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The Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is a short-term, solution-focused approach that can help you overcome insomnia with cognitive and behavioral strategies that have been proven effective at improving sleep without or with reduced use of sleep medication.

Insomnia is one of the most commonly reported health complaints among American adults: about 1/3 of us experience difficulty falling or staying asleep. Poor sleep can negatively impact mood, relationships, and job performance. While you can’t work harder to force yourself to sleep, you can work smarter.

Working with a psychologist who specializes in CBT-I will help you understand how your thoughts and perceptions about sleep affect your actual ability to fall and stay asleep, how to reframe your thoughts and beliefs about your sleep and sleep-related struggles, and how to optimize your sleep habits for longer, deeper, better sleep. You will also learn how daily stressors and even medical conditions can impact your sleep and learn coping strategies.

With a commitment to CBT-I, you will learn how to:

• Determine your actual sleep needs
• Shift your thoughts and behaviors about sleep from negative to positive
• Strengthen your sleep system
• Create the right physical and mental environment for sleep
• Manage stress
• Employ relaxation response techniques
• Reduce or eliminate dependency on sleep medication

CBT-I is ideal for adults who:

• Have difficulty falling or staying asleep at least 2-3 times per week.
• Are experiencing a life transition or stressful life event.
• Are college students adjusting to living away from home and/or with a roommate.
• Want to avoid or reduce sleep medication usage.
• Can commit to attending regular sessions and completing “homework” on a regular basis for approximately 8-12 weeks.

For more information or to find a CPA psychologist who specializes in CBT-I, please call us at (617) 259-1895 or fill out our brief online intake form.

CBT-I has been featured in a New York Times Well column. Click here to check it out.