Kristina Decker, PhD

During my training as a pediatric psychologist, I focused on sleep, eating and chronic stressors, which can significantly impact the lives of children and teens. In my practice, I value family-centered and patient-centered care by collaborating with families to understand their strengths, challenges and goals. It’s essential that children, teens and families feel understood, respected and supported during our work together.

I love partnering with families to support their goals and well-being related to a variety of health concerns, including:

• Insomnia and circadian rhythm disturbances
• Hypersomnia (excessive sleep or sleepiness)
• Management of sleep-disordered breathing treatments
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Parasomnias (disorders occurring while sleeping, like nightmares or sleep terrors)

We work to achieve treatment goals using evidence-based practices and nonmedical tools that are sensitive and tailored to each family’s unique values and beliefs.

Through my research, I’m interested in understanding and addressing the personal, social and structural factors that impact sleep health, access to care for sleep problems, and sleep-related treatment outcomes. I partner with my medical and psychology colleagues to better understand patients with complex sleep and circadian rhythm disorders and to evaluate and improve our treatments for these patients.

In my free time, I love exploring Cincinnati parks, visiting the zoo, and going to concerts and theatre performances.