Occupational Therapy In-Person CBT-I for OT An In-Person Continuing Education Opportunity

CBT-I for OT is a two-and-one-half-day intensive review of the principles and practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia designed for occupational therapists and other medical professionals. This 18-hour training will pair case studies with basic knowledge and tools to help prepare the practitioner to begin the supervised delivery of CBT-I to adults.

• Day 1 – Foundational Knowledge for Sleep Interventions
• Day 2 – Basics of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Part I
• Day 3 – Basics of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Part II

The course is limited to 40 participants.

An in-person continuing education opportunity cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold-standard treatment for chronic insomnia. CBT-I for occupational therapy (CBT-I for OT) is a 2.5-day continuing education course designed to prepare the OT practitioner and related healthcare professionals to deliver CBT-I to adults. CBT-I for OT is taught by Aaron Eakman, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA and Natalie Rolle, MOT, OTR/L. Aaron and Natalie are nationally recognized occupational therapy researchers and clinical providers of CBT-I in the Occupational Therapy Department at Colorado State University.

Our in-person Summer 2024 CBT-I for OT course will happen July 18-20 in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado. CBT-I for OT offers an overview of theories of insomnia, assessments and treatment techniques, clinical stories, and a case study demonstrating clinical reasoning for safely and effectively delivering CBT-I to treat chronic insomnia. CBT-I for OT highlights the unique role of OT in the ADLs of sleep participation and sleep preparation by offering evidence-based principles and techniques that can be adopted across practice settings.

Upon the successful completion of CBT-I for OT, participants will receive a certificate indicating 18 contact hours of continuing education and be prepared to begin the delivery of CBT-I to adults with insomnia with consultation from experienced CBT-I providers.

For more information, please contact Aaron Eakman.

Occupational therapy is uniquely situated to promote optimal sleep in the lives of those we serve.  Given the prevalence of sleep problems, there is a great need to expand the profession’s role in promoting sleep preparation and sleep participation. This course has been designed to address this need though a comprehensive review of insomnia and its treatment using cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).  CBT-I is the recommended “first line” treatment for chronic insomnia and is highly effective in reducing sleep problems and improving sleep health.

Edinger JD, Arnedt JT, Bertisch SM, Carney CE, Harrington JJ, Lichstein KL, et al. Behavioral and psychological treatments for chronic insomnia disorder in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. Journal Of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2020;9

The 4th Edition of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (OTPF – 4) describes the central concepts that ground occupational therapy practice and includes the distinct contribution of the profession to promoting personal and community health and wellbeing. Sleep is an occupation (day-to-day activity) that is central to human health and well-being and an integral part of the OTPF – 4. CBT-I for OT will offer occupational therapists the knowledge and resources needed to begin the supervised delivery of CBT-I to adults with chronic insomnia.

American Journal of Occupational Therapy, August 2020, Vol. 74, 7412410010.

Participants in the CBT-I for OT course should achieve the following objectives:

1. Describe the role of occupational therapy in promoting sleep preparation and sleep participation.
2. Describe the two-process model of sleep, including the homeostatic sleep driver system and the circadian system.
3. Identify and demonstrate a basic understanding of factors that may predispose, precipitate, and perpetuate chronic (primary) insomnia in the adult.
4. Describe basic differences between the nine categories of sleep disorders in the ICSD 3rd edition and identify up to three reasons why differential diagnosis is important within CBT-I.
5. Describe how a daily sleep diary and assessments of sleep problems and daytime functioning are used within the delivery of CBT-I.
6. Identify and describe the main components of CBT-I and how they are utilized within CBT-I treatment.
7. Describe a typical 7-session CBT-I treatment and identify a core component to each session.