Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia & Sleep Anxiety
Insomnia & Sleep Anxiety Therapy
Chronic insomnia and sleep anxiety are not just nighttime problems. They affect mood, concentration, relationships, and confidence during the day — and often worsen when sleep becomes something you try to control, fix, or monitor.
I provide evidence-based insomnia therapy using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Insomnia (ACT-I) to help adults break the cycle of poor sleep, nighttime anxiety, and overthinking without relying on medication as the primary solution.
Online therapy available throughout California.
Does This Sound Familiar?
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You feel exhausted but wired at night
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You dread bedtime because your mind won’t shut off
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You closely track sleep or worry about “getting enough”
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You’ve tried sleep hygiene, supplements, or medication with limited success
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Sleep feels fragile, unpredictable, or stressful
If sleep has become something you fear or monitor, you’re not alone — and it’s not a personal failure. Insomnia is a learned pattern, and with the right treatment, it can be unlearned.
How CBT-I and ACT-I Help You Sleep
I use evidence-based insomnia treatment, not sleep tips or quick fixes.
CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia)
• Targets behaviors that keep insomnia going
• Resets sleep drive and circadian patterns
• Reduces conditioned arousal around the bed
ACT-I (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for Insomnia)
• Reduces the struggle with sleep
• Helps you stop monitoring and controlling sleep
• Builds flexibility, calm, and confidence at night
Together, CBT-I and ACT-I help sleep return naturally.
What Therapy Looks Like
Insomnia treatment is structured, collaborative, and time-limited.
Most clients can expect:
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6–10 focused therapy sessions (average)
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Weekly or bi-weekly meetings
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Sleep tracking and targeted interventions
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Clear goals and measurable progress
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Attention to both nighttime sleep and daytime patterns
This is not general talk therapy or sleep coaching. It is a clinically guided process designed to create lasting change.
Who Is This Approach Best For?
This approach is especially helpful if you:
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Have chronic insomnia (months or years, not just a bad week)
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Experience sleep anxiety or fear of not sleeping
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Feel “tired but wired” at night
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Want a non-medication-first treatment
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Are open to a structured, collaborative process
If another sleep disorder or medical issue is suspected, I help coordinate appropriate evaluation or referrals.
Although I treat a range of mental health concerns, my clinical focus is insomnia and sleep anxiety. Over years of working in diverse mental health settings, I repeatedly saw how disruptive and isolating chronic insomnia can be—especially when people feel they are “doing everything right” and still not sleeping. Sleep problems don’t just affect nights; they quietly erode mood, confidence, relationships, and daily functioning. Since 2019, insomnia and sleep disorders have been a primary area of specialization in my practice.
My approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Insomnia (ACT-I)—evidence-based treatments that target both the behavioral patterns that maintain insomnia and the mental struggle that often keeps sleep anxiety stuck. Together, these approaches help clients reduce nighttime hyperarousal, change unhelpful sleep behaviors, and stop fighting sleep so it can return more naturally.
I hold a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and am licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist. I have over sixteen years of experience in mental health, working in both residential and outpatient settings. My background includes clinical leadership roles as Director of Admissions at a holistic residential facility and Program Director at an integrative outpatient center, where I provided therapy, supervised clinicians, and collaborated with individuals and families facing complex mental health and addiction concerns.
My work is collaborative, structured, and grounded in evidence—while always tailored to your current goals. If insomnia or sleep anxiety has been running the show, we can talk about whether this approach is the right fit for you.
About Anissa Bell, LMFT
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CBT-I effective for long-term insomnia?
Yes. CBT-I is considered the first-line, evidence-based treatment for chronic insomnia and has been shown to produce more durable results than medication alone.
Can therapy help sleep anxiety without medication?
Yes. CBT-I and ACT-I directly target the anxiety, hyperarousal, and mental struggle that often drive sleep problems — even when sleep hygiene and medication have not helped.
Do you offer online therapy?
Yes. All sessions are conducted via secure telehealth, and I am licensed to provide therapy throughout California.
What if I’ve had insomnia for years?
Chronic insomnia is common, and duration does not mean it is untreatable. Many clients seek treatment after years of disrupted sleep and still experience meaningful improvement.
Ready to Talk About Your Sleep?
You don’t have to keep fighting sleep or managing exhaustion on your own. If insomnia or sleep anxiety has been running the show, we can talk about whether this approach is the right fit for you.
CA License #82931