Insomnia means difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night or waking too early, with an impact on the day that follows. At the CIRCAE sleep centre in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert (Brussels), our neuropsychologists offer cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), the gold-standard treatment to regain natural sleep without dependence on sleeping pills.
Improve the quality and regularity of sleep
Reduce cardio-neuro-vascular risks
Restore daytime energy and alertness
Achieve a lasting improvement in quality of life
Insomnia is a complaint of insufficient or poor-quality sleep despite adequate opportunity: difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, or waking too early in the morning. It always comes with daytime consequences, fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, sleepiness or anxiety. Insomnia is described as chronic when it lasts for more than three months, at least three nights a week.
The causes are often multiple: stress, anxiety, poor sleep habits, pain, but also a vicious circle in which the fear of not sleeping keeps the insomnia going. It is precisely this mechanism that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) helps to break.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia is recommended as first-line treatment by learned societies, ahead of sleeping pills. It targets the causes of insomnia and its effects are lasting.
Restructuring of sleep schedules, management of bedtime thoughts and anxiety, sleep diary and lifestyle. A concrete programme over a few sessions.
CBT-I is offered as individual sessions or as a 5-session group programme. Discover group CBT for insomnia in our services.
Two neuropsychologists specialised in CBT for insomnia support our patients, including with the gradual withdrawal of hypnotics.
Care begins with a specialist consultation; a sleep recording may be offered to rule out another cause (apnoea, restless legs). See the CIRCASLEEP sleep assessment →
A meeting with two sleep experts to assess the type of disorder and the need for an in-depth assessment.
A simple examination carried out at home using a discreet finger ring. It assesses overnight desaturations and the cardiovascular risk associated with apnoea.
Recording of respiratory and cardiac parameters during sleep. Primarily intended for the screening of obstructive sleep apnoea.
The most comprehensive sleep examination. It accurately diagnoses respiratory disorders, severe insomnia, parasomnias and restless legs syndrome.
Depending on your situation, other non-pharmacological approaches can support the return to natural sleep, alongside CBT-I.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. A structured programme of 6 to 8 individual or group sessions (45–60 min) aimed at restoring natural sleep without dependence on sleeping pills.
Delivers pressurised air during sleep to keep the airways open. Eliminates apnoeas and reduces snoring and cardiovascular risk.
The Oniris+ device holds the lower jaw forward to prevent airway obstruction. Thermo-mouldable, adjustable and comfortable.
AYO glasses emit controlled blue light (20 min/day in the morning). The AYO+ models combine stimulating blue light and relaxing red light to regulate the body clock.
Explore the assessments
Our specialties
Sleep centre · Sleep apnoea · Insomnia & CBT-I · Pulmonologist Brussels · Allergist Brussels · Respiratory physio · COPD · Sports physician · Dietitian · Neuropsychologist · Asthma · Snoring · VO2max · Excess weight
