About BC CBT-I and Graeme Thompson, RCC.
BC CBT-I is a virtual insomnia therapy practice serving clients across British Columbia. Our focus is narrow by design: we do one thing, we do it well, and we do it with the treatment every major medical guideline actually recommends first.
Graeme Thompson, RCC · Founder of BC CBT-I
I'm Graeme Thompson, a Registered Clinical Counsellor practicing CBT-I across British Columbia.
Founder & Clinical Counsellor · BC CBT-II started BC CBT-I because qualified sleep therapists are rare in this province, and chronic insomnia is one of the most common untreated health conditions in the country. Too many British Columbians cycle through sleep hygiene tips, melatonin, and eventually prescription sedatives before anyone offers them the treatment that every major medical guideline actually recommends first.
My approach is evidence-first and data-driven. We start with your sleep diary. Every change we make is grounded in what your sleep is actually doing, not what a generic sleep protocol assumes. I integrate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, because the thoughts that fuel insomnia don't always respond to restructuring. Sometimes they need a different kind of relationship.
Most clients see meaningful change within four to six weeks. The skills outlast the therapy. That's the difference between surviving insomnia and moving past it, and it's why I find this work genuinely worthwhile.
Four principles that guide every session.
These aren't marketing lines. They're the rules that shape how I run intake, pace treatment, and decide what changes when.
Evidence blended with individualization.
The science tells us what generally works. You tell us what works for you. Good therapy is where those two meet, and why a trained clinician produces better outcomes than a protocol on its own.
Your data drives your treatment.
No two sleep problems are identical. Your sleep diary is the map. Every week we adjust based on what your sleep is actually doing, not what a protocol assumes.
Short-term therapy, long-term skills.
The goal is for you to not need me in six months. CBT-I is time-limited by design, and the skills you learn continue to produce benefit long after we stop meeting.
Respect for what you've already tried.
You haven't failed at sleep. Most of what was offered wasn't built for this problem. A lot of the work is clearing out what doesn't apply before building what does.
CBT-I integrated with ACT for Insomnia.
The combination matters. CBT-I rebuilds the behavioural patterns of sleep. ACT gives you tools for the thoughts and emotions that classical cognitive restructuring doesn't always reach. Together, they produce more durable change than either alone.
CBT-I
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia is the first-line treatment recommended by the American College of Physicians, the World Sleep Society, and Choosing Wisely Canada. It targets the behaviours and thought patterns that keep insomnia going, and it's backed by over 200 clinical trials.
Learn more about CBT-IACT for Insomnia
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy adds tools for the mental arousal that keeps the nervous system revved at bedtime. Rather than arguing with racing thoughts, ACT teaches you how to unhook from them. Particularly effective for clients whose insomnia runs alongside anxiety or hyperarousal.
Research on ACT for InsomniaQualifications, certifications, and specialized training.
CBT-I is a specific protocol requiring specific training. It's not something every Registered Clinical Counsellor is equipped to deliver. Here's what I bring to the work.
What you can expect from the therapeutic relationship.
The protocol is structured. The relationship is not a script. Here's what the partnership actually feels like.
Plainspoken and direct
I tell you what the research says, what I'm recommending, and why. When something isn't working, I name it. You're an intelligent adult making an informed choice, and I treat you that way.
Structured but flexible
The CBT-I protocol is the backbone. The pacing, emphasis, and which components we lead with depend on what your intake and diary actually show. No two treatment plans look identical.
Built to end well
The goal is for you to graduate. Six to eight sessions, relapse prevention built in, and a set of skills you keep. I measure success by the fact that you don't need me anymore.
Clear, transparent, and designed to be accessible.
CBT-I is time-limited therapy, which means the total cost is bounded. Most clients complete treatment in six to eight sessions.
Curious whether CBT-I is right for you?
Book a free fifteen-minute consultation. No commitment, no pressure. We'll talk about your sleep, whether CBT-I is the right fit, and what the path forward could look like.
Book a free consult Read the CBT-I guide