The Sleep School Approach

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Our Approach

Everyone can sleep, but at certain points in our lives we experience something that causes it to be disturbed. At this point most of us naturally seek to control the situation like we would any other problem in our lives. Sadly we can’t control a natural physiological process like sleep and trying to can end up feeling like we are stuck in and endless battle with our sleep. The Sleep School recognises that it’s not that people are lacking effort, will power or motivation to overcome their insomnia, in fact the very opposite and this is exactly the problem. The more frustrated, anxious or resigned we become, the more we inadvertently interfere with this natural process and train our brains how not to sleep.

The Sleep School’s approach is centred on what good sleepers do to sleep, which is nothing more than trusting their body’s natural ability to sleep. We help clients to understand that their natural desire to want to ‘do’ things to get to sleep may well satisfy an internal desire ‘to fix’ but it could only be pushing sleep further away. Our approach teaches clients to not let the ‘controlling side’ in all of us get in the way of this natural process and how to make space for, or even play with, any fears associated with not sleeping, something that allows sleep to emerge naturally once more.

What we believe . . .

. . . that good sleep can’t be controlled and therefore learning to let go of struggling with it can paradoxically create the space needed for its return.

. . . that the normal everyday sleep variation displayed by good sleepers is an important part of creating a strong and healthy sleep / wake cycle that can cope with everyday life.

. . . that good sleep is achieved by learning how to stay in your bed with both wakefulness and your fears.

. . . that ‘sleep hygiene guidelines’ can be helpful but must be tailored to the individual to avoid them becoming a further source of sleep anxiety. For example avoiding caffeine or alcohol, exercising everyday or ritually having a cup of warm milk and a bath before bed does not guarantee a good night’s sleep and if anything can make things worse.

. . . the key to good sleep is learning to get back to living your normal life again rather than struggling with your sleep.

What you will learn on one of our classes. . .

. . . why your insomnia started and how your actions right now might be keeping it fuelled.

. . . the truth about sleep and all of the unhelpful myths that surround it.

. . . tools to calm your racing mind and live more in the present moment rather than spending all your time worrying about past poor quality sleep or how bad you will feel if you don’t sleep.

. . . to notice and let go of the reoccurring stories in your head that tell you that won’t sleep or that constantly remind you of how many hours that you have left to sleep.

. . . to free yourself from the unwanted emotions that keep you awake at night such as the anxiety, frustration, despair and/or loneliness of not sleeping.

. . . to accept that the arrival just before bed of a raised heart rate, tight chest or a knot in the stomach does not have to spell out another bad night.

. . . to be able to control the unhelpful urges that flood through the body in the middle of the night such as the desire to get up, drink alcohol and/or take more medication.

. . . to start focussing your energy on getting back to living your life again rather than struggling with your sleep.

. . . how to effectively manage any co-existing conditions that could be impacting your sleep such as excessive daytime stress, anxiety, depression and tinnitus, as well as any dietary or exercise problems.

What you will NOT learn

We promise NOT to tell you to drink warm milk before going to bed or that you need to have a warm bath (unless you really want to!). You won’t need to wind down for hours before going to bed or have to get out of bed in the middle of night and do something boring and completely unrelated to getting to sleep. You won’t have to delve into your past or give your life story (unless you really want to). Just turn up and be ready to learn and start living your life again.

What you will leave with

Whichever class you attend, everyone leaves with a copy of The Sleep School workbook. This details everything that was discussed and provides a clear explanation of what needs to be done to start sleeping naturally once more including exercises to practise on your own and homework to follow.

Who we help

The Sleep School helps anyone who struggles to get to sleep, maintain sleep, wakes up too early or simply does not sleep at all. Anyone who never feels refreshed after sleep or just can’t sleep on a Sunday night. Anyone who can’t stop their mind racing, fears going to bed or has become reliant on pills and props to sleep. Our classes attract a wide mix of people from all backgrounds, ages and ethnicity's including busy professionals, pre-pregnancy parents, new mums and dads, menopausal women, students, retirees, shift workers, medical professionals, as well as anyone with a sleep disturbing medical or psychological condition such as chronic pain, tinnitus, chronic fatigue, ME, depression and anxiety. Whether you have had your insomnia for 4 weeks or 40 years we can help.

The Science behind The Sleep School

The Sleep School pioneers a unique combination of acceptance and mindfulness based strategies to tackle insomnia. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, (ACT), is a research based psychological tool that recognises that it is often our unwillingness to experience pain and suffering that can actually promote the pain and suffering we experience. It works by teaching you how to let go of struggling with your insomnia because when you no longer fear it, fundamental changes occur leading to natural sleep. In addition, ACT aims to help you clarify your personal values and to take action on them to bring more vitality and meaning to your life in the process, rather than just spending your time trying to find a solution to your insomnia.

ACT has a substantial evidence base across a wide range of treatment interventions including anxiety, depression and stress, many of which are linked to insomnia. We are pioneering its use in chronic insomnia because we believe that a change is required in the way in which insomnia is managed.

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About Dr Guy Meadows

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Dr Guy Meadows has been studying human physiology for 15 years of which 10 years has been devoted to sleep research and the prevention of sleep disorders.

He graduated with a first class BSc Honours degree from Glamorgan University, then an MsC (Distinction) at Kings College London in Human and Applied Physiology and finally completed his doctorate at Imperial College London. Whilst studying there he worked in the sleep research laboratories of the Royal Brompton and Charing Cross Hospitals where he investigated the effects of sleep on the regulation of human brain.

After gaining his doctorate, he spent 6 years of working with and listening to insomniacs and realised that if their suffering was to be alleviated then a change was needed in the way that insomnia was managed. He noted that the problem with current strategies was that they were focused on trying to control sleep and whilst some offered some short term relief, they did not provide a long term solution. What Guy understood was that instead of repeat prescriptions, rituals and rule books, insomniacs needed re-education, hence the name ‘The Sleep School’. With this education insomniacs are helped to let go of struggling with their insomnia and allow their natural ability to sleep to emerge once more. To date he has successfully worked with over a thousand one-to-one clients over the last 6 years at his London clinic and has made it his mission change the way in which insomnia is managed around the world to lessen unnecessary suffering.

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