Insomnia
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frequently asked questions about the Insomnia and Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program. |
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The insomnia program is designed to help people of all ages who are troubled by difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep (frequent or prolonged awakenings) and / or difficulty waking up at a desired time. Guided by scientific research knowledge about sleep and insomnia, the treatments focus on changing thoughts and behaviors that interfere with good quality sleep. This skill-based approach consists of multiple treatment components that are often referred to collectively as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). You can read more about CBT-I here.
The experience of insomnia is unique to each person and is impacted by many factors including life circumstances, coping styles, and biological predispositions. The Stanford Insomnia Program addresses the special needs of each insomnia patient. The treatment components are carefully chosen and woven together to address each patient’s unique experience and treatment goals. The selection of components is guided by current scientific knowledge about the regulation of sleep and wake processes, such as the sleep drive and the biological clock that regulates sleep and wakefulness. Treatment focuses on identifying and modifying factors that can hinder these processes and cause insomnia.
The treatment components include:
- Education on normal sleep and the many factors that impact its quality and quantity.
- Developing healthy and effective sleep behaviors.
- Learning skills for calming the mind and for managing stress.
- Individualized sleep-wake scheduling program, including sleep consolidation and stimulus control.
- Eliminating sleep-incompatible behaviors
- The use of properly timed light exposure to reset the sleep-wake body clock, when indicated.
- Learning coping strategies for dealing with sleep loss and related daytime problems.
Treatments are provided in group or individual formats.
- Group Treatment for Insomnia (also known as the Sleep Enhancement Program) consists of one intake visit (one-on-one) and six 60-minute sessions conducted in groups of 7-12 patients over seven or eight weeks. The insomnia group treatment is suitable for most adults with insomnia. Although treatment is provided in a group setting each patient receives an individualized set of recommendations that are tailored to fit his / her individual goals and circumstances.
- Individual Treatment for Insomnia consists of private (one-on-one) therapy sessions. The number and frequency of sessions vary depending on individual needs and the length of each session is variable, most commonly 30 to 60 minutes. Individual sessions are suitable for most adults with insomnia.
