adminWhat’s wrong with sleeping tablets?
- Sleeping tablets may work in the short term but in the end can make sleep worse.
- There is a risk of addiction.
- Sleeping tablets become ineffective over time.
- Sleeping tablets don’t treat the underlying causes of sleep disorder.
How can a psychologist improve your sleep?
Sleep disorders are generally a psychological issue that require a range of cognitive and behavioural strategies.
A sleep audit (involving a review of your daily routine, activities, diet, exercise and general mental health) conducted by a psychologist will assist you in finding a diagnosis that will guide effective strategies.
Psychological interventions can improve sleep significantly by:
- Making you more aware of the do’s and don’ts of sleep.
- Helping you to develop a healthy sleep routine.
- Teaching you how to better handle the psychological factors that impact sleep, such as stress, including worry and rumination.
The Method
We use CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia) to treat sleep disorders. CBT-I is a structured evidence-based treatment that aims to modify behaviours and cognitions that are maladaptive and dysfunctional to good sleep. CBT-I uses a goal-orientated and systematic procedure comprised of behavioural, cognitive and educational components. The educational involves sleep information and education including sleep incompatible activities and sleep hygiene. The behavioural component includes stimulus control instructions and sleep efficiency training. The cognitive component includes managing unrealistic expectations about sleep, misconceptions about sleep, sleep-related worries and poor coping skills
CBT-I is typically administered over 4-8 weekly sessions with the aim of improving your ability to fall and stay asleep by simplifying the process.
Learn more about our Insomnia Therapy Service.