How Sleep Therapy Can Supercharge Client Outcomes
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby is a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified coach, AAMFT clinical supervisor, host of the Love, Happiness, and Success Podcast and founder of Growing Self.
Therapists, what if the secret to helping your therapy clients break through anxiety, depression, and ADHD isn’t in unpacking their trauma or tweaking their meds but instead starts with… a good night’s sleep?
Stick with me here. Sleep isn’t just an “add-on” to our overall well-being. It’s foundational. And yet, as therapists, not many of us were trained to assess sleep or understand its role in our clients’ mental health and our own.
The Hidden Key to Mental Health
Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Michelle Okun, a research health psychologist and sleep expert, on the Love, Happiness, and Success for Therapists podcast. She shared that sleep isn’t just an optional wellness strategy; it’s essential. Sleep impacts everything from cognitive functioning to emotional regulation—and addressing sleep issues first can create faster, more effective outcomes for our clients.
Disrupted sleep can mimic or exacerbate the very symptoms we’re trying to treat. Anxiety, irritability, brain fog, heightened emotional reactivity? These could all be the result of poor sleep, not just the symptoms of a mood or attention disorder.
The Ripple Effect of Sleep
When we sleep, our brains “stock the shelves.” That’s when we clean out the neurological trash, regenerate cells, consolidate memory, and restore energy for the next day. Without proper sleep, it’s like starting every day on a quarter tank of gas.
Chronic sleep deprivation—defined as regularly getting less than six hours of sleep—is linked to serious health risks like cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions. Over time, it also rewires how we process stress, handle emotions, and even make food choices (hello, late-night carb binges). Essentially, poor sleep sets off a downward spiral that affects every aspect of our clients’ well-being.
Treating Sleep First: A Game-Changer
One of the most eye-opening parts of our conversation was the power of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Treating sleep as its own entity can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety—sometimes without even touching those disorders directly. Clients who regain healthy sleep patterns often report improvements in mood, energy, and focus that ripple across their lives.
And here’s the best part: CBT-I is evidence-based, accessible, and incredibly effective. It’s not just about “good sleep hygiene” (though that helps); it’s about reshaping the thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate insomnia.
It’s Time To Take Care of You, Too.
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What Therapists Need to Know
If you’re like me, you might already be thinking, “Okay, how do I get this into my practice?” You can start here:
- Start Screening for Sleep Issues: Integrate tools like the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Scale into your intake process to identify potential sleep disruptions.
- Know When to Refer: If sleep apnea or other medical conditions are suspected, refer clients to a sleep study. Use organizations like the Society for Behavioral Sleep Medicine to find local specialists.
- Get Trained in CBT-I: Universities like Stanford, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania offer certification programs. For a quick-start option, check out Dr. Okun’s seminars through the Institute for Brain Potential.
- Collaborate with Specialists: Build relationships with local sleep medicine providers to create a referral pipeline for your clients. This team-based approach ensures clients get the right care for their unique challenges.
Sleep Isn’t Optional (for You or Your Clients!)
Here’s the truth: As therapists, we can’t ignore our own sleep either. How can we show up fully for our clients when we’re running on fumes? Sleep is essential selfcare for us therapists and as non-negotiable as eating or drinking water. When we prioritize it—for ourselves and our clients—everything else gets easier and we protect ourselves from therapist burnout.
Ready to Elevate Your Practice?
Was this info helpful to you? There’s more where that came from! Every week I’m sharing critical info every modern therapist must know, and talking to thought leaders in our field. This is all for you! Sign up for my newsletter so you stay in the loop.
Also, let’s connect on LinkedIn! I share evidence-based techniques, personal growth tips, and professional development opportunities designed specifically for therapists. It’s a place where us therapists can come together to share insights, support one another, and learn actionable strategies to elevate your practice. I’d love to hear from you! You can find me at linkedin.com/in/drlisabobby.
Xoxo
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
P.S. Think of a colleague who’d love to learn about the game-changing effects of sleep therapy for their clients? Share this article with them. Let’s spread the info (and the sleep wisdom).
Resources:
Murawski, B., Wade, L., Plotnikoff, R. C., Lubans, D. R., & Duncan, M. J. (2018). A systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive and behavioral interventions to improve sleep health in adults without sleep disorders. Sleep medicine reviews, 40, 160-169. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079217301661
Reynolds, A. C., & Banks, S. (2010). Total sleep deprivation, chronic sleep restriction and sleep disruption. Progress in brain research, 185, 91-103. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444537027000063
Mitchell, M. D., Gehrman, P., Perlis, M., & Umscheid, C. A. (2012). Comparative effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: a systematic review. BMC family practice, 13, 1-11. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1471-2296-13-40
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