Restful sleep improves our concentration, our mood and our mental and physical performance. Without it we become more easily confused and less productive. Sleep deprivation dampens your senses, impairs your perception and has been linked to driving accidents as well as medical problems such as weight gain, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, heart disease and cancer.

New findings have revealed that sleep deprivation also makes you prone to:

• Lose your coping skills
• Increased anxiety, stress
• Mood shifts, including depression and irritability
• Failing to assimilate new information
• Difficulty with memory
• Lower creativity
• Reduced ability to communicate

Troubled sleep affects us all from time to time and although some cases of insomnia require medical intervention others can be assisted by psychological counselling which may involve sleep hygiene education, relaxation training and cognitive psychotherapy.

Sleep problems differ from person to person and require counselling on the specific difficulties a person is experiencing.

Counselling is the first line treatment for sleeping difficulties and offers strategies to help you fall asleep quicker, stay asleep longer and manage those racing night- time thoughts that so often disrupt restful sleep.