Media & speaking engagements
Media & Speaking Engagements
Dr Giselle Withers is available for media interviews, expert commentary, podcasts, workshops, and speaking engagements.
With over 20 years’ experience as a clinical psychologist with a special interest in sleep, insomnia, perimenopause, trauma, and mindfulness, Giselle draws on her extensive clinical expertise and postgraduate training to share insights on women’s health and wellbeing. She brings credible, insightful commentary that connects psychological science with real-world solutions.
Media interviews and podcasts
S.14 Ep.3 Treating sleep in menopause
Thriving in Menopause Podcast
Dr Giselle Withers recently joined the Thriving in Menopause podcast to discuss a topic she’s deeply passionate about — helping midlife women reclaim restful, restorative sleep.
In this insightful conversation, Dr Withers explains how hormonal changes, stress, and the competing pressures of midlife can create the perfect storm for poor sleep. She also shares how combining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) with mindfulness training can calm a racing mind, reduce sleep anxiety, and restore natural, healthy sleep patterns.
“Sleep is not a luxury — it’s a foundation for wellbeing.”
— Dr Giselle Withers
🎧 Listen to the full episode → Thriving in Menopause Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Sleep during menopause and midlife
In recognition of World Menopause Month this October 2025, A Mindful Way was proud to partner with the Sleep Health Foundation and Jean Hailes for Womens Health to present a free, expert-led webinar on sleep during menopause and midlife.
This practical session explored:
✅ Why sleep often changes during the menopause transition
✅ Common disruptors that impact rest and recovery
✅ Proven, evidence-based strategies for better sleep
✅ When to seek professional help
✅ A live Q&A with leading sleep specialists
Dr Giselle Withers joined three other experts in sleep and women’s health to share the latest evidence and insights on sleep during midlife.
Ep. 18 Mindfulness and Sleep
In this episode of the Sleep Talk podcast, Dr Giselle Withers joins hosts Dr Moira Junge and Dr David Cunnington to explore how mindfulness can support better sleep.
Giselle explains how mindfulness helps calm a racing mind, reduce sleep anxiety, and complement Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). She shares how mindfulness teaches people to accept wakefulness without judgement, let go of striving for sleep, and recognise early signs of stress and sleepiness — key steps toward restoring natural rest.
She also discusses the importance of structured, teacher-led mindfulness training and introduces her online six-week program, which combines mindfulness and CBT-I to help people overcome chronic insomnia and rebuild confidence in sleep.
🎧 Listen to the full episode → Sleep Talk: Ep 18 Mindfulness and Sleep
Viv Health Webinar - Guest Speaker on Sleep (2025)
Dr Giselle Withers featured in a webinar with Viv Health, a trusted platform providing expert health insights and practical guidance for women. In the session, she shared her expertise on sleep during perimenopause and menopause, covering the impact of hormonal changes, common sleep disruptions, and evidence-based strategies such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).
Book: Every Doctor
2023, CRC Press
Chapter 7: Sleeping well naturally day or night
Dr Giselle Withers was invited to contribute to the book Every Doctor (2nd Edition, 2023, CRC Press), co-authoring the chapter Sleeping Well Naturally Day or Night alongside Leanne Rowe, Vihangi Abeygunawardana, and Michael Kidd, highlighting insomnia, especially in doctors with demanding schedules, and the role of mindfulness and CBT-I, to enhance sleep, daytime functioning, and overall wellbeing.
The Medical Republic
Chronic insomnia: what to do when everything fails
Dr Giselle Withers was interviewed for this article in the Medical Republic on the treatment of insomnia.
Excerpt:
"... mindfulness is great approach for people who may not have responded well to CBT, and why adding mindfulness training to CBTi right from the beginning may help a wider range of people, and improve outcomes"
Professional Conferences
Dr Giselle Withers has presented at both the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and the Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) Conferences, sharing her expertise in sleep psychology, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). Her presentations focus on evidence-based strategies to improve sleep, the impact of sleep on mental health, and practical approaches for clinicians and researchers. Speaking at these leading professional conferences highlights her contribution to advancing knowledge and supporting best practice in the fields of psychology and sleep health.
Book Dr Giselle Withers as Your Next Speaker
Secure Dr Giselle Withers as a keynote or workshop speaker and provide your audience with practical, expert guidance on sleep and wellbeing
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Why Choose Giselle
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Depth of expertise – Giselle holds a Doctor of Psychology (Clinical, Child, Adolescent & Family Psychology) and is a Fellow of the College of Clinical Psychologists with the Australian Psychological Society.
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Sleep specialist credentials – She has spent decades focusing on sleep disorders including chronic insomnia, and offers evidence-based programs such as CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia) paired with mindfulness approaches.
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Accessible communicator – Giselle’s communication style balances scientific rigour with everyday language. Her aim: make the complexities of sleep, brain-body regulation and life transitions understandable and reassuring for a broad audience.
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Timely topics – From perimenopause and menopause sleep challenges to trauma, stress and the intersection of chronic health and sleep, Giselle brings knowledge and lived experience to the discussion.
Workshops & Presentations
Dr Giselle Withers brings a refreshing, science-meets-practical approach to wellbeing and health. Her interactive workshops blend clinical psychology, mindfulness practice and real-world tools to help people rest, recharge and reconnect. Perfect for retreats, wellness days or professional development, Giselle’s sessions invite participants to slow down, laugh, learn and leave with practical skills they can use right away — from calming a racing mind to sleeping more deeply. Each workshop is an inspiring mix of evidence-based insight, reflection and hands-on practice — the perfect balance of education and rejuvenation.
Workshop 1
Restoring Rest: Evidence-Based Approaches to Better Sleep
Ideal for: Health professionals, wellbeing retreats, corporate wellbeing days
A practical and experiential workshop exploring how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and mindfulness-based approaches can help people break the cycle of chronic insomnia without relying on medication. Participants learn how to recognise unhelpful sleep patterns, calm a racing mind, and apply clinically proven strategies for restoring natural, restorative sleep.
Key topics include:
- Understanding insomnia and the “sleep effort” trap
- The role of mindfulness in sleep re-training
- Re-establishing a healthy relationship with rest
Workshop 2
Sleep, Stress and Hormones: Navigating Midlife with Restful Awareness
Ideal for: Women’s health events, workplace wellness programs, retreats
This session unpacks the unique sleep challenges of perimenopause and menopause, from hormonal changes and night sweats to anxiety and disrupted sleep cycles. Combining science, psychology, and self-care, Dr Giselle Withers guides participants through mindful techniques and evidence-based strategies to support better sleep and emotional balance during midlife.
Key topics include:
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Hormones, hot flushes and sleep architecture
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How anxiety and stress impact midlife sleep
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Mind-body strategies for calm, rest and recovery
Workshop 3
Sleeping Well in a 24/7 World: Managing Stress, Technology and Modern Demands
Ideal for: Workplaces, media professionals, health and wellbeing conferences
A dynamic workshop exploring how modern life — from digital overload to shift work — disrupts our natural sleep rhythms. Giselle offers accessible, science-based insights into resetting healthy sleep patterns and managing the pressures of round-the-clock living.
Key topics include:
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The impact of digital habits and overstimulation on sleep
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Managing shift work and irregular schedules
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Communicating sleep science effectively to the public (for journalists, podcasters and creators)
