**STARTS late november/mid december 2024**

8 WEEK ONLINE GROUP

THURSDAYS 4:30 TO 5:30PM WITH DR. DAVID FAIGIN

Are you consistently having difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep at night? Have you tried to improve your sleep quality but struggled to experience improvements? Insomnia and sleep challenges are very common, and can be linked to acute stressors in our lives, chronic medical or mental health struggles, or other problematic behavior patterns. This group uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) to help members reclaim restful sleep. CBT-I is an evidence-based, brief therapy model recommended as a primary intervention for insomnia that has been found to be more effective in the long term than sleep medications. 

This group is designed to help clients identify key factors influencing their sleep behaviors and sleep challenges, with an integrative and holistic approach to making meaningful changes to improve sleep quality. 

Core goals for the group include:

  • Presenting extensive research-based information about the fundamentals of human sleep and ways we can improve sleep quality

  • Providing a personalized sleep behavior assessment and development of a personal sleep plan

  • Reviewing the many factors that influence sleep, exploring how these factors are interacting in our day to day lives, and ways we can use experiential knowledge to build healthier sleep habits 

  • Sharing experience and ideas for behavior change within a lively, small group setting

  • Working together to support group members sustained improvement in sleep after completion of the group

When: 8 weekly sessions, 4:30-5:30pm, beginning in early November, 2024

Where: Virtual meetings via our HIPAA compliant Zoom platform.

Pre-group meeting: Prospective group members will be asked to attend a virtual or in-person intake meeting with Dr. David Faigin, the group facilitator. This orientation and assessment session is 60 minutes for new PSM clients to do a more thorough intake, and 30 minutes for established PSM clients already working with one of our providers.

This group is not recommended for individuals with current untreated alcohol or substance abuse challenges, prominent psychotic symptoms (e.g., diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder or schizophrenia), or who are actively suicidal. Clients must be willing to commit to the full 8 sessions, as new information and skills are learned in each session and tracking sleep behaviors consistently between groups is an important part of the process.

FAQ

Can I join the group if I currently take medications for sleep? 

Yes! There is no need to stop or change sleep medications to enroll in the group. However, you will be asked to share information with Dr. Faigin regarding your current use of sleep aids. In addition, information and lessons from experiential learning in the group may guide you to review medications with your medical providers and make helpful changes. 

Do you prescribe medications for sleep as part of the group?

No. Medications related to sleep will be discussed generally in group, however any medication changes must be addressed with your individual medical provider. 

What if I have concurrent challenges with other medical or mental health conditions (PTSD, depression, chronic pain, etc)?

Addressing specific challenges with co-occurring psychological and physical conditions, and their impacts on sleep behaviors, is one of the goals for the group. Individualized sleep plans will be developed that help you integrate sleep behaviors with your treatment of these other conditions. You are welcomed to discuss these conditions to whatever degree you are comfortable with the group. 

What if I have sleep apnea?

You are welcomed to participate in the group whether or not you are currently diagnosed with sleep apnea. The impacts and treatments for sleep apneas will be discussed as part of the group, and resources will be offered for any needed follow up for medical sleep disorders.