expert on sleep and its critical role in performance, cognitive function, and overall well-being. With extensive experience in sleep science and behavioral health, she specializes in providing sleep coaching designed to optimize rest and recovery for individuals operating in high-stress environments. Her approach includes tailored, individualized sleep plans that address unique challenges such as shift work, irregular schedules, and the cumulative effects of sleep deprivation, incorporating evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT). Dr. Kaylor works closely with law enforcement personnel, first responders, and other professionals in demanding roles to develop evidence-based strategies that enhance sleep quality, resilience, and overall mental and physical health. In addition to her one-on-one optimization services, Dr. Kaylor is a sought-after speaker who delivers large-scale presentations and training sessions on the science of sleep, fatigue management, and performance optimization. She has provided expert-led workshops, keynote addresses, and interactive training for federal agencies, law enforcement organizations, professional groups across the country and international military partners. Her engaging presentations translate complex sleep research into actionable strategies, empowering individuals and teams to improve their sleep habits and, in turn, enhance their decision-making, situational awareness, and long-term health. Beyond speaking, she also serves as a consultant on fatigue management initiatives and first responder wellness apps designed to improve health through better sleep. Dr. Kaylor has written five book chapters and over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles. She frequently contributes to mainstream media discussions on sleep, bridging the gap between scientific research and everyday life. Her expertise has been featured in leading publications such as TIME, Forbes, Vogue, Men’s Fitness, NBC, Newsweek, Yahoo News, and more. Through these platforms, she educates the public on the critical role of sleep in health, performance, and making complicated sleep science understandable through practical, accessible insights for a broad audience. Dr. Kaylor has held adjunct teaching appointments at Saint Louis University, Waynesburg University, Montclair State University, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and The Chicago School, where she educates students of all levels on psychological, psychopharmacological, and forensic topics. Her expertise in sleep, trauma, and resilience has made her a sought-after speaker both nationally and internationally, educator, and clinician for first responders, law enforcement, and intelligence professionals who need practical, science-backed strategies to improve mental health, sleep quality, and long-term resilience in high-stress careers.