Bespoke Members
Introduction
Sleep problems are common, often persistent, and closely intertwined with mental health. While they can contribute to the onset and maintenance of anxiety and depression, they frequently require specific attention in their own right. Yet many healthcare professionals receive little training in how to identify and respond to sleep difficulties, leaving them uncertain about how to distinguish between general sleep disruption and clinical sleep disorders. This workshop aims to bridge that gap. It introduces key concepts in sleep and its relationship to mental health, and provides practical tools to help practitioners recognise common sleep issues, offer basic behavioural support within their scope, and signpost appropriately when further help is needed.
The event will be equivalent to 2 hrs of CPD.
Content
This two-hour workshop offers mental health practitioners a practical and psychologically-informed introduction to sleep and its vital role in emotional wellbeing. We’ll explore what constitutes ‘normal’ sleep, how it is regulated, and how sleep becomes disrupted — often in ways that persist even after mental health symptoms improve. Drawing on the evidence base that underpins cognitive and behavioural approaches, we will consider how changes to sleep routines, habits, and beliefs can support better sleep outcomes within the context of anxiety and depression treatment.
The session will help practitioners build confidence in recognising when sleep difficulties are a symptom of a wider mental health problem and when they may signal a more complex or co-occurring sleep disorder. We’ll also examine common sleep presentations, discuss simple strategies that can support recovery, and highlight how and when to signpost clients to appropriate resources or services. By the end of the workshop, attendees should feel better equipped to talk about sleep with clients, offer basic behavioural guidance where appropriate, and integrate sleep-related considerations into their wider therapeutic work.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Describe how sleep is regulated and explain its bidirectional relationship with mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
2. Recognise common sleep difficulties and differentiate between general sleep disruption and potential sleep disorders.
3. Apply basic behavioural and psychological strategies to support clients experiencing sleep symptoms alongside anxiety or depression.
4. Identify when onward signposting or referral to specialist resources or services may be appropriate.
Training Modalities
Didactic teaching, video, Q&A and polls
Key References
Grandner, M. A., & Chakravorty, S. (2017). Insomnia in primary care: misreported, mishandled, and just plain missed. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 13(8), 937-939.
Palagini, L., Hertenstein, E., Riemann, D., & Nissen, C. (2022). Sleep, insomnia and mental health. Journal of sleep research, 31(4), e13628.
Riemann, D., Espie, C. A., Altena, E., Arnardottir, E. S., Baglioni, C., Bassetti, C. L., ... & Spiegelhalder, K. (2023). The European Insomnia Guideline: an update on the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia 2023. Journal of sleep research, 32(6), e14035.
Winkelman, J. W. (2020). How to identify and fix sleep problems: Better sleep, better mental health. JAMA psychiatry, 77(1), 99-100.
About the presenter
Louise is a qualified Occupational Therapist with extensive experience in the fields of physical and mental health rehabilitation. Louise established the Insomnia service within the Sleep Clinic at the Royal Surrey County NHS Hospital over 12 years ago. Under her ongoing leadership, the clinic has grown in size, reach and reputation through providing tailored, 1:1 sleep interventions for some of the UKs worst sleepers. As a committed advocate for sleep health, Louise acts as an Associate Lecturer on the University of West England Sleep Medicine course, she is a trustee for the British Society of Pharmacy Sleep Services, she co-edits the British Sleep Society newsletter and works as a Sleep Coach for global online coaching company, BetterUp.
Who should attend
This workshop is designed for multidisciplinary clinicians working with individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. It is particularly suited to those who wish to build their understanding of sleep and common sleep disorders, and develop practical skills to recognise, support, and appropriately signpost clients experiencing sleep-related issues.