Counselling for Sleep Problems at Harley Therapy™ London
How Can Counselling Help with Sleep Problems?
Sleep is an essential aspect of our physical and mental functioning. It allows our body and mind to recharge and process the events of our increasingly complicated lives leaving us feeling energised and prepared for another day. Yet, it is only when sleep becomes a problem that we realise just how important it is to our physiological and psychological health. Surprisingly, counselling and psychotherapy can be an effective method to help individuals overcome sleeping problems. Your therapist can help you to explore the underlying issues, helping you to examine potential stresses and lifestyle choices that could be affecting your sleeping patterns. They can also teach you relaxation techniques that may help you to switch off before you go to bed. Further, Cognitive Behavioural Techniques can be utilised to help you overcome any anxiety issues which are one of the main causes of sleeping problems.
Benefits of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Discover the underlying root causes of your sleeping problem
- Examine patterns in your sleeping
- Explore factors in your lifestyle that could exacerbate sleeping problems
- Learn relaxation techniques
- Target anxieties that may prevent you from going to sleep
At Harley Therapy London, our therapists have extensive training and experience in treating sleeping problems and can help you begin your journey towards a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, if you wish to combine counselling and psychotherapy with medication we can refer you to our private consultant psychiatrist to ensure you are in receipt of the best quality of care.
Information Guide to Sleep Problems
Sleeping problems affect a huge number of people and can lead to a number of physiological and psychological problems. Yet, they can also be indicative of pre-existing issues. For example, depression, anxiety and stress can all lead to problematic sleep. This can lead to a vicious cycle whereby individuals can become severely distressed due to lack of sleep, which can then prevent them from going to sleep in future, leading to depression and so on. However, the amount of sleep a person requires varies substantially from person to person. While it is often quoted that humans require 8 hours of sleep per night, each individual is different. Age, diet and our levels of physical and mental activity all affect how much sleep we require and so ultimately what is sufficient for one person may not be for another. However if you are suffering from one of the issues listed below, then you may benefit from counselling and psychotherapy.
Self-Help Reading Recommendations from Harley Therapy on Sleep Counselling
You may like to read our blog post on good sleep hygiene:
Additionally, you may be interested in reading these two books, which provide an insightful and practical approach to recovery from sleeping problems:
- 'Overcoming Insomnia and Sleep Problems: A Self Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques' by Colin Espie (2006)
- 'Say Goodnight to Insomnia: A Drug-Free Programme Developed at Harvard Medical School' by Greg Jacobs (2009)
Disclaimer: All material
on this website is provided for your information only and should not be treated
as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or other healthcare
professional. Harley Therapy: Psychotherapy and Counselling London is not
responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of
this website. Always
consult your own GP if you have any concerns regarding your health.
Reviewed & updated: July 2011
