Sleep should be a time of rest and recovery. But for many people, the night brings vivid dreams, disturbing nightmares, or even frightening night terrors that leave them feeling exhausted, anxious, or unsettled. If your sleep is disrupted by emotional or intense experiences at night, therapy can help you explore what these patterns may be trying to tell you—and find peace in your rest again.
Why Night-Time Disturbances Matter
Dreams and nightmares often reflect what’s going on in the unconscious mind. They can be connected to memories, fears, unresolved emotions, or even symbolic messages from the psyche. While not all dreams are significant, recurring patterns, disturbing imagery, or emotionally intense experiences during sleep can signal something deeper wanting attention.
You may be experiencing:
- Recurring nightmares
- Sleep disrupted by fear, panic, or confusion
- Night terrors that affect your safety or leave you drained
- Dreams with strong emotional impact or symbolic meaning
- Anxiety about going to sleep due to what you might experience
These experiences aren’t just “in your head.” They often carry emotional weight and are worthy of gentle exploration.
A Therapeutic Approach to Understanding Dreams
In our sessions, I offer a supportive space to:
- Explore the content and emotional tone of your dreams
- Understand how dreams may be linked to trauma, stress, or inner conflict
- Use dream analysis techniques from integrative therapy traditions (e.g. Gestalt or Jungian insights)
- Learn how to calm the nervous system and restore sleep
- Build rituals or practices that support rest and safety at night
Whether your sleep disruptions are linked to recent stress or long-held trauma, therapy can help you gently understand and transform your experience of the night.
Reclaiming Rest and Meaning
I believe the mind is always trying to tell us something—even when it whispers (or shouts) in dreams. Therapy provides a space not just for symptom relief, but for meaning-making. Together, we can listen to what your mind is trying to process, and help you feel safer, calmer, and more connected—even in sleep.
I’m John Pio Groarke, an integrative psychotherapist based in Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland, working in person and online. My approach is trauma-informed, person-centred, and open to dreamwork for those who are curious.
Let’s Talk About What Keeps You Up at Night
If nightmares, night terrors, or difficult dreams are affecting your wellbeing, please know you don’t have to figure it out alone. You’re not broken—and you deserve rest.
📍 Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland
📞 +353 87 383 0488
📧 info@therapywithjohn.ie
🌐 www.therapywithjohn.ie
A good night’s sleep can begin with a safe space to talk.