A specialized form of CBT for long-term insomnia that changes unhelpful sleep habits, beliefs about sleep and behavior patterns that get in the way of restful sleep.
Reviewed by the HeyPsych Medical Review Board · Reviewed November 24, 2025
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia is used for Chronic Insomnia. The full guide below has the details.
How many people in 100 notice each one in clinical studies. Many early side effects fade within a few weeks.
Increased anxiety when eliminating safety behaviors around sleep
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Everything we know about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), section by section.
14 chapters · about 14 min to read it all. Open any one.
Frequency: Typically weekly sessions.
Duration: 6–8 sessions.
Total Treatment Time: 12–16 hours of therapy.
Review sleep diary and adherence to behavioral prescriptions.
Introduce and practice one or more techniques (e.g., stimulus control, cognitive restructuring).
Assign updated sleep prescriptions and strategies for the week.
typical session cost: $100–$200/session
total treatment cost: $600–$1,500 for a standard course
insurance coverage: Often covered under behavioral sleep medicine or psychotherapy benefits
cost effectiveness: Cost-effective compared to chronic use of sleep medications, with durable long-term effects
Requires high patient motivation and adherence; some individuals may struggle with sleep restriction therapy initially.
This treatment information is for educational purposes only. Treatment decisions should be made in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals based on individual circumstances, symptoms, and medical history. Do not attempt treatment without professional guidance.
Thinking about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)? A prescriber can tell you if it fits.
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