Behavioral sleep medicine is like physical therapy…for your sleep
It is brief, personalized, and empowering.
Just like physical therapy, sleep therapy starts with a thorough assessment to understand the often not-so-obvious roots of your symptoms. Low back pain might not indicate anything wrong with your spine (it might be weak glutes/hamstrings!), and trouble falling asleep might not actually have much to do with your racing mind at bedtime. Working with a behavioral sleep medicine specialist begins with uncovering the mechanisms of why you don’t sleep well. Then, they will give you the education and tools to reset your sleep over the course of several weeks, guiding you along the way with tailored treatment modifications. By the end of this brief course of therapy, you will have a full toolbelt for maintaining your sleep health for years to come.
Yes, even if you’ve had sleep problems for decades,
even if you’re taking multiple sleep medications,
even if you have chronic pain, a history of trauma, or other medical or psychiatric conditions,
you can overcome your sleep problems and live life to the fullest.
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Insomnia
Struggling to fall or stay asleep is a lonely and frustrating experience. Fortunately, whether you’ve had insomnia for a few months or decades, it’s possible to overcome it without medications. In fact, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold standard treatment that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends over any sleep medication. We tailor CBT-I to your unique sleep-wake patterns and help you to taper off medications.
Usual course of therapy: 4-8 sessions
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Shift Work and Circadian Rhythm Disorders
When your biological clock is thrown off rhythm by jetlag, shift work, or trying to live as a hardwired night owl in a morning person’s world (i.e., delayed sleep phase)… it’s impossible to feel good or function well. We use strategic sleep-wake scheduling, light therapy, and medication timing to help your circadian clock align with your work/social obligations, or to create a sustainable sleep-wake system that allows you to get the most out of life.
Usual course of therapy: 2-4 sessions
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Nightmares
Nightmaring is a learned behavior for the brain. That means it can be unlearned. Overcoming frequent or distressing nightmares can improve your overall sleep, decrease anxiety/depression, and decrease symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommended treatment, we can help you to gain control over your dream experience.
Usual course of therapy: 1-3 sessions
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Narcolepsy and Hypersomnia
Narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia can be debilitating conditions that disrupt your relationships, work success, creative pursuits, and self-esteem. But it’s possible to live a full life with medication treatments and behavioral skills. We take a compassionate approach to helping you manage symptoms, advocate for yourself, and communicate with your important people in a way that empowers you.
Usual course of therapy: 4-6 sessions