Episode 169: Getting to the root of your sleep problems (and how to help them!) with Helen Dugdale

Sleep is one of those things we assume should be simple… until it’s not.

In this episode, I’m joined by brain coach and author Helen Dugdale to talk about what’s really going on underneath sleep struggles.

Helen shares how sleep issues are rarely just about sleep. We explore how anxiety, unprocessed stress, and subconscious patterns keep the nervous system switched on — and what it actually takes to shift out of the mind and back into the body so you can reclaim deep, restorative rest. 

We talk about: 

👉🏻 How to identify the root cause of your sleep disruption 

👉🏻 How to shift out of your mind & into your body 

👉🏻 How to reclaim your sleep  Helen brings both science and lived experience to this conversation.  

If sleep has felt like a battle, my hope is this episode helps you approach it with more compassion — and gives you a new lens for understanding what your body might actually be asking for.  

You can connect with Helen and explore her work here! 

About Helen: 

Helen runs personal development programs and individual brain-coaching consultations across Narrabri NSW, the Newcastle area, Sydney, and Melbourne. Through brain coaching, she supports clients in improving sleep, overcoming anxiety, fears and phobias, setting meaningful goals, and staying motivated.  

Her background spans science, education, training, and psychology, along with certifications in NLP, EMDR, and Wingwave methodologies. Helen graduated with a psychology degree from UNE at age 62, has climbed Kilimanjaro, completed her first marathon at 57, and is the author of Put Insomnia to Sleep. She is currently writing her next book, Overcoming Anxiety.  

Helen is deeply passionate about helping people change unhelpful thinking patterns and create more productive, fulfilling lives — starting with a well-rested brain.