Counselling for Sleep Difficulties and Sleep Disorders

Sleep plays an important role in physical health, emotional health and the ability to manage daily life. When sleep becomes disrupted, many people notice changes in mood, concentration, energy, patience and motivation. Over time, ongoing sleep difficulties can contribute to anxiety, low mood, fatigue, irritability and reduced quality of life at work, school or home.

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Sleep difficulties can occur for many reasons. Insomnia is one of the most common and may involve trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking too early. For many people, insomnia is linked with stress, anxiety, chronic pain or difficulty winding down at night. Sleep challenges are also common among neurodivergent adolescents and adults, including those with ADHD or autism, who may experience differences in sensory processing, executive functioning, circadian rhythm regulation or emotional overstimulation that affect sleep quality.

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Some sleep disorders are medical in nature, such as sleep apnoea, where breathing pauses during sleep. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) can create an uncomfortable urge to move the legs, making it difficult to relax or fall asleep. Circadian rhythm disruptions, including delayed sleep phase, shift work or changes to the body’s internal clock, can affect the timing of sleep and lead to persistent fatigue and daytime difficulty functioning. While medical assessment is important, counselling can help with the emotional and behavioural impacts of these conditions and assist with building healthier routines.

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At Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology in Menai, our psychologists and counsellors work with adolescents, adults and older adults experiencing insomnia and other sleep-related difficulties. We offer a calm, structured and trauma-informed environment to explore patterns that interfere with sleep, understand what keeps these patterns going and introduce strategies that can improve sleep over time. We work with clients across the Sutherland Shire, including Bangor, Illawong, Alfords Point, Barden Ridge, Engadine, Woronora Heights, Sylvania, Kirrawee, Gymea, Miranda and Caringbah, as well as online across Sydney.

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Our clinicians draw on evidence-based therapies that assist with sleep difficulties, such as:

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• CBT for insomnia–informed strategies
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Mindfulness-Based Therapy
• Emotion Focused Therapy

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Counselling may include exploring unhelpful sleep-related thoughts, establishing healthier routines and practising relaxation and grounding strategies to support more consistent sleep–wake patterns. Where helpful, we may collaborate with GPs, psychiatrists or sleep physicians as part of a broader plan.

 

Counselling is available in-person at our Menai practice or online for clients across Sydney. To book an appointment regarding sleep difficulties, call Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology on 02 8519 4197 or click the button below to make an enquiry.