Insomnia
HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING?
There are few experiences more miserable than being awake while the rest of the world sleeps. You are not alone. Nearly one in four people experience occasional symptoms of insomnia and more than one in ten will develop chronic insomnia. Despite the prevalence of chronic insomnia, people are often not inclined to seek treatment. They may think, or be told: “It will go away on its own” or “Just manage it” or “Just learn to live with it.”
THE FACTS ARE:
- When chronic, insomnia is unlikely to resolve on its own
- Most strategies that people try on their own (e.g., using their will power, drinking warm milk, or using alcohol or other over-the-counter remedies) are not effective
- Allowing insomnia to go untreated may negatively impact your quality of life, work performance, and increase your risk for: (a) accidents and injuries, (b) medical illness (e.g., hypertension), and (c) psychiatric illness (e.g., depression)
Fortunately, there is no reason to suffer with insomnia! An effective treatment exists!
WHAT IS THE PREFERRED TREATMENT FOR INSOMNIA?
The first line of intervention for insomnia is usually a behavioral treatment called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-I). This treatment is based upon the concept that chronic insomnia lasting from months to years is maintained by physical and behavioral factors that have little or nothing to do with what initially caused the insomnia. As a result, the treatment targets the factors that have been shown to cause acute insomnia to take on “a life of its own.”
HOW EFFECTIVE IS THIS THERAPY?
There is a large scientific literature that shows that CBT-I is as effective as medication and, unlike medications, produces durable results that last after the treatment is discontinued.
IS OUR PROGRAM FOR YOU?
If you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early in the morning, we can help.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION:
If I have insomnia along with another medical or mental health condition, are the treatments offered still good for me. Yes! The first line treatment for insomnia (CBT-I) has been shown to be as effective for these kinds of insomnias as it is for insomnia that occurs in the absence of such complications.
HOW LONG WILL THE TREATMENT TAKE?
We will be running a group-based treatment that will be offered in 1-hour, once-weekly sessions, over 8 weeks. The group will be held on Monday evenings, from 7:00-8:00PM and will begin on Monday, March 8, 2010. Space is limited! Please contact Dr. Simon Rego at (212) 308-2440 for more information.
Click Here for a Printable Flyer
DBT Group Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. Originally, DBT was created to help people who were suicidal and struggling with self-harm urges. DBT is especially helpful for individuals who have difficulty regulating or dealing with their emotions. Focused on validating the difficulties of life’s struggles, the apparent difficulty with conflicting and intense emotions, and the desire to make important changes, DBT is a highly practical and direct form of therapy. Rather than only focusing on overcoming misery, DBT also emphasizes working on creating a life you want to live. After years of research, DBT is considered to be an empirically supported treatment for individuals with
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and is also being used to treat individuals who struggle with emotions but who do not meet criteria for BPD. Recently, DBT has been modified to treat individuals who struggle with a range of psychological problems including substance abuse and eating disorders.
DBT Treatment
DBT integrates cognitive behavior therapy with teachings in mindfulness and acceptance. Generally, DBT treatment entails both participation in a weekly 1.5 hour skills training group and weekly individual DBT therapy. Skills training teaches specific lessons in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness in order to help you learn to be fully in the moment, effectively manage emotions, cope with crises without making them worse, and meet your objectives in relationships.
Many people who feel stuck in therapy or have pursued many treatments with minimal benefits find DBT to be remarkably helpful. DBT clinicians are committed to being available to you and pursuing ongoing consultation to provide you with a high level of care.
Skills Training Groups
DBT skills training group for college students will meet on Thursdays from 3:30 - 5 pm, beginning January 21, 2010. It takes approximately 4 months to complete the program and the group is open, new members may join when new skills modules are introduced, approximately once each month. Clients are required to be in individual therapy in order to participate in the DBT group. Modules include the following skill topics:
Mindfulness - A “core” DBT skill, mindfulness involves paying attention, in the moment, non- judgmentally to live your life in a deliberate manner.
Emotion Regulation - Learn the function of emotions and improve your ability to describe, change, and cope effectively, rather than let emotions control you.
Distress Tolerance - Manage crises without making your problems worse.
Interpersonal Effectiveness - Attend to your needs and improve relationships.
Target Population: This group is geared towards relatively high functioning individuals. Clients must be attending school, working, or volunteering in order to participate in the group.
DBT Group Therapy
College Students, Graduate Students, Young Adults
AICT is pleased to announce a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training group beginning January 21, 2010 for college students who struggle with emotions and/or problem behaviors. The group will meet each Thursday from 5:15-6:45 pm.
Adult DBT Group
DBT group for a adults of all ages meets on Tuesdays from 7-8:30 pm. Enrollment is ongoing.
To learn more about getting an evaluation or treatment options, please call us at 212 308 2440.
For a printable brochure,
click here.
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