Sleep difficulties are common and can take many forms, including trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, waking too early, or feeling unrefreshed despite adequate time in bed. Sleep problems may develop in response to stress, illness, trauma, pain, hormonal changes, or major life events, and they can become persistent even after the original trigger has passed. Over time, disrupted sleep can have a significant impact on both physical health and emotional wellbeing.

Living with ongoing sleep issues can be deeply frustrating and exhausting. Poor sleep often affects concentration, mood, memory, and motivation, and can increase feelings of anxiety, irritability, or low mood. Many people find themselves caught in a cycle of worry about sleep itself, which can further interfere with rest. Over time, this can affect work, relationships, confidence, and a sense of balance in daily life.

Therapy can provide a supportive space to explore the emotional, psychological, and behavioural factors that can contribute to sleep difficulties. Whilst it does not focus solely on sleep itself, it can help address underlying stress, anxiety, trauma, or patterns of thinking that  can interfere with our natural sleep cycles. Through therapy, individuals can develop greater awareness of how their thoughts, emotions, and life circumstances may affect sleep, and learn ways to reduce unhelpful cycles of tension and worry.

Working therapeutically with sleep issues is not about quick fixes, but about understanding the broader context in which sleep occurs. Therapy can help people feel more supported, restore a sense of safety and calm, and gradually improve their relationship with sleep.