Sleep & Insomnia

Jen Meller
Mar 1, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Sep 10, 2025

Sleep isn’t just something we do—it’s something our whole system has to feel safe enough to allow. And when that sense of safety isn’t there, even basic rest can feel out of reach.

If you’re dealing with chronic insomnia or disrupted sleep, you’ve probably heard all the usual tips: limit screens, try meditation, stick to a bedtime routine. And maybe some of those things help—until they don’t.

Because when your body and nervous system are stuck in high alert, sleep hygiene alone usually isn’t enough.

Rather than trying to “fix” your sleep, we’ll get curious about why rest feels hard in the first place. What’s going on in your body, mind, or emotional world that’s keeping your system wired, vigilant, or unsettled?

Often, poor sleep isn’t the core problem—it’s a signal. Something deeper is asking for attention.

We might explore this through Internal Family Systems (IFS), gently getting to know the parts of you that come alive at night—the ones that feel restless or on guard. These parts are often trying to protect you in ways that once made sense, even if they’re no longer helping now.

Or we might use Somatic Experiencing, supporting your nervous system in releasing stored survival energy. Polyvagal Theory can also help us understand how your body moves between states of safety, stress, and shutdown—and what might help bring more regulation and ease.

I lived with severe insomnia for nearly a decade.So when clients come to me feeling exhausted, frustrated, or ashamed of how hard sleep has become, I don’t just understand—I’ve been there. And I know how disorienting it can feel.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But there is a path back to rest, to rhythm, to trust in your body again. We’ll find it—together.

If you’re curious about working with me, you can book a consult here.