Get Help for Insomnia: CBT-I

Having adequate sleep contributes to healthy development and is vital to emotional and physical well being. Unfortunately, difficulties with sleep are widespread in today’s society and chronically insufficient sleep has been associated with a range of functional impairments, including decreased attention, academic performance, social functioning, depression and anxiety. The good news is that there are ways to improve sleep!

Cognitive behavior therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is recognized as a first line treatment for insomnia. Benefits include less time to fall asleep, more time spent asleep, and waking up less during sleep. And the benefits of CBT often last over time, well beyond treatment.

Individuals who participate in CBT for sleep-related difficulties can learn to:

• Understand the relationship between sleep and anxiety 

• Develop a healthy sleep schedule and bedtime routine

• Implement healthy practices, habits, and environmental factors important for reducing nighttime anxiety and getting adequate sleep 

• Use relaxation techniques to calm nighttime anxious arousal 

• Identify their anxious thoughts and develop coping thoughts that are more adaptive

• Reduce difficulties with falling asleep

• Use effective parenting strategies for helping their child to sleep alone