Psychotherapeutic treatment of chronic insomnia

Although psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with chronic insomnia can be difficult and frustrating, a psychotherapeutic approach in which the therapist actively explores and uncovers problem areas can be beneficial. Since chronic insomniac patients tend to internalize their feelings, which leads to increased psychologic arousal and insomnia, the therapist must consistently re-orient the patient toward awareness and expression of feeling. An active therapeutic approach also helps derail the chronic insomniac's tendency to focus on the daytime effects of insomnia rather than on the emotional factors that generate the symptoms. By utilizing the specific technical approaches described in this paper, gratifying therapeutic results may be achieved.