Sleep Therapy
The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep.
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— E. Joseph Cossman
Quality sleep plays a significant role in overall well-being. The impact of disrupted sleep permeates into our daily lives, affecting productivity, mood, relationships, and overall quality of life. When it comes to sleep difficulties, the landscape is complex and multifaceted. There is an intricate interplay between various factors that impact sleep, highlighting that not all sleep challenges stem from biological issues alone.
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Recognizing this intricate interplay underscores the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach to sleep therapy—one that addresses not only biological factors but also considers the broader context of an individual's psychological, behavioural, and environmental elements. Behavioural sleep therapy offers effective and proven solutions to address a spectrum of sleep disorders and issues and empowers you with the tools and strategies to regain control over your sleep patterns, helping you to reclaim your nights and awaken rejuvenated each day.
Areas of Practice
Chronic Nightmares
Recurrent, distressing dreams that occur frequently and persist over time, interfering with sleep quality, disrupt sleep continuity, and contribute to daytime fatigue, irritability, and impaired functioning. May be Idiopathic (without identifiable trigger) or Trauma-related (stemming from past traumatic experiences)
Somniphobia
Hypnophobia or Sleep phobia.
An excessive fear of going to bed and significant anxiety or panic at the thought of sleep leading to significant disruption to sleep pattern and daytime impairment
Period of difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, typically lasting up to 3 months or recurring episodes of sleep difficulty that occur periodically over time. Episodes may be separated by periods of normal sleep, and the frequency and severity of episodes can vary.
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Nocturnal Panic
Sleep panic attacks or nighttime panic attacks. Sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort that occur during sleep, often causing awaking from sleep and manifesting in physiological symptoms, distress, and feelings of fear and confusion upon awakening.
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Hypersomnia
Support designed to assist individuals experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged nighttime sleep through behavioural sleep therapy and to help individuals effectively manage their condition, improve sleep quality, and enhance overall quality of life.
Sleep Anxiety
Nocturnal anxiety or bedtime anxiety, feelings of worry, apprehension, or fear specifically related to the act of falling asleep or the quality of sleep experienced during the night. Difficulty relaxing and unwinding at bedtime due to racing thoughts, intrusive worries, or fear of experiencing sleep disturbances.
Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation
Disruptions in the body's internal biological clock, impacting sleep-wake cycle. Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSPD), Advanced sleep-wake phase disorder (ASPD), Irregular sleep-wake rhythm disorder (ISWRD), Non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder (Non-24), Shift work disorder, and Jet lag.
Tapering Off Sleep Medication
Support designed to help individuals who have developed a reliance on sleep medications to aid sleep to gradually reduce or eliminate their reliance on sleep medications in a safe and effective manner.
How Do We Help You Sleep Better?
Sleep is complex! There are many factors that impact how you sleep. Our approach acknowledges the unique complexities of your situation and your sleeping difficulties.
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Behavioural sleep therapy offers a holistic approach to addressing various sleep disorders by targeting the underlying behavioural, psychological, and environmental factors contributing to sleep difficulties. Unlike medication-based treatments, behavioural sleep therapy focuses on modifying habits, routines, and thought patterns to promote healthier sleep patterns and improve overall sleep quality. By addressing the root causes of sleep disturbances, behavioural sleep therapy helps you develop sustainable solutions for managing your sleep disorders. This approach not only improves sleep quality and quantity but also enhances overall well-being, cognitive functioning, and daytime functioning. Moreover, behavioural sleep therapy empowers individuals to take an active role in their sleep health, providing them with valuable skills and tools to maintain long-term improvements in sleep quality and optimize their quality of life.
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Although the specific nature of the sleep treatments may vary depending on the issue(s) experienced, the overall process will involve:
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Assessment: Comprehensive evaluation to identify underlying conditions contributing to the particular sleeping challenges and develop an appropriate treatment or management plan.
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Education: Providing information about sleep disorders, its potential causes, and available treatment options to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their care.
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Treatment interventions: Implementing evidence-based treatments tailored to the specific needs of individuals, which may include cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), light therapy, or lifestyle modifications to optimize sleep-wake patterns.
Counselling: Addressing coping strategies, stress management techniques, and lifestyle modifications to improve sleep quality.
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Multidisciplinary care: Collaborating with a team of healthcare professionals within the circle of care, including family doctors, sleep specialists, pharmacists, and other specialists, to provide comprehensive care and address the multifaceted nature of the sleep disorder.
Ongoing monitoring and follow-up: Regular assessment and monitoring of sleep patterns, treatment response, and any changes in symptoms to adjust treatment plans as needed and ensure optimal outcomes.
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By offering tailored support, education, and interventions, Behavioural Sleep Therapy support aims to help individuals effectively manage their condition, improve sleep quality, and enhance overall quality of life. It also fosters a supportive environment where individuals with sleep disorders can feel understood, validated, and empowered on their journey toward better sleep health.
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