Insomnia Clinic

Insomnia Clinic

Insomnia is a common and distressing sleep disorder that can be treated with help from sleep specialists at the Woolcock.

THE FACTS

• Individuals with insomnia have trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep or waking too early. Insomnia may develop during times of high stress and most people will suffer from insomnia at some point in their lives.
• If your sleep troubles persist for more than a month or you have used sleeping pills for longer than two weeks and feel you cannot get a good night’s sleep without them, it is highly likely you have insomnia.
• Insomnia impacts on daily life causing a lack of energy, irritability, poor performance at work, mood changes, memory difficulties and concentration problems.
• Treating insomnia reduces health risks and helps people feel better and more confident about their sleep. We also spend time with our clients helping them to work through other difficulties including mood and life experiences that may have contributed to the onset or maintenance of insomnia.

Session 1 - Understanding Sleep and Sleep Myths

Explore the many myths surrounding sleep and gain a thorough understanding of sleep physiology. Obtaining a better understanding of how sleep works and a realistic view of normal sleep is an important first step in this programme. We also incorporate different relaxation and breathing techniques into this session.

Session 2 - Behavioural Intervention for Improving Sleep

This session is learning about effective behavioural changes and how to imporve current sleeping difficulties. Practice and persevereance are key components of making these interventions work better.

Session 3 - Circadian Rhythm and Optimising Sleep Environments

Undertsanding what factors influence the internal body clock and sleep and how these need to be reset on a daily basis. Both internal and external cues (environment - light and dark exposure) will be explored.

Session 4 - Managing Thoughts and Feelings Around Sleep

Understand thought patterns and how overthinking at night is counterproductive to good sleep. Being aware of the triggers to a "racing mind" and the feelings that "my mind is out of control!" are anintegral part of this session. It is also about learning to make the breathing & relaxation strategies require practice during the day and not just at night.

Session 5 - Nutrition, Exercise and Tying It All Together

What we eat matters and our diet can impact on our sleep. Healthy nutritional information helps in the decisions to promote better quality sleep. Exercise is an integral part of healthy living and reduces physical and emotional tension which can negatively impact on sleep. Session 5 will include an overall recap of the key components of our CBT-i programme.

Homework

Reading and practising the suggested changes around sleep and making them are part of daily life is key to improving and maintaining better sleep. The booklets which are part of the programme will help in this process.

Group Programmes

We have a group programme which is run by our Sleep Coach. These five session providethe same evidence-based skills and information as individual sessions in a supportive and collaborative environment. Participants often state how helpful it is to connect with others who share similar challenges, especailly when they are awake in the middle of the night. Group programmes are an excellent foundation for individual work if needed. Starting in a group may provide quicker access to support, as waiting times for group programs are often shorter than for individual sessions. Some of our group programmes are eligible for a Medicare rebate with a GP referral, making them an accessible and cost-effective option.

In 2026, we are aiming to expand our programmes to explore sleep challenges during perimenopause and menopaus. This evidence-based programme will incorporate skills and strategies to help women manage the changes of this life stage, and to ease their nights.

Find out more

• Our psychologists and psychiatrists
• Download our Insomnia Clinic patient information resource
• Sleep Services at the Woolcock Clinic