Christchurch Sleep Clinic:
Sleep Medicine Options For Insomnia Specialist Treatment

If you're living in Christchurch New Zealand and are experiencing problems with poor sleep quality or disturbed sleep then you might be wondering what sleep medicine options you have available to you and who you can go to for sleep disorder treatment.

We've broken down your options here and what you need to know when deciding.

Why?

Well, in looking to improve your sleep it can be confusing to know who are the best sleep specialists for your problems.

Or it can simply be difficult to find the best sleep physician or sleep psychologist with the experience, knowledge or special training in sleep medicine to give useful treatment.

Here’s what you need to know.

Are All Sleep Medicine Specialists The Same?

No. First, it's important to understand that there are over 80+ sleep disorders.

We sometimes say that the (overly) simple way to think of sleep disorders is that they run on a continuum of problems, ranging from those that are super sleepy (i.e. they can't stay awake) through to those that are super alert (i.e. they can't get to sleep). And there are a bunch of disorders that can be on or off the continuum as they involve unusual sleep-related behaviours that may or may not disrupt sleep (known as parasomnias).

With such a wide range of sleep disorders you will find some disorders are better treated by certain types of specialists than others.

This is an important point because if you go to the wrong sleep consultant, they may not provide the comprehensive assessment and treatment services that you need.

Sometimes the treatment provider lacks enough knowledge themselves to realise they are doing a less than good job.

Hint: always read google reviews, they are enlightening and may save you a waste of time and money.

Who Do I See For Trouble Falling Asleep, Staying Asleep, Waking Early?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterised by trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking early.

The recommended first line treatment for short-term and chronic insomnia disorder (CID) is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (also known as CBTi or CBT-i).

Sleep medications, also known as sleeping pills, are the recommended second line treatment and only indicated for short term usage.

Many people are surprised to find that CID is best diagnosed and treated by a sleep psychologist, also known as a behavioural sleep medicine specialist.

This is because the recommended CBTi was designed by psychologists and generally requires the skills of a psychologist or a psychiatrist to deliver as a comprehensive treatment.

That means most medical practitioners, including some sleep doctors or sleep physicians often lack the right skills and training to deliver this kind of treatment.

As we are psychologists, so the above no doubt sounds self-serving. So here's the passage from the text book on sleep for GPs, Primary Care Sleep Medicine: A Practical Guide.

So for the best results (note: there are briefer treatment models, and research suggests they aren’t as effective) you should expect that those that offer specialist CID treatment will provide comprehensive assessment and treatment. Full and effective multi-component CBTi treatment includes:

• a comprehensive 60-90min assessment via clinical interview (CID does not require sleep studies or HSATs);

• assessment should include a minimum of 7 days of sleep logs (many competent and clinically experienced treatment providers will not provide treatment without sleep logs);

• assessment would ideally screen for mental health conditions (as many CID sufferers have co-occurring mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD) and physical health conditions.

• a session by session format, often numbering around 5-8 sessions (scientific studies have identified 5+ sessions as being the most effective "dose" of sessions for standalone insomnia).

CBTi treatment is not the same as sleep hygiene instructions. Sleep hygiene is not an effective standalone treatment for CID.

Insomnia Treatment Providers, Christchurch & Canterbury Region

Assessment, diagnosis and treatment service options in Christchurch New Zealand include:

• In person options include sleep clinics and potentially clinical psychologists trained in CBTi;

• The Better Sleep Clinic - online sleep clinic providing specialist insomnia consults NZ wide by Zoom with full 90min assessment, sleep logs + full close support session by session CBTi treatment

If you prefer local services and face-to-face treatment in Christchurch there are options and google is a good resource.

If you find you don't get results from the professionals you see, please don’t give up. It may be simply that the treatment is too brief (check the google reviews to see what people say about treatment).

The good news is our service is very different and we can provide you a comprehensive treatment service that follows best-practice guidelines for CBT-i treatment (check out our google reviews while you're at it).

In addition to the online CBTi offered by our clinic you could also try an online consult with Dr Tony Fernando, a sleep psychiatrist in Auckland. As a psychiatrist Dr Fernando is specialised in the prescription of sleep medications and offers a brief CBTi service. Brief CBT for insomnia is not as effective as full multicomponent CBTi but it's still pretty effective.

Who Do I See For Snoring, Respiratory (Breathing) Problems & Daytime Sleepiness?

Snoring and sleep related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, OSA (also spelt obstructive sleep apnoea), central sleep apnoea, often come with daytime sleepiness (not always though). These conditions are best diagnosed and treated by respiratory physicians and sleep medicine doctors, and sometimes by Ear Nose Throat Doctors, also known as ENT physicians (e.g. deviated septum causing snorting or you need surgery to resolve your problem). They may be supported by sleep technologists or sleep physiologists.

Typically health professionals at the sleep centres that treat these conditions will have accredited training in respiratory medicine and provide testing services and treatment that may include:

• home sleep test (HSAT) to diagnose your condition;

• overnight sleep studies in a lab with polysomnography (not commonly required but are the gold standard for diagnosing OSA and some other sleep disorders);

• treatment options for your condition which may include, but are not limited to, continuous positive airway pressure (cpap) therapy, surgery, epap therapy, and oral appliances (e.g. mandibular advancement device).

• ongoing monitoring of your treatment to ensure your symptoms are under control.

Therapy for snoring is not typically required as snoring is not dangerous if you do not have OSA, but most sleep doctors can provide treatment to eliminate snoring if you are being forced to make a choice between your partner or treatment.

Note that 30% of OSA sufferers will have co-occurring insomnia. In these situations, research suggests insomnia treatment should come first.

Sleep Clinics & Sleep Health Providers In Christchurch For Snoring & Respiratory Problems

Testing and treatment services options in Christchurch and Canterbury region wide, include:

• Christchurch Hospital

• Cansleep - diagnosis via full level 2 polysomnographic sleep study and level 3 HSAT

If you want to expand your options you could also try Eden Sleep. They don't have a Christchurch-based office but offer level 3 HSAT and would likely courier throughout New Zealand and provide consultation online.

Who Do I See For Parasomnias And Other Sleep Disorders?

Adults suffering sleep conditions such as parasomnias, Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders (CRSDs), are usually considered to be best treated by medications or devices (e.g. bright light for circadian rhythm disorders). That would mean a mixture of sleep medicine doctors and sleep psychiatrists. However, often these disorders have components of insomnia (especially RLS and CRSDs) which respond to behavioural treatment with a sleep psychologist.

Likewise, CBTi and support from a psychologist is emerging as an important treatment option across the sleep conditions including those traditionally seen as purely medically treated (e.g. narcolepsy, parasomnias). This is because CBTi deepens sleep and improves sleep quality across the disorders, and sleep disorders are difficult and present mental health and wellbeing challenges for sufferers. Sleep psychologists also offer this support.

Parasomnias, RLS, Circadian Rhythm Disorders Treatment In Christchurch

Assessment, diagnosis and treatment options in Christchurch include:

• Cansleep - can offer medications and diagnosis of the disorders that are only diagnosed by polysomnography

• The Better Sleep Clinic - online session by session close support treatment

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Insomnia CBTi In Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington, Otago & NZ Wide

Find out about Wellington sleep clinic options and what our Auckland sleep clinic sleep disorders services are.

Sleep psychologists from the Better Sleep Clinic are available by appointment online throughout NZ.

We are the leading sleep clinic in New Zealand for insomnia (check out our 5 star reviews), and the only providers of multi-component CBTi throughout NZ.
Request a free 15min consult below or simply book your initial assessment appointment through our online booking portal to get started!

Updated: 22 Nov 23

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