Reconnect with your
Maybe your mind races at night, or you wake in the early hours and can’t get back to sleep. Perhaps you’ve tried everything – sleep hygiene tips, supplements, apps – but nothing seems to stick. You might be living with ADHD, anxiety, trauma, or just that feeling that your body and mind aren’t working in sync.
I offer weekly psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic coaching, online, for adults who want to understand their sleep and make meaningful, lasting change. Together, we explore what’s happening in the context of your whole life – your stress, routines, relationships, emotions, environment, and neurodiversity – because sleep never happens in isolation.
If this resonates, you’re welcome to reach out for an initial conversation
Heather Darwall-Smith
My work takes a biopsychosocial approach, which simply means we consider the body, mind, and environment together. While I am a UKCP psychotherapist specialising in sleep and neurodiversity, these are often gateways into deeper work around trauma, addiction, identity, and emotional regulation.
I blend psychotherapy with compassion-focused and mindfulness-based methods, and I bring education and curiosity into every conversation. This isn’t about quick fixes – it’s about understanding yourself more fully, finding balance, and creating a kinder relationship with rest, your body, and your nights.
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How to Be Awake (So You Can Sleep Through the Night) is written from my perspective as a psychotherapist specialising in sleep. Over the years, I’ve worked with people who feel stuck, frustrated, or even hopeless about their sleep – and I’ve seen just how personal and complex these struggles can be. Sleep isn’t just a biological process; it’s entangled with how we think, feel, and live.
This book is my way of sharing what I’ve learned – not just about sleep, but about the emotional and psychological patterns that quietly shape it. It’s not a list of quick fixes. Instead, it offers a compassionate, evidence-based approach to understanding why rest can feel so out of reach – and how to begin reclaiming it.
You won’t find generic tips or one-size-fits-all solutions here. What you will find is a thoughtful guide to self-awareness, nervous system regulation, and small but sustainable shifts that help you feel more grounded by day and more at ease by night.
What they say
Whether you seek short term work or a longterm, more reflective journey, my approach is flexible and responsive. I’ll meet you where you are, offering targeted solutions or a deeper dive, all within a compassionate, empathetic, and balanced environment.
What I help with
Many of my clients arrive exhausted, frustrated, and confused. They’ve tried everything – apps, supplements, sleep hygiene – but nothing sticks.
I specialise in supporting adults in areas including:
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep and waking at 3am
- ADHD-related sleep disruption (hyperfocus, lateness, impulsive nights)
- Trauma- and anxiety-related night awakenings
- Sleep impacted by hormones, grief or burnout
- Poor response to CBT-I or sleep medication
- Addiction issues and sleep
Whether you seek immediate relief or a deeper, more reflective journey, my approach is flexible and responsive. I’ll meet you where you are, offering targeted solutions or a deeper dive, all within a compassionate, empathetic, and balanced environment.
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The Science of Sleep brings together the evidence-based answers to the most common – and often most misunderstood – questions I’m asked in my clinical work.
Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully designed, the book offers a clear, accessible look at how sleep works and why it matters – blending visual storytelling with up-to-date science.
Each chapter explores a key theme: from the history of sleep research to the stages of sleep, the role of technology, and the powerful links between sleep and mental health.
Alongside the science, you’ll find practical guidance – simple strategies to improve sleep habits, manage common sleep issues, and build a more restful relationship with rest. The book also shares real stories from people who’ve struggled with sleep, offering comfort and connection as well as insight.
How to Be Awake (So You Can Sleep Through the Night) is written from my perspective as a psychotherapist specialising in sleep. Over the years, I’ve worked with people who feel stuck, frustrated, or even hopeless about their sleep – and I’ve seen just how personal and complex these struggles can be. Sleep isn’t just a biological process; it’s entangled with how we think, feel, and live.
This book is my way of sharing what I’ve learned – not just about sleep, but about the emotional and psychological patterns that quietly shape it. It’s not a list of quick fixes. Instead, it offers a compassionate, evidence-based approach to understanding why rest can feel so out of reach – and how to begin reclaiming it.
You won’t find generic tips or one-size-fits-all solutions here. What you will find is a thoughtful guide to self-awareness, nervous system regulation, and small but sustainable shifts that help you feel more grounded by day and more at ease by night.
My approach blends psychotherapy with evidence-based sleep techniques. Find out how I do it.
Location
Online
All sessions are held online, offering flexibility and consistency no matter where you are. Many clients appreciate the ease of accessing therapy from home or while travelling, without the disruption of commuting. This approach also allows me to work with people across the UK and internationally, ensuring continuity of care wherever life takes you.