Q. How does CBT differ from self-help?

A: CBT and self-help are similar in that they both require that you alter your behavior in order to produce change. Some important differences are:

* CBT involves the guidance, support, and expertise of your clinician,

* CBT for insomnia has an assessment component which, when conducted by a specialist, ensures that the diagnosis of insomnia, and CBT as a treatment, is appropriate for the individual, and

* CBT relies upon systematic information from diaries and/or actigraphs to determine if and how treatment might be best tailored to the individual.

Read other Frequently Asked Questions about CBT-I.