Why Therapists Should Ask About Sleep And What You Should Share
When you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or trauma, sleep problems often come with the territory. But here’s what many people don’t realize: poor sleep doesn’t just accompany mental health challenges, it can actually make them worse. Your therapist routinely asks about mood, relationships, stress levels, and coping strategies. These are essential areas to explore. But […]
Sleep After the Holidays: How to Reset Your Circadian Rhythm (Without the Pressure)
If you’re lying awake at 2 a.m., exhausted but wired, wondering why can’t I sleep after the holidays, you’re not alone. Every January, we hear the same concern in therapy sessions at DC Metro Therapy:“I was sleeping fine before December, and now my body feels completely off.” Between family stress, travel, late nights, and disrupted […]
DC Metro Therapy’s Favorite Resources for Sleep & Chronic Pain (End-of-Year Guide)
As the year winds down, many of us start reflecting on what we’ve been carrying, both physically and emotionally. Maybe it’s the shoulder tension that never quite goes away. Maybe it’s the sleep you keep meaning to fix. Or maybe it’s the fatigue that always seems to show up during stressful seasons. When you’re dealing […]
How Sleep Restriction Therapy Can Help Treat Depression
What if your therapist told you that spending less time in bed could help your depression? It might sound counterintuitive, especially when exhaustion already feels crushing. But for many people struggling with both insomnia and depression, it’s true. When depression and insomnia coexist, long nights of lying awake become fertile ground for rumination. You replay […]
What Your Brain Is Really Doing During Nightmares—And How Nightmare Therapy Can Change the Script
Another night, another nightmare. You’re exhausted, but you dread going to bed because you never know if tonight will bring another dream that jolts you awake—heart racing, sheets damp, afraid to fall back asleep. While everyone else sleeps, you’re stuck in a loop that leaves you tired, tense, and wondering why your brain keeps replaying […]
Here’s Why Your Sleep Gets Worse in Fall (And What to Do About It)
It’s 5 PM on a Tuesday in October and you can barely keep your eyes open. By 10 PM, when you finally crawl into bed, you’re wide awake. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with sleep when the seasons shift. As a therapist who specializes in sleep, I see this happen […]
Insomnia and CBT: Simple Techniques for Therapists (No Sleep Training Required)
“I’m not a sleep specialist. How much can I actually do?” If you’ve ever thought this when a client brings up insomnia, you’re not alone. Many skilled therapists feel unsure about where their role ends and where a referral should begin. You want to help — but you also don’t want to overstep your scope […]
Sleep Divorce: Why Sleeping Apart Might Save Your Marriage (A Therapist’s Honest Take)
You love your partner—but you dread going to bed together. Maybe it’s the snoring. Or the tossing and turning. Or the 3 a.m. phone glow. Maybe one of you needs white noise while the other needs silence. Or maybe your partner loves going to bed early while you naturally feel wide awake until midnight—yet you […]
Tired vs. Sleepy: Why the Difference Matters for Your Sleep Treatment
It’s 11 PM. You’ve been dragging yourself through the day, completely drained, dreaming of the moment you can finally crawl into bed. Your body feels exhausted—every muscle aches, your brain feels foggy, and you can barely keep your eyes open during your evening routine. But then something strange happens. The moment your head hits the […]
4 Sleep Mistakes That Are Keeping You Awake (And How to Sleep Better)
You’ve tried everything to sleep better—new mattresses, melatonin, cutting caffeine, even counting sheep. Yet somehow, you’re still lying awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering what else you could possibly do. The truth is, most people aren’t doing anything wrong. But even with the best intentions, it’s easy to fall into sleep habits that quietly sabotage […]