How Understanding the Root Causes Can Help You Sleep Better and Feel Better
Sleep is essential for our physical health, mental well-being, and emotional balance. Yet for millions of people, a good night’s rest feels out of reach. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m., your mind racing with thoughts, you’re not alone. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep issues, and it can quickly become a cycle that’s hard to break.
As a therapist based in Overland Park, Kansas, with a background in polysomnography (sleep studies), I’ve seen firsthand how a combination of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) can help clients finally get the rest they need.
Common Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic), and it’s often triggered or maintained by a combination of physical, mental, and environmental factors. Some of the most common include:
- Stress and Anxiety – Racing thoughts, worry about the future, and feeling “on edge” make it hard for the brain to shift into sleep mode.
- Depression or Low Mood – Sleep disruptions and mood disorders often go hand in hand, creating a cycle where one worsens the other.
- Poor Sleep Habits – Irregular bedtimes, excessive screen time, caffeine late in the day, or an overstimulating bedroom environment.
- Life Transitions – Events like divorce, loss of a loved one, illness, or career changes can all trigger sleep difficulties.
- Medical Issues – Chronic pain, hormonal changes, and other health conditions can interfere with rest.
Understanding your root cause is key—this is where working with a therapist trained in sleep therapy can make a huge difference.
Why CBT-I Works for Insomnia
CBT-I is considered the gold standard, evidence-based treatment for chronic insomnia. Unlike sleeping pills, which only address symptoms, CBT-I focuses on identifying and changing the thoughts, behaviors, and patterns that keep insomnia going.
Some core CBT-I strategies include:
- Sleep Restriction Therapy – Limiting time in bed to reset your body’s sleep drive.
- Stimulus Control – Re-teaching the brain that your bed is only for sleep and intimacy, not TV, work, or scrolling.
- Cognitive Restructuring – Addressing anxiety and unhelpful beliefs about sleep (“I’ll never be able to function if I don’t get 8 hours”).
- Sleep Hygiene Education – Establishing habits that signal your brain it’s time for rest.
The Role of Mindfulness in Better Sleep
Mindfulness isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a powerful skill for calming the nervous system and reducing sleep-interfering anxiety. By learning to stay present and observe thoughts without judgment, you train your brain to move out of “fight-or-flight” and into “rest-and-digest.”
Some mindfulness tools that can improve sleep include:
- Body Scan Meditation – Gently releasing tension from head to toe.
- Mindful Breathing – Using slow, deep breaths to activate the body’s relaxation response.
- Gratitude Reflection – Shifting the mind toward calm and contentment before bed.
- When combined with CBT-I, mindfulness techniques can make falling asleep (and staying asleep) much easier.
How My Polysomnography Background Helps
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in polysomnography—performing and interpreting sleep studies. This unique experience allows me to approach insomnia with both a scientific and therapeutic lens. I understand the physiology of sleep, the mechanics of brainwave patterns, and how environmental, medical, and emotional factors work together to influence rest.
When we work together, we don’t just look at “how” to sleep better—we uncover why you’re struggling in the first place and create a personalized plan that supports long-term change.
If you’ve been struggling with insomnia, it’s important to know you’re not broken—and you’re not alone. With the right tools and support, your brain and body can learn to sleep well again.
Here in Overland Park, Kansas, I help clients across Kansas and Missouri—both in person and through telehealth—overcome insomnia using CBT-I, mindfulness techniques, and a deep understanding of sleep science.
Better sleep is possible, and it starts with taking the first step. Learn more about my insomnia services here.
If you’re ready to get to the root of your insomnia and finally rest, contact me today to schedule a session.
How Understanding the Root Causes Can Help You Sleep Better and Feel Better
Sleep is essential for our physical health, mental well-being, and emotional balance. Yet for millions of people, a good night’s rest feels out of reach. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m., your mind racing with thoughts, you’re not alone. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep issues, and it can quickly become a cycle that’s hard to break.
As a therapist based in Overland Park, Kansas, with a background in polysomnography (sleep studies), I’ve seen firsthand how a combination of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) can help clients finally get the rest they need.
Common Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic), and it’s often triggered or maintained by a combination of physical, mental, and environmental factors. Some of the most common include:
- Stress and Anxiety – Racing thoughts, worry about the future, and feeling “on edge” make it hard for the brain to shift into sleep mode.
- Depression or Low Mood – Sleep disruptions and mood disorders often go hand in hand, creating a cycle where one worsens the other.
- Poor Sleep Habits – Irregular bedtimes, excessive screen time, caffeine late in the day, or an overstimulating bedroom environment.
- Life Transitions – Events like divorce, loss of a loved one, illness, or career changes can all trigger sleep difficulties.
- Medical Issues – Chronic pain, hormonal changes, and other health conditions can interfere with rest.
Understanding your root cause is key—this is where working with a therapist trained in sleep therapy can make a huge difference.
Why CBT-I Works for Insomnia
CBT-I is considered the gold standard, evidence-based treatment for chronic insomnia. Unlike sleeping pills, which only address symptoms, CBT-I focuses on identifying and changing the thoughts, behaviors, and patterns that keep insomnia going.
Some core CBT-I strategies include:
- Sleep Restriction Therapy – Limiting time in bed to reset your body’s sleep drive.
- Stimulus Control – Re-teaching the brain that your bed is only for sleep and intimacy, not TV, work, or scrolling.
- Cognitive Restructuring – Addressing anxiety and unhelpful beliefs about sleep (“I’ll never be able to function if I don’t get 8 hours”).
- Sleep Hygiene Education – Establishing habits that signal your brain it’s time for rest.
The Role of Mindfulness in Better Sleep
Mindfulness isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a powerful skill for calming the nervous system and reducing sleep-interfering anxiety. By learning to stay present and observe thoughts without judgment, you train your brain to move out of “fight-or-flight” and into “rest-and-digest.”
Some mindfulness tools that can improve sleep include:
- Body Scan Meditation – Gently releasing tension from head to toe.
- Mindful Breathing – Using slow, deep breaths to activate the body’s relaxation response.
- Gratitude Reflection – Shifting the mind toward calm and contentment before bed.
- When combined with CBT-I, mindfulness techniques can make falling asleep (and staying asleep) much easier.
How My Polysomnography Background Helps
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in polysomnography—performing and interpreting sleep studies. This unique experience allows me to approach insomnia with both a scientific and therapeutic lens. I understand the physiology of sleep, the mechanics of brainwave patterns, and how environmental, medical, and emotional factors work together to influence rest.
When we work together, we don’t just look at “how” to sleep better—we uncover why you’re struggling in the first place and create a personalized plan that supports long-term change.
If you’ve been struggling with insomnia, it’s important to know you’re not broken—and you’re not alone. With the right tools and support, your brain and body can learn to sleep well again.
Here in Overland Park, Kansas, I help clients across Kansas and Missouri—both in person and through telehealth—overcome insomnia using CBT-I, mindfulness techniques, and a deep understanding of sleep science.
Better sleep is possible, and it starts with taking the first step. Learn more about my insomnia services here.
If you’re ready to get to the root of your insomnia and finally rest, contact me today to schedule a session.
