CBT for Insomnia

Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Do you feel sleepy throughout the day? Our sleep is vital for our well-being and lack of sleep can cause a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, relationship difficulties, using too much caffeine, etc. Insomnia can also be the secondary symptom of other psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

People with insomnia have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or have early-morning awakening on a consistent basis. For example, you might find yourself tossing and turning for hours in bed. You might fall asleep quickly at bedtime but wake up several times in the middle of the night and then have trouble falling back asleep. Or you might consistently wake up before your morning alarm clock goes off.

How Can Treatment Help?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia or CBT-I is considered a first line of treatment for insomnia by the American College of Physicians. CBT-I is a non-pharmacological approach to the treatment of insomnia. A CBT-I therapist will take an active and structured role in treating individuals with sleep difficulties. Cognitive, behavioral, and minfulness strategies are introduced such as psychoeducation, assessing negative thoughts about sleep, sleep restriction, stimulus control, relaxation training, and sleep hygiene. When these techniques are used together as a multicomponent approach, CBT-I is a highly effective treatment for clients with primary insomnia. Benefits include less time to fall asleep, more time spent asleep, and waking up less during sleep.

Please reach out if you'd like to find out more.