Hamilton Sleep Clinic:
Your Guide to Waikato Specialist
Insomnia Treatment & Sleep Medicine Options

If you're living in Hamilton or the wider Waikato region and are experiencing problems with poor sleep, you might be wondering what sleep medicine and behavioural sleep medicine (non-medication) options you have available and who you should see for effective treatment.

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

Why?

Well, when you're looking to improve your sleep, it can be confusing to know who the best sleep specialists are for your specific problems.

Or it can simply be difficult to find a sleep physician or sleep psychologist with the right experience and specialist training in sleep medicine to provide useful and effective 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. Read our reviews here

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

Insomnia is a sleep disorder by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early.

The recommended first-line treatment for both short-term and chronic insomnia disorder (CID) is a specialised therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).

Sleeping pills are considered a second-line treatment and are generally only indicated for short-term use because of side-effects and risk of dependance.

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

This is because the most effective, and recommended insomnia treatment, CBT for insomnia (aka  CBTi), was designed by psychologists and requires the specific skills and understanding of a psychologist or psychiatrist to deliver as a comprehensive treatment.

This means most medical practitioners, including even some sleep doctors or sleep medicine physicians, often lack the specialist training to deliver CBT-I effectively. Instead, they are more often trained to treat sleep-related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea.

For the best results, you should expect that a specialist insomnia treatment service will provide:

• A comprehensive 60-90 minute initial assessment via clinical interview.

• Assessment that includes a minimum of 7 days of sleep diary analysis.

• Screening for co-occurring mental health conditions (like depression, anxiety, PTSD) and physical health conditions.

• A session-by-session treatment format, often around 5-8 sessions, which studies show is the most effective "dose" for lasting results.

• Treatment that goes far beyond basic sleep hygiene advice, which is not an effective standalone treatment for chronic insomnia.

CBTi treatment is not the same as sleep hygiene instructions you can find online. Read our blog to find out why sleep hygiene is not an effective standalone treatment for insomnia

Insomnia Treatment Providers, Hamilton & Waikato Region

When looking for insomnia treatment in Hamilton or the Waikato region, your options include:

• The Better Sleep Clinic - Our online sleep clinic provides specialist insomnia treatment NZ-wide via Zoom. We offer a comprehensive service including a full 90-minute assessment, sleep diary analysis, and close, session-by-session support delivering best-practice, multi-component CBT-I.

• Local Services: If you prefer face-to-face treatment in Hamilton, a search for clinical psychologists in the area may yield options. We recommend you specifically ask if they provide multi-component CBT-I (not just basic sleep advice) and what their treatment structure involves.

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

Snoring and sleep-related breathing disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), are best diagnosed and managed by respiratory physicians and sleep medicine doctors.

Sometimes an Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) physician may be involved if there are nasal issues such as a deviated septum.

Typically, sleep centres that treat these conditions will provide testing (like home sleep tests or in-lab sleep studies) and medical treatments such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, surgery, or oral appliances.

Typically health professionals at the sleep centres that treat these conditions will have accredited training in respiratory and sleep 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;

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

Note that around 30% of people with OSA also suffer from insomnia. In these cases, research suggests the insomnia should be treated first, as improving sleep quality can improve adherence to medical treatments like CPAP.

Sleep Clinics in Hamilton For Snoring & Respiratory Problems

For residents of Hamilton and the Waikato region, your GP is the best first point of contact if you suspect a breathing-related sleep disorder.

They can assess your symptoms and provide a referral to public services via Waikato Hospital or to private sleep specialists in the region.

Most private services in NZ focus on OSA treatment and should be able to courier both a diagnostic device to you, and take you through treatment options if you are diagnosed with a breathing-related sleep disorder.

Who Do I See For Parasomnias And Other Sleep Disorders?

Conditions like parasomnias (e.g., sleepwalking), Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) are traditionally managed with medications or devices, typically overseen by sleep doctors, or GPs.

However, these disorders often have a significant behavioural component, poor sleep in general, or co-occurring insomnia. Support from a sleep psychologist is an emerging area for supporting treatment, especially when insomnia is present (see here for a small study on insomnia treatment in RLS). Working with a sleep psychologist can improve overall sleep quality, and help manage the mental health and wellbeing challenges these conditions present.

Nightmare disorder is treated by a sleep psychologist with training in CBT-n or CBT for nightmares. Circadian rhythm disorders can be treated by a sleep medicine doctor, or a sleep psychologist.

Parasomnias, RLS, Circadian Rhythm Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment in Hamilton and the Waikato

Assessment, diagnosis and treatment options in Hamilton and the Waikato include:

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

• NZ Respiratory & Sleep Institute (NZRSI) in Auckland is the next nearest in-lab polysomnography provider

• The Better Sleep Clinic - online session by session close support treatment for nightmare disorder, circadian rhythm disorders such as delayed sleep phase, shift work disorder, and parasomnias

CBT For Insomnia (CBTi) In Hamilton, the Waikato Region & NZ Wide

Sleep psychologists from The Better Sleep Clinic are available by appointment online throughout NZ, including Hamilton and the entire Waikato region.

We are the leading specialist online clinic in New Zealand for insomnia treatment (check out our 5 star reviews).

Request a free 15min consult below or simply book your initial assessment appointment through our online booking portal to get started!

Find out more about our online services available throughout NZ, including all the major centres, like Hamilton, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and all the not so major centres (it’s online after all!).

Frequently Asked Questions: Hamilton Sleep Clinic

Q: Is online sleep therapy as effective as in-person for Hamilton residents?

A: Yes, extensive research shows that online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), delivered via telehealth by a qualified psychologist, is just as effective as face-to-face therapy. It provides the same structured, evidence-based treatment with the added benefits of convenience and accessibility for anyone in Hamilton and the Waikato region.

Q: Do I need a referral from a Hamilton GP?

A: No, a GP referral is not required to book a consultation with our online sleep psychologists. You can contact us and book an appointment directly through our website.

Q: How is your service different from basic sleep advice?

A: Our clinic provides comprehensive, multi-component CBT-I, which is the gold-standard treatment for chronic insomnia. This goes far beyond basic sleep hygiene tips. Our treatment involves a full 90-minute assessment, sleep diary analysis, and a structured, multi-session program tailored to your specific sleep issues.

Get In Touch!

Request a free 15-minute consult below or simply book your initial assessment appointment through our online booking portal to get started on your journey to better sleep!