Sleep psychologists specialise in diagnosing and treating sleep problems that are behaviourally and/or psychologically based. Sleeping difficulties are often connected to underlying problems such as stress, anxiety and depression. You can find more information here.
I am flexible with the appointment times. Please contact me to arrange a suitable time.
Each consultation lasts 50 minutes.
You can find information about fees & rebates here
Yes! You can find information about fees & rebates here
Therapy goals are dependent on your individual needs and circumstances. Generally, the first session is a time to get to know one another, gain a comprehensive understanding of the sleep issue that is concerning you and agree on a plan for your treatment.
If you are referred for issues regarding sleep only, you should expect your treatment to span the course of 2 to 5 sessions. However, clients with more complex needs may require further sessions. Similarly, shorter treatment may be all that is required depending on the presenting issue. It is your right to discuss this with me and explain what you would like from the sessions.
I will assess your situation and provide you with treatment to improve your sleep and general well-being. You will have time to explain your goals and what you would like to achieve from therapy. We will revisit these goals from time to time throughout your treatment. A session with a psychologist is a time to learn and apply new techniques to your situation, as well as a time to set goals and tasks for you to practice between sessions. If you are able to follow these suggestions, you will move towards your goals more quickly.
I take a holistic approach to assess all factors that may be contributing to your sleep disturbance. I also tailor my approach to suit your individual needs and draw upon a range of evidence based therapeutic techniques. This means that I only use therapies that have been subjected to rigorous scientific study in order to establish their effectiveness. These include cognitive behavioural therapy, bright light therapy (phototherapy), hypnotherapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder and estimated to affect 30% of the population at some point in an individual’s life. Insomnia is a persistent and often distressing difficulty either initiating sleep, maintaining sleep, waking too early or a combination of all these. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi) is a program that has been developed to treat insomnia. Your behaviour and thoughts about sleep are investigated and a treatment plan is collaboratively formulated. Treatment includes learning about sleep, correcting faulty beliefs that may be inadvertently perpetuating poor sleep, and addressing sleep anxiety. Environmental cues are used to regulate your sleep/wake schedule (circadian rhythm).
Yes! I use CBT to help people adjust to using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), which is the gold standard treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
Bright light therapy can be an effective treatment for a range of sleep problems:
