Insomnia Treatment
“Why can’t I sleep?” Why do I wake up at 3 a.m. and can’t fall back asleep?”
Insomnia can significantly affect your sleep quality, daytime functioning, health, and overall well-being. For patients with this condition, I primarily provide Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). It is an evidence-based, first-line treatment approach endorsed by leading medical and psychological organizations. CBT-I combines behavioral interventions with cognitive therapy to address the thoughts and habits that cause sleep difficulties, tailored to your specific sleep patterns, history, and goals.
About Dr. Sharpless
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience assessing and treating sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep paralysis, exploding head syndrome, and other parasomnias. I received my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Pennsylvania State University and completed post-doctoral clinical and research fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania. I have published extensively on sleep-related conditions, including a co-authored book, Sleep Paralysis (2015, Oxford University Press), peer-reviewed articles and chapters on exploding head syndrome and other sleep conditions, and an edited handbook, Unusual and Rare Psychological Disorders (2017, Oxford University Press). Along with my clinical practice, I provide ongoing consultation to other mental health professionals and conduct training workshops on sleep disorders.
Who This Treatment Helps
Individuals who experience:
- Persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Waking too early in the morning and being unable to return to sleep
- Daytime fatigue, reduced focus, or concentration problems due to poor sleep
- Frustration or anxiety about sleep and bedtime
- Reliance on sleep medications without long-term improvement
- Sleep difficulties related to stress, life changes, medical conditions, or psychiatric symptoms
What to Expect
It is very important to know whether insomnia is your primary concern or a secondary symptom of another condition (such as anxiety, depression, pain, or another sleep disorder). Therefore, a thorough assessment of your sleep patterns and other symptoms is the first step to determining if you would be well-served by CBT-I or another form of treatment.
CBT-I sessions focus on a number of areas to help improve your sleep habits and patterns. Many people find that CBT-I produces meaningful, lasting improvements in sleep even when previous treatment attempts have not been successful. Therapy sessions are available via secure telehealth across many states (check the status of your home state here), with limited in-person availability in Frederick, MD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is insomnia treatable? Yes. Insomnia is one of the most treatable sleep conditions. CBT-I has been shown to produce marked improvements in sleep initiation, sleep maintenance, sleep efficiency, and overall quality of life, with benefits that extend beyond the active treatment period.
Do you diagnose insomnia as part of treatment? Yes. If a formal diagnostic evaluation would be helpful (for example, if you are already working with another provider or want clarity about your sleep pattern), I offer dedicated insomnia assessment services.
How frequent are the sessions? Given the structured nature of CBT-I, most people benefit from weekly sessions
How long does treatment typically take? CBT-I is typically a short-term treatment, but duration depends upon a number of factors including the patient’s willingness to consistently follow the treatment protocol.
Can I reduce or stop taking sleep medication? Many people successfully reduce or eliminate sleep medication through CBT-I. This is always done carefully, in consultation with your prescribing physician, to ensure safe medication management. If you are currently taking sleep medication, we can potentially coordinate care with your physician.
Contact Dr. Sharpless
If you are interested in an evaluation and/or treatment, please contact me here or click the Contact button at the top or bottom of this page.