Alisha Denham, LCSW

Alisha Denham, LCSW is a Sleep Medicine physician practicing at her clinic in Pensacola, FL. As a partner in preventive health featured on weprevent.org, she is dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive Sleep Medicine care. Registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practicing under Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice), she is committed to helping you understand and manage your sleep health needs. Your general Sleep Medicine physician is your primary partner in preventing long-term health complications from sleep disorders, creating personalized long-term health plans, coordinating necessary screenings, and managing your overall wellness through collaboration with pulmonologists, neurologists, and otolaryngologists. She serves all ages and is committed to a collaborative, evidence-based approach to care, creating a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their long-term health. Please call (850) 436-4630 to confirm if she is currently accepting new patients. I am licensed in Florida with 6 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, lgbt-related issues, depression, & coping with life changes. I believe that you are the expert of your story and that you have many strengths that will assist you in overcoming things that challenge you. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! Dr. Alisha LCSW provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Alisha LCSW is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Alisha LCSW can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Alisha LCSW provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Essential Tremor: Protecting your sleep health involves recognizing potential risks like essential tremor; early intervention strategies can help alleviate symptoms and promote better, more restorative sleep.
• Acute Mental Disorders: Protecting your mental well-being is key to preventing sleep disturbances; seeking help for acute mental health issues can improve both your mental and sleep health.
• Disorders Related to Physical and Sexual Abuse: Trauma from abuse can lead to chronic sleep disturbances like nightmares and insomnia, highlighting the importance of seeking professional help to manage these issues and improve overall well-being.
• Depersonalization Disorder: Addressing depersonalization disorder, a condition causing feelings of detachment, is important for safeguarding your mental and physical health, as untreated depersonalization can negatively affect sleep and overall well-being.
• Wheezing: Wheezing sounds during sleep can indicate a problem that needs attention to avoid impacting your sleep quality and overall health; preventive care ensures early diagnosis and effective management.
• Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Syndrome: Managing Non-24, a sleep disorder affecting your internal clock, is vital for preventing serious consequences like mood swings and difficulty functioning throughout your daily life.
• Spinal Demyelination: Spinal demyelination, a damaging process affecting the protective coating of your spinal nerves, can be detected early through regular checkups, helping prevent severe long-term neurological problems.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Alisha LCSW offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Mindfulness Technique Therapy: Start your journey to better sleep with mindfulness therapy, which helps you develop relaxation techniques to improve sleep quality and address potential sleep disturbances.
• Balance Testing: As part of your comprehensive sleep health evaluation, balance testing helps rule out balance-related issues that could affect the quality and continuity of your sleep.
• Smoking Cessation Counseling: Invest in your well-being with smoking cessation counseling; quitting smoking can significantly improve your sleep and overall health.
• Nerve Conduction Studies: To prevent long-term sleep problems, nerve conduction studies provide valuable insights into the function of your nerves, helping pinpoint underlying causes of sleep disturbances.
• Pulmonary Function Test: This simple test measures your lung's capacity and airflow, allowing us to identify any underlying lung issues that might disrupt your sleep and contribute to sleep apnea.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you understand and overcome the underlying causes of insomnia, leading to better sleep and improved overall health.
• Ambulatory EEG With Video Monitoring: Take a proactive step towards better sleep by undergoing ambulatory EEG with video monitoring, a test that helps identify and diagnose sleep disorders like seizures or abnormal brain activity during sleep, preventing potential long-term health risks.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Sleep Medicine in Florida.

Dr. Alisha LCSW is dedicated to partnering with Caregivers to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Patient's life:

• Recognizing potential risks for essential tremor, a patient proactively implemented lifestyle changes guided by a sleep medicine specialist, thus reducing the likelihood of future sleep disruptions. This proactive approach fostered peace of mind and empowered the patient to maintain a healthy sleep routine.
• By proactively addressing potential mental health concerns, a patient developed a personalized plan that reduced the risk of future acute mental health issues, promoting overall well-being and peace of mind.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. She will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Sleep Medicine care with Dr. Alisha LCSW:

What is a Sleep Medicine specialist?

A sleep medicine specialist is a board-certified doctor who has specialized training in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders. Often with backgrounds in pulmonology, neurology, or otolaryngology, they bring a unique perspective to finding the root cause of your sleep problems.

What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and why is it a health risk?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep due to a blocked airway. Untreated OSA is a major risk factor for high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Treatment is a critical step in preventing these serious long-term complications.

What happens during a sleep study (polysomnogram)?

A sleep study, or polysomnogram, is a non-invasive overnight test that monitors your brain waves, heart rate, breathing, and body movements. It provides a comprehensive picture of your sleep patterns, serving as the gold standard for diagnosing sleep disorders and creating a personalized prevention plan.

What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological condition where the brain struggles to regulate sleep-wake cycles, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and sometimes cataplexy. While there's no cure, a sleep specialist can create a management plan using medication and lifestyle adjustments to help prevent symptoms from impacting daily life.

What is the connection between depression/anxiety and sleep?

Depression and anxiety can significantly impact sleep, and conversely, poor sleep can worsen symptoms of these conditions. Our practice recognizes this strong bidirectional link and provides comprehensive care, addressing both the sleep disorder and the mood disorder simultaneously to interrupt the negative cycle.

How does an Otolaryngologist (ENT) help with sleep problems?

An ENT, or otolaryngologist, is a surgeon specializing in the ear, nose, and throat. They can identify and surgically correct physical blockages, such as a deviated septum or enlarged tonsils, that contribute to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. This may offer a permanent solution to these sleep problems.

Can lifestyle changes like weight loss help sleep apnea?

Yes, significantly. Excess weight can narrow the airway, and for many patients, even a moderate amount of weight loss can dramatically reduce or even eliminate sleep apnea, preventing the need for other therapies.

My partner says I act out my dreams. Should I be concerned?

We understand your concern about acting out your dreams. This could be a sign of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), which sometimes precedes other neurological conditions. A consultation with Dr. Alisha LCSW is important to assess the situation and explore available treatments to manage symptoms and ensure your safety during sleep.

2315 W Jackson St
Pensacola FL 32505
Phone: (850) 436-4630

Alisha Denham, LCSW is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1730608142

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Sleep Medicine like Dr. Alisha LCSW are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your sleep medicine about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.