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Aegis Psychological Services' home page. It provides an introduction to the administrative and clinical staff, as well as a description of the services they offer to individuals and families in stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and loss. Our clinical team includes a psychologist and a special educator.
Lonely Links is an Aegis community service site that helps people living in Victoria, BC and to a lesser extent other parts of British Columbia fight loneliness by connecting with psychological, medical, financial and social resources.
Fear Doctor Seminars is Vancouver Island's definitive source for cognitive Behaviour training in anxiety management techniques. Services will include current group cognitive Behaviour therapy programs at Aegis, as well as soon to be available, classroom-style seminars and online courses.
Light Therapy: Insomnia

As the body ages, the circadian clock begins to change. Individuals in their 50s and 60s can experience changes in their sleeping patterns, which can affect their quality of life.

There are multiple factors at play, including the weakening of the circadian rhythms, which control wake/sleep behaviours. Another factor is that most older adults, especially those in nursing homes, receive inadequate light. In one sample of a nursing home, patients received only 1.6 minutes of bright light exposure per day.

How do you know if you are light deprived?
Due to the changes in circadian rhythms and insufficient bright light exposure, many seniors may experience:

  • Sleep fragmentation
  • Sleepiness early evening
  • Wakefulness in the middle of the night
  • Interrupted sleep
  • Wandering

How can the 50 plus reset their body clock?
Clinical studies have shown that as we age, we respond favorably to bright light exposure. Depending on the exact nature of the individual's sleep difficulties, he or she may benefit from 30 minutes of light exposure upon waking and another 30 minutes in the afternoon. The amount of time exposed to bright light is different for every individual. To develop a schedule that best meet your needs, you should seek advice from your health professional.

Bright light exposure is not recommended for individuals with a history of cataracts or macular degeneration, or who have undergone corrective laser eye surgery in the past 30 days.