“Now I don’t even have to think about sleep”: How Regan Duff found freedom from 10 years of insomnia with Sleep Works

For nearly a decade, Regan Duff lived with a sleep struggle that few people around her fully understood.

“It started during undergrad,” she shared, “and for 10 years, I dealt with nights where I wouldn’t fall asleep until 4 or 5 in the morning. Several times a week, I’d be lying there, wide awake, knowing I had to function the next day—and I couldn’t.”

As the years wore on, the impact deepened. Her work, social life, and mental health all began to suffer. Despite trying countless strategies including books, podcasts, and even self-guided CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Insomnia) attempts; nothing worked.

That changed when she heard Martha Beck, the bestselling author and Oprah’s life coach, speak about Sleep Works on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast.

“She said it had cured her lifelong insomnia. I was skeptical, but curious,” Regan admitted. “When I checked out the website and read the bios, I just had a feeling it was going to be a really great resource.”

“I clicked with Leah right away.”

After booking a free consultation call, Regan found herself quickly drawn to the team.

“Leah had a similar experience with sleep to mine. Then she invited me to a free webinar that Marlee was hosting on sleep and ADHD—and immediately after, I signed up for the 6-week CBT-I group program.”

While Regan was initially nervous about sharing her story in a group format, that quickly changed. “I don’t usually talk about insomnia. It’s hard to explain it to people who don’t get it. But in the group, I didn’t have to explain—everyone just understood. It was one of the most supportive experiences I’ve had.”

She even missed the group when it was over.

“The biggest shift was in my mindset.”

Despite years of research and trial-and-error, Regan said the program taught her something new—and deeply impactful.

“The piece I hadn’t learned on my own was how powerful negative sleep thoughts were. I didn’t even realize I was having them. But once I started observing and challenging them, everything changed.”

Instead of spiraling with thoughts like ‘I’m going to be a disaster tomorrow’ or ‘I’ll never sleep again’, she learned to interrupt that cycle. “The negative sleep thoughts weren’t true. And they were making everything worse. That awareness was a total game-changer.”

She also emphasized how Sleep Works handled sleep scheduling—something she had struggled to apply from books. “Other programs made it so rigid I couldn’t function. But Marlee and Leah had a much more supportive and realistic approach. Tracking data and checking in with them made all the difference.”

“Twelve weeks later, I had my first full week of good sleep.”

It wasn’t an instant fix—but it was a lasting one.

“During the program, I started noticing improvements. But at the 12-week mark, it all clicked. I had my first full week of solid sleep in years—and it felt amazing.”

Now, Regan says, sleep no longer dominates her mental space.

“I used to wake up thinking about how tired I was and fall asleep worrying about the night ahead. Now, I just live my life. I have space in my brain for the things I actually care about. My mental health has drastically improved.”

Even after one poor night of sleep post-travel, Regan was shocked to remember how bad things used to be. “I can’t believe I lived like that for so long. It’s like night and day.”

“There’s nothing else out there like this.”

Regan is now planning a move to Australia for a working holiday; a life change made possible by a new sense of energy, confidence, and peace.

“There’s just nothing like Sleep Works out there. I searched for years. Marlee and Leah know exactly what to do and they care.”

Her message to others?

“If you’re struggling, don’t try to fix it alone. This program works. And you deserve to feel like yourself again.”

Meet Your Sleep Coaches: Marlee & Leah

At Sleep Works, we’ve helped hundreds of people just like Regan 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.

Schedule your free consult here