About Rusne

Insomnia is brutal. It messes with your mood, your memory, and your energy. Worst of all, it makes you question whether you're even capable of handling your own life. I remember lying in bed: too tired to think, too wired to sleep, already deciding which plans I’d need to cancel the next day. No matter how the night went, I already knew - it wouldn’t be enough rest.

Probably like you, I tried everything: supplements, meditation apps, diet changes, medication. I even saw a bioenergetic healer… Some things helped a little, but nothing truly made much difference. Despite some waves of despair, I was determined to find the way out.

And I did. I discovered CBT-I, a science-backed method specifically created for insomnia. And it’s what led me here (full story below). Not just to work in sleep health, but to help others get out of the hole I once crawled out of myself.

My Story

At 27, fresh out of grad school, I found myself drowning in exhaustion and emotional turmoil after years of intense studies and a draining relationship. Returning home (to Lithuania), I started a career as a psychologist, only to realize that while I grew professionally, my sleep was getting worse. What began as an occasional night of poor sleep soon spiraled into a full-blown insomnia. For years, I battled exhaustion, my days blurred but were always marked by fatigue and frustration. Does that sound familiar ...? That was my life until 2023 brought some hope. Discovering Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) felt like stumbling upon a forgotten treasure. I couldn’t believe myself… I’d already encountered this methodology during my final year of bachelor's studies. But at that point I was still sleeping really well. Now a decade later, it resurfaced like a lifeline showing me the way to actual sleep. Yet, I was still sceptical. It took an emergency room visit to help me really decide. You see, the very pills meant to alleviate insomnia resulted in a severe allergic reaction (I still have a photo from that day…). Right there a doctor told me: it’s either insomnia or a continuous battle with allergic reactions. It wasn't just the side effects from meds that I was dealing with. Over the last year of insomnia I'd lost about a third of my hair, had constantly chipped nails, poor memory and chronic body pains. All due to long-term stress, worrying about my sleep. I couldn't do this anymore. I took several days of feeling sorry for myself, talking myself out of trying, and then finally resolving to just do it. So I revisited CBT-I. I even found the protocols on my old laptop… Day by day, week by week, I navigated the treatment plan that I made for myself. Despite the ups and downs I felt the gradual transformation of my sleep. Though not with ease. It was two more months of feeling tired and being strict with myself. But it also led me to yearning to go to bed and sleeping through the night. Urged by loved ones, I documented this journey (in Lithuanian). It wasn’t pretty. But it was very real. As my sleep journey came to an end, I committed to guiding others from the same pains I had experienced. I became a certified CBT-I practitioner. Today, I stand not as a victim of insomnia, but as an example (among ample others) that insomnia is treatable. I couldn’t be more excited to guide others through their sleep journeys, helping to remember what it’s like to wake up happy and excited for the day.

My Approach

I won’t ask you to quit coffee, buy essential oils, or meditate for hours. I focus on what actually helps sleep.

I use a structured CBT-I approach. We focus on practical strategies that address the habits and patterns keeping your sleep stuck. I work best with people who are motivated to follow a clear plan, and who want straight answers rather than vague advice.

Here is what you can expect from me:

A step-by-step method, based on research
Practical adjustments tailored to your situation
No fluff, no gimmicks, no pressure to "relax more"
Support that is calm, honest, and clear

Sleep can transform, but not with quick fixes or fancy new technology
You deserve to understand what’s happening in your body
Change can be uncomfortable, but it’s possible with support
You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be consistent
You are not lazy or broken. You are tired, and your system needs help
This method is not a short-term diet. It often requires long-term shifts in how you live, work, and rest. That’s part of what makes it so effective.

Behavioral Sleep Specialist, trained in CBT-I
Master’s in Psychology, with over 7 years of counseling experience
Lived experience of chronic insomnia and recovery through CBT-I
Focus on chronic insomnia

More about my credentials: here.

What I Believe In

My Professional Background

My Goal For You

I want sleep to stop being a daily frustration for you. I want you to feel calm going to bed. I want you to trust that your body knows how to rest.

Not everyone reaches their final sleep goals during our work together. And that’s okay. Sometimes my role is to help you get stable again. Once you have that foundation, many people continue on their own. That’s often when energy and lightness come back.

I’m not here to fix you. I’m here to walk next to you until your sleep finds its rhythm again.

And yes, it really is possible.

Schedule a session