Insomnia / Nightmares

Insomnia is a sleep disorder where a person has difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to get back to sleep.  Experiencing waking up unrested, having daytime fatigue, as well as mood disturbances, cognitive difficulties, and sleep onset anxiety. 

Insomnia can be classified into two types:

• Acute insomnia: Short-term, often triggered by stress or a specific event.
• Chronic insomnia: Occurs at least three times per week for three months or long

• Issues with concentration, memory, and decision making. Brain fog, difficulty processing information, and impaired judgment, making work or school tasks harder to manage.
• Increased risk of anxiety, depression, and irritability, hopelessness and sadness.
• Over time insomnia can lead to serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. The body’s inability to repair and recharge during sleep can weaken the immune system, making a person more susceptible to illness.- 
• Chronic sleep deprivation can strain personal relationships and lead to social withdrawal. Work performance can suffer as a result of poor focus and fatigue, which can negatively affect career growth and job satisfaction.
• Over time, insomnia can erode a person’s overall quality of life. Constantly feeling tired, overwhelmed, and mentally drained can prevent someone from enjoying hobbies, socializing, and fully engaging in everyday activities.

In therapeutic sessions we discuss lifestyle changes and strategies.  We use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia which is an evidence-based approach that helps people with insomnia by targeting the thoughts, behaviors, and sleep patterns that contribute to sleep problems.  We use the IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy to focus on understanding and healing different “parts” of the self. It’s often used to help individuals manage emotional distress, trauma, and various mental health issues. In the context of insomnia, IFS can help by addressing underlying psychological and emotional factors that may be contributing to sleep disturbances.

We can help by engaging in therapy techniques such as, Cognitive Restructuring, Sleep Restriction, Stimulus Control, Relaxation Techniques and Sleep Hygiene Education.  Clients also explore different parts of themselves to gain a deeper understanding as to the root causes of insomnia This is a personalized approach, which is tailored to a person’s specific struggles with sleep, making it a customized and targeted treatment, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.