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“I thought my insomnia couldn’t be helped, until I found Sleep Works.”: How Jovana Miljanovic reclaimed her sleep, and her hope, with Sleep Works.



For years, sleep wasn’t a problem for Jovana Miljanovic. As a trauma-informed coach and educator based in Serbia, she prioritized her emotional and mental health. But when a broken alarm system in her apartment began going off randomly in the night, it triggered old memories of war and trauma from her childhood. Suddenly, sleep became unpredictable, terrifying, and elusive.


“I never had insomnia before,” Jovana explained. “But the alarm reminded me of bombing from when I was 9 years old. It triggered PTSD. I’d fall asleep, then wake up at 2:00 a.m. and lie awake until 6:00 a.m. It felt like my brain had fallen into a loop of negativity. No light, no hope, no way out.”


By 2025, the problem had compounded. Jovana had tried everything: red lights, early dinners, long walks, strict phone curfews, and even CBD oil. “I’m very disciplined,” she said. “I do therapy. I coach others. But I thought this was beyond me. I honestly believed I couldn’t be helped.”


Then she remembered something Martha Beck, bestselling author and Oprah’s life coach, had mentioned in Jovana’s certification program years earlier: a sleep program that had cured Martha’s own insomnia. “I Googled it right away and booked a free consult. As soon as I spoke to the Sleep Works team, I felt safe. I just knew: these are the people who can help me.”


“I needed new thoughts in my brain.”

Desperate for relief, Jovana enrolled in the self-paced CBT-I course. “I wanted to absorb everything. Not to confirm what I already knew, but to listen for what I didn’t. If I already knew everything, I’d be sleeping. Clearly, something was missing.”


Two things stood out immediately:


1) Learning how sleep cycles actually work.

“It was such a relief. I thought I was waking up 20 times a night and not sleeping at all. But learning that if you’re dreaming, you already went through certain stages of sleep first. That gave me hope and I realized I wasn’t totally broken. My body knew what to do.”


2) Rewriting the panic loop.

“The first night after starting the course, I still woke up, but I didn’t freak out. I said to myself, ‘We’re not going to die from not sleeping. We’re just not going to do the drama tonight.’ That was a huge shift. I stopped spiraling and started being kind to myself.”


“From survival to stability.”

Jovana described her insomnia recovery not as an instant fix, but a process of gentle rewiring. “Of course the panic didn’t disappear overnight. My body was used to the loop. But I had a new script now. I could say: This is normal. Let’s see if the body wants to go back to sleep. If not, that’s okay.”


The course helped her take pressure off perfection. “I still wake up sometimes. But now I get curious instead of self-critical. Did I eat something late? Was I stressed? I don’t make it mean something terrible. I just respond with care.”


Even more than the sleep techniques, it was the emotional permission that helped the most. “I stopped using information against myself. I stopped trying to be the perfect sleeper. I started giving myself grace.”


“This wasn’t just about sleep.”

For Jovana, the transformation has been deeply personal.


“I was hopeless. Powerless. I didn’t have positive thoughts anymore. But this course gave me just enough light to hold onto. It reminded me I’m not broken. That I’m not alone. And that my body knows how to care for itself.”


She also spoke about how little wins started to matter. “When you’re sleep-deprived, everything counts; how you talk to yourself, what you eat, whether you see the sun. I’d done it all before, but nothing worked until I addressed the thought patterns the way the course teaches.”


“You can’t fake this kind of care.”

Jovana wants others to know that Sleep Works isn’t just another wellness trend.


“I’ve been in business for 10 years. I’ve worked with thousands of people. You can’t fake this kind of care. Marlee and Leah are the real deal. This isn’t about getting rich off people with insomnia. It’s heartfelt work. You feel that the minute you talk to them.”


Her advice to anyone unsure?


“Book the free call. Your body will know if this is right for you. Mine did. And I’m so grateful I listened.”



Meet Your Sleep Coaches: Marlee & Leah


At Sleep Works, we’ve helped hundreds of people just like Jovana finally get the rest they deserve. Our expert sleep therapists, Marlee and Leah, support clients in improving both the quality and quantity of their sleep.


They’re not here to judge. They’re here to support you with warmth, expertise, and a plan that actually works.


How to Get Started (Even If You’re Not Sure Yet)


Whether you’re ready to dive into Sleep Therapy or just curious, we’ve got options:


  • Online Self-Guided Course – Work through the full Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) program at your own pace, on your schedule.

  • Small Group CBT-I Programs – Learn alongside others, with live guidance from our therapists. (Eligible for private Canadian health insurance coverage - inquire for details)

  • 1:1 Private Consultations – Get personalized support tailored to your sleep patterns, challenges and lifestyle.

  • FREE 15-Minute Consultation – Chat with Marlee or Leah to find out which option is right for you. No pressure. Just clarity.


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