Why You Can’t Control Sleep
Most people think sleep is something they can control, that if they just try harder, they’ll fall asleep.
But sleep doesn’t work that way.
In this short video, Dr David Garley (GP and Sleep Specialist) explains how sleep is actually regulated, and why trying harder to sleep often makes things worse. This free video shares key ideas from The Better Sleep Insomnia Course, an expert-led CBTi programme that helps people rebuild healthy sleep patterns and recover from insomnia. These ideas are explored in more depth within the course, with evidence-based techniques and downloadable reference sheets to help you get your sleep back on track.
If you’ve been struggling with sleep, this may already feel familiar.
The problem is — understanding sleep isn’t enough to fix it.
Most people stay stuck because they:
Try to control sleep directly
Rely on short-term fixes
Don’t follow a structured approach
That’s why insomnia can continue for months or even years.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) is the first-line treatment for long-term sleep problems.
But it only works when applied step by step, in a structured way.
Not just another sleep course.
Many online sleep programmes leave you to work through it alone.
This course is different.
Led by experienced clinicians
Email support from our team
Monthly live Q&A sessions
Option to access 1:1 support if needed
You’re supported every step of the way, not left to figure it out on your own.
CBTi (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia) is the leading behavioural method for improving long-term sleep patterns. We’ve created an online course that guides you through the key CBTi strategies step by step, so you can work through the material at your own pace and build healthier sleep habits over time. There are videos and articles, and you can ask us questions as you go along.
A proven way to fix insomnia
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) is the first-line treatment for long-term sleep problems.
But it only works when applied step by step, in a structured way.
This is exactly what the course provides. Our online CBTi course is designed to help you:
Break the cycle of poor sleep
Rebuild a healthy sleep pattern
Feel more rested and in control again
With:
Step-by-step guidance
Practical tools and exercises
Ongoing support from our clinical team
You can start improving your sleep today, and start immediately, with no GP referral or waiting lists.
Dr David Garley
David is the Better Sleep Insomnia Course instructor. He is a GP and director of The Better Sleep Clinic.
He first worked in sleep medicine when he was a respiratory doctor in the NHS. Many sleep disorder relate to how you breathe when you sleep, which is why so many patients with sleep disorders are often seen by respiratory doctors.
He treats patients with insomnia in 1:1 sessions with CBT-i and other evidence-based treatments. He also works with large organisations to fix sleep problems at work, and with high-performance sport teams including the TeamGB Olympic team, Premiership football and Formula One.
He is a member of the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Sleep Society