SleepFocus.com

13/11/2025

Do you suffer Chronic Pain? Chronic pain has been found to contribute significantly to poor sleep quality, with pain-related arousals leading to fragmented and non-restorative sleep. Up to 88% of people with chronic pain report sleep difficulties. At Sleep-Focus.com, we specialise in resolving sleep difficulties through the use of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).
Read more on the blog: https://www.sleep-focus.com/post/improve-your-sleep-and-lessen-your-pain

How disrupted sleep contributes to the condition of Chronic Pain, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.

05/11/2025

Grief is our natural emotional, physical and social response to a significant loss and it often affects our sleep. Grief is often associated from the death of a loved one but can also come from the loss of a job or career, a relationship breakdown and also from a chronic illness. Grief is an intense emotion of sadness bringing a wide range of feelings such as shock, anger, guilt, and anxiety. Read more on the blog: https://www.sleep-focus.com/post/how-grief-affects-sleep

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia or CBT-I, is the recommended first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, effective for adults of all ages. It is a behavioural and cognitive therapy that addresses the thoughts and behaviours causing sleep problems, along with assessing for underlying sleep disorders. The benefits of CBT-I last after the treatment ends, unlike medication and with the sleep education you gain, you will be better placed to manage any further acute disruptions preventing them from becoming a chronic state.

Grief is our natural emotional, physical and social response to a significant loss and it often affects our sleep.

30/10/2025

Shiftworkers often struggle with sleep deprivation. As an Airline Pilot in the commercial airline industry in excess of twenty years I have seen first-hand the effects of sleep deprivation on the health, safety and wellbeing of colleagues and service users. As a trained Cognitive Behaviour Therapist for Insomnia (CBT-I) I am dedicated to providing a pathway to resolving chronic insomnia in shiftworkers, including Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers and Cabin Crew.
Shiftwork can alter your sleep patterns and lead to chronic insomnia, read more on my blog: https://www.sleep-focus.com/post/aviation-and-insomnia-a-common-sleep-disorder
Get in touch to see how I can help.

23/10/2025

Being honest with ourselves (and others) helps you sleep better - and there is science behind this - read more on the blog: https://www.sleep-focus.com/post/how-being-honest-with-ourselves-and-others-helps-you-sleep-better
If you are having trouble sleeping - consider sleep therapy. 😴

Finding the courage to be honest with ourselves and others on unresolved issues rather than avoiding them can help to improve our sleep quality.

14/10/2025

What is CBT-I, or cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia?
This professional therapy is the gold standard for treating insomnia. It is the most effective known treatment for insomnia and has been proven to work effectively for clients with Primary Insomnia in clinical trials. Improvements include less time to fall asleep, more time spent asleep, and waking up less during sleep.

For any insomnia treatment to be effective in the long-term, it needs to address the root causes behind sleeplessness.

Traditionally, CBT-I is a multicomponent treatment that combines several approaches, including sleep education, cognitive restructuring, stimulus control, and matching our time in bed to the amount of sleep our bodies are actually producing.

Find out more on the website or book your first appointment with Mark: https://www.sleep-focus.com/services

07/10/2025

WHAT IS REM SLEEP?
Rapid eye movement or REM sleep is part of our body's normal sleep cycle. REM sleep is crucial in our brain development, particularly in infants. This is also our ‘cognitive restorative sleep’ important for our emotional regulation. Here we process difficult events, helping us to process and regulate our emotions.
Do you have trouble sleeping? See more information on how we sleep and tips to sleep better - plus other useful resources for better sleep: https://www.sleep-focus.com/resources

26/09/2025

Do you have trouble sleeping? See more information on how we sleep and tips to sleep better - plus other useful resources for better sleep: https://www.sleep-focus.com/resources

16/09/2025

I'm passionate about good quality sleep. 😴
Chronic pain, disease, health issues, menopause and shiftwork can all impact on sleep.
On the weekend I delivered a presentation on sleep at the Vita Flow Live Life Well Event for adults with PKU - Phenylketonuria.
I am available for presentations on sleep and sleep disorders for your organisation - please get in touch to find out more.

11/09/2025

Having trouble sleeping during menopause?
Are your hormones balanced for sleep or are they keeping you awake? Sleep hygiene refers to a set of practices and habits that are conducive to sleeping well on a regular basis. Download the brochure and read other useful resources for a better night's sleep:
https://www.sleep-focus.com/resources

01/09/2025

Having trouble sleeping during menopause?
Sleep hygiene refers to a set of practices and habits that are conducive to sleeping well on a regular basis. Good sleep hygiene includes maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and avoiding stimulants before bedtime. Read more on the blog: https://www.sleep-focus.com/post/sleep-hygiene-for-the-menopause

Sleep hygiene refers to a set of practices and habits that are conducive to sleeping well on a regular basis. Good sleep hygiene includes maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and avoiding stimulants before bedtime.

28/08/2025

Do you suffer chronic pain? Is it affecting your quality of sleep? Did you know there is a bidirectional link between pain and sleep: poor sleep quality exacerbates pain - and pain disrupts sleep. Addressing this cycle is crucial for effective pain management and improving overall health outcomes. Read more about pain and sleep here: https://www.sleep-focus.com/post/improve-your-sleep-and-lessen-your-pain

18/08/2025

I have worked as an Airline Pilot in the commercial airline industry in excess of twenty years and have seen first-hand the effects of sleep deprivation on the health, safety and wellbeing of colleagues and service users. My training in the Advanced Practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) (through the Sleep Consultancy in Edinburgh) provides a pathway resolving chronic insomnia in Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers and Cabin Crew.
Sleep is a complex system of physiological (the body) and psychological (the mind), both of which go to rest for a period of time. If you work in Aviation, you probably work shiftwork, from pilots and engineers to security and cleaners, and all the other workers that keep this large industry flying. Shiftwork can alter your sleep patterns and lead to chronic insomnia, read more on my blog: https://www.sleep-focus.com/post/aviation-and-insomnia-a-common-sleep-disorder - or get in touch to see how I can help.

What is Insomnia? What factors cause it? Sleep deprivation impacts on your health, safety and wellbeing. Mark Dobson explains more.