Anissa Bell, LMFT
Insomnia Treatment & Sleep Therapy in San Diego
Online CBT-I & Sleep Therapy Across California
If you've been struggling with insomnia, you know how frustrating it can be to feel exhausted but unable to sleep. Maybe you lie awake with your mind racing, wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep, or find yourself worrying about bedtime long before it arrives.
I'm a licensed therapist specializing in insomnia and sleep anxiety, offering online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) to adults throughout California. CBT-I is an evidence-based treatment that addresses the patterns that can keep insomnia going, including nighttime arousal, worry about sleep, and the pressure to make sleep happen.
My approach combines structured treatment with flexibility and an understanding that sleep isn't something you can force. Together, we'll work toward less anxiety around sleep and greater confidence in your ability to rest.
Lyra accepted · Online throughout California
How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) Works for Chronic Insomnia
CBT-I is considered the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia. Rather than focusing on quick fixes or simply trying harder to sleep, it addresses the patterns that can keep sleep difficulties going long after they begin.
Treatment may involve adjusting your sleep schedule, rebuilding the connection between your bed and sleep, and addressing the worry, frustration, and pressure that can develop around bedtime.
While CBT-I provides a structured framework, treatment isn't one-size-fits-all. We'll work together to understand what's contributing to your insomnia and adapt the approach to your needs, including how you respond to the strategies along the way.
Improve Sleep Consistency
Work on the behavioral patterns and sleep schedules that support more consistent sleep over time, without expecting every night to be perfect.
Rebuild Sleep Confidence
Learn to approach bedtime with less worry and pressure, even when sleep doesn't happen exactly as you'd hoped.
Reduce Nighttime Anxiety
Understand how worry, monitoring, and frustration can keep you alert at night, and develop ways to respond without getting caught in the struggle.
A Flexible and Supportive Approach to Sleep
While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) provides the foundation for treatment, I also integrate acceptance-based and mindfulness-informed strategies when helpful. These approaches can help you respond differently to nighttime thoughts, physical tension, and the urge to force sleep.
Many people who come to me have already tried numerous approaches to improve their sleep, including sleep apps, online CBT-I programs, and other treatments. They may have a good understanding of what helps with insomnia, yet still find themselves struggling with sleep.
Sometimes, the effort to follow every recommendation, monitor progress, or figure out why something isn't working can create even more pressure around sleep. Part of our work may involve recognizing these patterns and finding a more flexible way forward, without turning sleep into another task to get right.
The goal isn't perfect sleep. It's less struggle, greater flexibility, and a more comfortable relationship with sleep over time.
What Treatment Looks Like
Sleep therapy is a collaborative, practical process tailored to your individual needs. Treatment typically involves approximately 6–10 sessions, depending on your sleep difficulties, treatment goals, and progress.
We'll start by understanding your sleep history, what's happening during your nights, and what you've already tried. From there, we'll develop a treatment plan that addresses the patterns contributing to your sleep difficulties.
Sessions focus on practical tools to work on between appointments. We'll also pay attention to how you're responding to treatment and make adjustments along the way.
What you can expect:
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Weekly or biweekly online sessions
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An individualized assessment and treatment plan
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Simple sleep tracking to identify patterns and monitor progress
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Practical strategies to use between sessions
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Adjustments based on your needs and response to treatment
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Secure online sessions throughout California
When Insomnia Starts Taking Over
Insomnia doesn't just affect your nights. It can follow you throughout the day, making it harder to concentrate, enjoy your usual activities, or feel fully present with the people around you. These are just some of the ways insomnia symptoms can affect your daily life.
You might find yourself planning your day around how you slept the night before, worrying about whether you'll have enough energy, or already thinking about the next night before the day is over.
And when you've tried so many things to improve your sleep, it's understandable to feel frustrated or discouraged. Sometimes, the effort to solve the problem starts taking up as much space in your life as the insomnia itself.
Sleep therapy isn't just about improving how much you sleep. It's also about helping you spend less time worrying about sleep, regain confidence in your ability to navigate difficult nights, and get back to living your life without sleep being at the center of everything.
Meet Anissa Bell, LMFT
I'm a California-licensed therapist with over 15 years of clinical experience. In 2019, I received specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and treating insomnia and sleep anxiety has been a central focus of my practice ever since.
Many of the people I work with have spent months or even years trying to improve their sleep. I understand how discouraging it can be when you've put so much effort into finding a solution and are still struggling.
My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in evidence-based treatment. I believe it's important to understand not just what's happening with your sleep, but how the experience has affected your confidence, your daily life, and your relationship with sleep itself.
I bring structure and clinical guidance to our work, while making room for flexibility, questions, and the challenges that come up along the way.
Fees and Insurance
Sleep therapy is offered on a private-pay basis. I also accept Lyra benefits for clients who have access through their employer.
If you have a PPO insurance plan, I can provide a superbill that you may submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Coverage and reimbursement vary depending on your plan.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can discuss your sleep concerns, review how treatment works, and determine whether working together would be a good fit.
Ready to Improve Your Sleep?
If insomnia has been taking up too much space in your life, you don't have to keep figuring it out on your own.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation where we can talk about what you've been experiencing, what you've already tried, and whether my approach to sleep therapy might be a good fit for you.