Poor Sleep

Sleep problems are very common and can have a big effect on mood, concentration and how we cope with everyday life. When poor sleep becomes a pattern, it can be hard to break without some support.

What it can feel like

Some people find it hard to fall asleep, lying awake with a busy mind. Others wake during the night or too early and cannot get back to sleep. Over time, bedtime itself can start to feel stressful, which can make sleep even harder.

Poor sleep often sits alongside other difficulties, such as stress, anxiety, low mood or trauma, and each can make the other worse.

How therapy may help

Psychological approaches to sleep, particularly CBT for insomnia, are well supported by research. They focus on the habits, thoughts and patterns that can keep poor sleep going, and help reset the relationship between bed and sleep.

Where sleep is affected by worry, low mood or difficult experiences, therapy can also address those underlying factors.

How we work with this

Your Clinical Psychologist will look at your sleep in the context of your wider life, and agree a plan with you that might include structured sleep strategies, work on worry or rumination, or both.

If there are signs that a medical sleep condition may be involved, we may suggest speaking to your GP alongside therapy.

If you’d like to talk it through

You don’t need to be sure this is the right page for you. The first step is the same whatever brings you here.

  1. Day one

    Get in touch

    A short online form

    Tell us a little about what you are looking for. A sentence or two is plenty; you don’t need to explain everything.

  2. Within two working days

    A 15-minute conversation

    Free, no obligation

    A relaxed call at a time that suits you, to talk through what is going on, ask questions and see whether Elementa feels like the right fit.

  3. When you’re ready

    Initial assessment

    50 minutes · £120

    A longer session with your psychologist to understand what has brought you here and what you would like to change. Afterwards, you receive a short written summary and a proposed plan.

  4. Then

    Ongoing therapy

    50-minute sessions · £120

    Regular online sessions, reviewed together as you go so the work stays focused on what matters to you.

Who you could work with

On the introductory call we’ll help you think about which of our Clinical Psychologists is best placed to support you.

  • Dr Abi Watkinson

    Clinical Psychologist

    I’m interested in how people make sense of what has happened to them. Therapy is often about finding a version of that story you can live with.

    Brings experience from adult, CAMHS and forensic services to thoughtful, collaborative work with adults.

  • Dr Laura Day

    Clinical Psychologist

    [A sentence from Laura, in her own words, about how she works.]

    [One-line summary of Laura’s experience and way of working — to be supplied.]

  • [Third founding psychologist]

    Clinical Psychologist

    [A sentence from the third psychologist, in their own words.]

    [Name, biography and photography to be supplied.]

Start with a conversation

Send us a few lines and we’ll arrange a free 15-minute call at a time that suits you. You can ask anything, and there’s no obligation to continue.

Get in touch