Troubled sleep is often one of the first signs that something isn’t quite right – yet many people struggle to fix it alone. At GHS Clinics in Cheltenham, specialist sleep therapist Holly Hannigan-Mills helps clients understand the root cause and rebuild a healthier relationship with sleep.
With a master’s in clinical psychology and nearly a decade of experience supporting hundreds of people to sleep better, Holly shares her expert insight into why so many people struggle – and how a structured, clinician-led approach can help restore healthy sleep patterns.
What are the most common sleep challenges you see at GHS Clinics?
For a lot of people, the main problem is actually anxiety around sleep. Many have already tried sleep hygiene, NHS advice, medication or supplements – but when nothing works, it can elevate anxiety even more. That creates a cycle of anxious thoughts that blocks sleep, so we do a lot of work on reducing that anxiousness, not just about sleep but across their wider life.
What are some of the underlying causes people might not realise are at play?
Often, sleep is a symptom and not the problem – it’s the outcome of something else going on. It might start with a short period of disruption from stress, illness, grief or a life event. But during that time, a belief can form – ‘I can’t sleep’ – and that grows. People then find they struggle for much longer than expected because that belief can become embedded.
How can poor sleep impact daily life?
It varies, but the effects can be significant. Some people feel constantly fatigued and drained, while others may be surviving on just a couple of hours’ sleep a night. We’ve had clients who’ve had to stop driving or take time off work because of how severely it’s affecting them.
If someone suddenly develops sleep issues, what should they do first?
Take a moment to ask what’s changed. It might be something obvious like stress, jet lag or a change in routine.
Even recognising ‘I’m stressed right now, of course my sleep is affected’ can help reframe it as temporary. That stops the brain from hyper-focusing on sleep and allows it to settle back into a natural rhythm.
What practical steps can help improve sleep?
Consistency is key. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time, even after a bad night of sleep, to keep your body clock and circadian rhythm aligned.
It's also important to build in a proper wind-down period – at least 30-minutes before bed – and choose calming activities, like reading a book or even watching something relaxing on television, rather than anything too stimulating. The goal is to give your brain space to switch off.
Why don’t quick fixes or apps always work long term?
General advice can be helpful, but it doesn’t work for everyone’s lifestyle. When people try something they have read online and it fails, they can feel like they’re doing something wrong, which adds to the problem. What’s missing is the space to explore their specific situation and tailor the approach to them.
What makes your approach at GHS Clinics different?
We work one-to-one, which allows us to really understand the individual. One key part is actually moving the focus away from sleep. It sounds counterintuitive, but sleep is something that, when you try to control it, you may push it further away. Instead, we focus on restorative rest and helping people rebuild a natural relationship with sleep.
Can you explain how the GHS Sleep Programme works?
The GHS Sleep Programme is four one-hour sessions, tailored to the individual. Before starting, clients complete a sleep questionnaire so we can understand their current patterns, beliefs and challenges.
In the first session, we cover sleep science and start introducing practical techniques. By the second session, most people are already seeing shifts, and we focus on reframing language and behaviours. The third session looks at daytime habits – like taking ‘micro pauses’ to allow the brain to process – and the final session reviews progress and creates a long-term plan.
What results can people expect from the GHS Sleep Programme?
On average, clients see around a 150 per cent improvement in their sleep quality score by the end of the programme.
What’s interesting is that it’s not always about getting more hours of sleep – it’s often the quality that improves most. People feel more rested, more in control and more confident that they can manage their sleep moving forward.
What would you say to someone who feels stuck in a cycle of poor sleep?
Sleep is the foundation of health and wellbeing. If it’s not there, everything else becomes harder. If you feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing has worked, there is support available – and there’s space to be heard and to improve how you sleep.
Find out more about the GHS Sleep Programme
The GHS Sleep Programme is a clinician-led, one-to-one course designed to help people achieve more reliable, restorative sleep.
The programme, which costs £599, includes four personalised sessions with a specialist sleep therapist, tailored techniques and ongoing support, with optional red light therapy available during clinic visits to aid relaxation and support melatonin production.
It also forms part of GHS Clinics’ wider longevity programmes, where sleep is treated as a foundational pillar for improving long-term health and wellbeing.
To find out more or make an enquiry, visit ghsclinics.health.
