You deserve to sleep again.
If you’ve been lying awake at 3am wondering why nothing works, CBT-I is the treatment your doctor will recommend. It’s short, it’s proven, and it’s available online to anyone in British Columbia: from Vancouver and Victoria to Kelowna, Prince George, and everywhere in between.
Delivered by Graeme Thompson, RCC — Registered Clinical Counsellor, CBT-I Certified, MA Counselling Psychology
Are you a clinician? Refer a patient here
4 in 5
patients improve their sleep with CBT-I
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Virtual sessions available across B.c.
Flexible fees & Insurance accepted
Backed by Hundreds of studies
CBT-I: The treatment that actually fixes insomnia.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia isn't sleep hygiene tips or relaxation podcasts. It's a structured, short-term therapy that targets the root causes of why you can't sleep, not just the symptoms.
Instead of relying on pills that stop working, CBT-I retrains the patterns that keep insomnia going. It works by rebuilding your body's natural ability to sleep.
Rebuild your sleep drive
Your body has a natural pressure to sleep. Insomnia disrupts it. We restore it so sleep comes naturally again.
Break the bed-wakefulness connection
Your brain has learned to associate bed with being awake. We reverse that so your bed means sleep again.
Quiet the racing mind
The worry, the clock-watching, the dread of another bad night. We address the thought patterns that fuel insomnia.
At BC CBT-I, we integrate CBT-I with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for the most effective, flexible approach to restoring your sleep.
This isn't alternative medicine.
It's the most researched treatment for insomnia in the world. Every major medical guideline recommends it.
"CBT-I should be the first-line treatment for all adults with chronic insomnia."American College of Physicians, Annals of Internal Medicine
"Strong recommendation for CBT-I as the treatment of choice for insomnia disorder."World Sleep Society Position Statement, Sleep Medicine (2023)
"CBT-I is now unequivocally recommended as first-line treatment for insomnia."European Sleep Research Society, Journal of Sleep Research (2023)
Your Therapist
Graeme Thompson, RCC
I started BC CBT-I because there is a glaring need for qualified sleep therapists in British Columbia. I’ve seen the life-changing difference it makes when someone finally overcomes their insomnia. It’s the difference between surviving and actually thriving.
I’m excited to be part of that transformation with you.
What clients are saying.
Sleep restriction was tough for the first few weeks. Graeme said it would be. A month later I'm falling asleep before 11 most nights, which hasn't happened in years.
I'd been waking up at 4am for what feels like every night for two years. By week five that was becoming the exception, rather than the norm. I genuinely don't know why I waited so long.
15 years of feeling like a zombie, I'd pretty much just decided that insomnia was my life. I really didn't think it would work but figured I didn't have anything to lose giving it a try. So glad I did. I'm falling asleep like a normal person now, still have some midnight wake ups, but I've made a ton of progress.
Identifying details have been removed for privacy and confidentiality. Testimonials are used with the permission of clients following treatment.
Three steps to better sleep.
Book a free consult
A 15 minute conversation to understand your sleep challenges and see if CBT-I is right for you. No commitment, no pressure.
Start your personalized program
We'll track your sleep data and build a treatment plan tailored to you. Weekly sessions, online, on your schedule.
Sleep again
Most people see meaningful improvement within 6 to 8 sessions. The skills you learn stay with you. No ongoing medication, no dependency.
You Don't Have to Keep Living Like This
Book a free consultation and let’s talk about how CBT-I can help you sleep again.
Common Questions About CBT-I
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CBT-I is a structured, short-term treatment specifically designed for chronic insomnia. Unlike general therapy, it focuses entirely on the thoughts, behaviours, and patterns that keep insomnia going -- not just stress or mental health broadly. Most people complete it in 6 to 8 sessions. Not sure whether your sleep problem qualifies? Take the Sleep and Insomnia Assessment to find out.
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Yes. BC CBT-I offers fully virtual sessions to clients anywhere in British Columbia. You don't need to be in a major city -- if you have a stable internet connection, you can access treatment.
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MSP does not cover CBT-I. However, many extended health benefit plans cover sessions with a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), which is what CBT-I at BC CBT-I is billed under. Check your plan for RCC coverage -- most employer plans include it. For a detailed breakdown of what to expect, see Is CBT-I Covered by MSP or Extended Benefits in BC? and How Therapy Insurance Actually Works in BC. You can also review the Flexible Fee Model for information on sliding scale and direct billing options.
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Sleep medication manages symptoms while you take it. CBT-I addresses the underlying patterns that cause insomnia -- so results last long after treatment ends. Major medical guidelines now recommend CBT-I as the first-line treatment before medication for chronic insomnia. See how CBT-I compares to every other insomnia treatment in Insomnia Treatments Ranked.
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Most people notice meaningful improvement within the first 3 to 4 sessions. A full course is typically 6 to 8 weekly sessions. Unlike medication, the improvements tend to strengthen over time rather than plateau.
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No referral is needed. You can book a free 15-minute consultation directly through the BC CBT-I website to see if the program is right for you.
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CBT-I outcomes are strongly influenced by how it's delivered. A structured, individualized program with a trained therapist produces significantly better results than self-guided apps or generic sleep hygiene advice. If a previous attempt didn't work, it's worth exploring why before writing off the treatment. Many people who haven't gotten results from sleep hygiene tips alone find that structured CBT-I is a different experience -- see My Doctor Said I Just Need Better Sleep Hygiene. Why Isn't It Working? for more on why that distinction matters.
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Yes. CBT-I has strong evidence for insomnia that co-occurs with anxiety, depression, chronic pain, menopause, and other conditions. At BC CBT-I, ACT is integrated into treatment for clients where psychological flexibility and acceptance work is especially relevant. For more on the menopause connection, see Insomnia During Perimenopause and Menopause. For more on how ACT fits into this approach, see How ACT Complements CBT-I.
