Can Therapy Help You Sleep?

by Andrea Blundell
Reviewed by Dr Sheri Jacobson

Therapy can do wonders for sleep problems, and here’s why.

1. Talk therapy lowers your stress.

Stress is probably the number one sleep thief.

Stress isn’t just about having a lot going on. It’s also that we don't know how to manage what is going on, or who to ask for help. Or we are bottling up our struggles, and trying to deal with everything alone.

Therapy is not only a safe space to finally unload, it's a place to get to the real root of your stress. Your therapist will help you make a plan to manage your stress, then support you to actually carry out that plan.

2. It can get your racing thoughts under control.

You feel tired, you turn of the light, and then, wham. Your mind goes into overdrive.

If you suffer from anxiety, your thoughts might even become so irrational your heart starts to race. Soon your entire body is so pumped with adrenaline, sleep is physically impossible.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that focuses on helping you get your thoughts under control. It’s recommended for both stress, insomnia and anxiety.

Mindfulness-based therapies also help you harness your thoughts and teach you how to relax your body.

3. Therapy helps your low moods.

Depression and sleep problems come hand-in-hand so often it’s hard to say which causes which.

Being sad all the time can make us too worried to sleep, but not sleeping can mean we struggle to keep up with life and get depressed. Therapy helps you get to the root of your low moods, and make the small changes that mean you feel better about life.

4. Talk therapy can even change your before bed behaviours.

Doing the wrong things before bed means we land under the duvet feeling anything but relaxed.

Are you often up late because of other people? Checking work emails, doing things for friends? Therapy teaches boundaries. You'll gain the self-esteem to start saying no and finally prioritise your self-care.

Is it an addictive behaviour like TV, porn (screens physically disrupt your brain's ability to sleep) or alcohol (stops deep sleep) keeping you up? Addictions are about escaping emotional pain. Therapy helps you finally face what is bothering you.

5. Therapy improves your relationships.

Sensitive people often struggle to sleep well next to a partner if they feel the other person is upset with them, or that there are unspoken problems.

Therapy helps you recognise what you are and aren’t responsible for in relationships. You learn to communicate without starting yet another fight. At the very least, you could gain the courage to tell your partner they have to get help with their snoring problem!

Ready to sleep better? Book a therapist now at a price you can afford. If it doesn't work out, we even offer a session with another therapist of your choice free of charge. What do you have to lose?

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