Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hypersomnia (CBT-H)

Support and skills for Narcoleosy I, Narcolepsy II, and Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Hypersomnia: More to it than meets the eye

Jessica Fink, LSCW-S | CBT for Hypersomnia

Jessica Fink, LCSW-S is a sleep specialist in Austin.

You cannot stay awake and alert when you want to.

Your sleep need never feels satiated no matter how much sleep you get. And you get a LOT of sleep.

You were called a good sleeper. World champion sleeper.

You got older and life got more demanding. Doctors attributed your sleepiness to stress or depression and recommended lifestyle changes. It took years to get an accurate diagnosis.

But now you know the reason for your excessive sleepiness: Narcolepy/Idiopathic Hypersomnia

So you were prescribed a medication. Maybe a couple. And they help a little but is that really all there is?

Hi! I’m Jessica and I’m a therapist in Austin who specializes in sleep issues, including hypersomnia disorders.

The standard practice for these disorders is medication: typically a stimulant to counteract the excessive daytime sleepiness and another medication for the cataplexy in the case of narcolepsy.

But we know the medications don’t fix everything. Most people Narcolepsy/IH still have a reduced quality of life even when on the appropriate medications. They also feel completely alone and misunderstood by their providers, friends, and family.

You’ve had your symptoms attributed to stress, depression, laziness even! You get told “we all get tired” or “must be nice to sleep all the time.” You see narcolepsy played for laughs in movies and TV.

Even with medication, you feel held back at school or work. Maybe you’re afraid to express any strong emotion because you lose your balance sometimes.

This group fills in the rest of what you need.

We meet Thursdays 9-10:30 over Google Meet. Reach out today to get started!

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Frequently asked questions for a pain management specialist in Austin

  • The standard answer is always that it could be. Your brain is capable of generating any physical sensation in any part of your body. As a pain management specialist in Austin, I do a thorough assessment of neuroplastic pain and will happily communicate with your physician if desired.

  • We shift the focus. Instead of looking within the hurting body part for solutions, we look to your brain. Pain Reprocessing Therapy with a pain management specialist in Austin is about reducing the fear of the pain and changing your relationship with pain, which does end up actually reducing or even eliminating the pain.

  • I’ve worked with chronic pain patients my entire career, even before I became a pain management specialist in Austin. I’ve seen the immense suffering and felt the helplessness of having nothing to offer besides “I’m sorry you’re in pain” which doesn’t amount to much. There was a lot of skepticism of PRT but a rigorous clinical trial (Boulder Back Pain Study) started to put that to rest. I am thrilled to be able to offer a solution as a pain management specialist in Austin.