Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI)

We offer a clinically validated, multi-component approach to the treatment of insomnia through non-drug methods. Patients who are new to our clinic will need to have an initial consultation prior to commencing CBTI to ensure their sleep problem is suitable for the treatment. 

What is CBT?

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is a treatment methodology that involves changing one’s behaviors and ways of thinking that may be making a particular problem or condition worse. This therapeutic approach has a longstanding history in psychology and has been used to treat a variety of conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and smoking. When used to treat insomnia, it is referred to as CBTI.

Cognitive-behavioral methods have been used to treat insomnia for decades. Numerous studies demonstrating the effectiveness of CBTI have been published in scientific journals (see reference list). Now, new medical research is showing that these methods are not only effective, but they actually can be superior to sleep medication in the long term.

Unlike sleep medications which target the symptoms of insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep), CBTI addresses the causes of insomnia by first helping to identify the factors causing the problem and then correcting them. CBTI does not involve the use of sleep medications which can have potential side effects and be associated with potential physical or psychological dependency.

In order for you to realize the full benefit of the various sleep enhancement strategies, you will need to be committed to implementing the recommended sleep regimen. The CBTI techniques should be practiced at home every day in order for you to realize long-term improvements in the quality of your sleep.

Goals of CBTI

• Reduce the amount of time it takes to fall sleep at night
  
• Reduce the amount of time spent awake in the middle of the night
  
• Improve the quality of sleep
  
• Improve daytime level of alertness and quality of life
  
• Provide the knowledge and skills to help one manage sleep over the long-term without the need for ongoing professional help or medication