Talking Sleep Psychology

Get to know Talking Sleep Psychology

From Talking Sleep Psychology's website.

• Our approach

  The practice integrates Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) with Compassion Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR, and trauma-informed approaches, tailored to each person rather than delivered from a protocol. Sessions prioritise understanding the whole story behind sleep difficulties — the nervous system patterns, personal history, and life circumstances — before moving to solutions. The approach is grounded in compassionate listening and genuine curiosity about what's actually happening in the person's body, mind, and life. Rather than starting with worksheets or sleep hygiene handouts, treatment builds a foundation that allows evidence-based techniques to land and last. The practice recognises that sleep problems are rarely just about sleep itself, but often reflect deeper patterns, hormonal shifts, trauma, or the accumulated weight of a busy life.

• Meet the team

  Tonia Martin is a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist, sleep specialist, and founder of the practice with over 25 years of clinical experience spanning nursing, mental health, and sleep medicine. Her approach integrates CBT-I with Compassion Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and trauma-informed practice, and she draws on EMDR where a specific experience appears to be at the root of sleep difficulties. She is currently training with the Compassionate Mind Foundation under Professor Paul Gilbert to deepen her understanding of safety, self-compassion, and the nervous system in sleep recovery. Her particular clinical interest includes supporting midlife women navigating sleep disruption alongside hormonal transition and identity shifts. She offers Telehealth appointments Tuesday to Thursday.

• Your first visit

  The first session is devoted entirely to listening and understanding your sleep history — what it was like before it became difficult, what the nights feel like now, and what they cost you during the day. There are no worksheets, sleep hygiene handouts, or homework in this initial appointment; the assessment itself is the therapeutic work. By the end of the session, a clear picture emerges of what's happening for you, and you'll begin discussing what a tailored treatment approach might look like. Most people find the first session feels quite different from what they expected — less clinical and more like a genuine conversation in which they finally feel heard. You'll need to complete an intake form and client services agreement before your appointment, and possibly additional forms depending on your needs.