SleepWell Counseling

Location

SleepWell Counseling is located within the Midwest Health Management Services building at 4109 S. Carnegie Circle and there is a waiting room immediately upon entering for your comfort.

Rates

Initial Intake Assessment (for in-person or telehealth)-$275
Follow-Up Sessions (for in-person or telehealth)-$250
A session is approximately 50 minutes.

Insurance

In-Network provider for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Avera and Sanford.

Self-pay is also an option. A Super Bill can be provided upon request, for submission to your insurance company for a request for reimbursement for out-of-network benefits.

Please call your insurance company to determine eligibility and determine co-pay and deductible, which will be collected at the time of service.

Late Cancellation/No Show Policy

If you do not attend your scheduled appointment, and you have not notified me at least 24 hours in advance, you will be required to pay the full cost of the session. A mode of payment will be asked to keep on file for this charge. Exceptions may be made for emergencies.

Payment

Cash, Credit Card, Venmo or check accepted for payment at the time of service. The use of credit/debit cards will be responsible for the credit card fees.

Please fill out the intake forms prior to our appointment.

Client Intake
Consent to Release Information
Limits of Confidentiality
Informed Consent for Online Therapy

What is the preferred treatment for insomnia?

The first line of intervention for insomnia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Treatment is based upon the concept that chronic insomnia lasting from months to years is maintained by physical, environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors that have little or nothing to do with what initially caused the insomnia. Accordingly, CBT-I targets the factors that have been shown to cause acute insomnia (the sleeplessness that comes to all of us from time to time) to become chronic and seemingly take on “a life of its own.”

How effective is CBT-I?

There is a large scientific literature that shows that behavioral interventions are as effective as medication in the short run and, unlike medications, produce durable results that last after treatment is discontinued. More than this, between 40-60% of the people that respond to CBT-I go on to recover normal sleep.

How long does treatment take?

In most cases, 4-10 weeks.

If I have insomnia along with another medical or mental health condition, can CBT-I still work for me?

Yes. 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. Moreover, successful resolution of your insomnia may in some cases reduce the severity and/or chronicity (and/or increase your tolerance) of other chronic illnesses you may have.

What can I expect treatment to be like?

Your treatment will begin with an extensive evaluation including a review of your medical and mental health histories and an assessment of the factors that are likely to be related to your insomnia (sleep schedule, sleep duration, what you do and don’t do when awake at night, etc.). Treatment will likely require that you complete a series of assessment questionnaires during your first visit and daily sleep diaries before and during treatment.
Will I be prescribed sleeping pills?
While this is not a first line approach, there are instances where some form of medical therapy in addition to CBT-I is indicated. This may include the use of hypnotics or wake-promoting medications, alone or in combination with behavioral therapy. However, the typical goal of CBT-I is to help the individual learn how to sleep without need of chronic medication use.

Will I be prescribed sleeping pills?

While this is not a first line approach, there are instances where some form of medical therapy in addition to CBT-I is indicated. This may include the use of hypnotics or wake-promoting medications, alone or in combination with behavioral therapy. However, the typical goal of CBT-I is to help the individual learn how to sleep without need of chronic medication use. I am not a prescriber, but will work in collaboration with your medical provider to determine the best course of treatment.

Will I be required to discontinue using sleeping pills?

Each case is different and your clinician will likely collaborate with you to make a plan for treatment. In some cases, this may involve discontinuing medication before initiating treatment and in other cases medication reduction may be initiated during the course of treatment. As stated, the goal is often to help the individual to achieve good sleep without the use of sleep medications, but in most cases how to achieve this will be a collaborative effort between you, your prescriber, and your therapist. You will not be forced into a decision about your medication.

This information is provided by the Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania who is a leader in behavioral sleep medicine.