Sleep disorders treated

A specific set of sleep conditions, treated thoroughly.

The practice treats a defined set of behavioral sleep disorders. Conditions requiring medical evaluation are referred to sleep medicine physicians.

Sleep medicine is a broad field. Some sleep disorders are behavioral and respond to evidence-based protocols like CBT-I. Others are medical and require evaluation, diagnostic testing, and sometimes long-term medical management. Dr. Shelby's practice treats the behavioral conditions. The page below lists what's treated and what's referred — so you can determine where to start.

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Scope of practice

The difference between behavioral sleep medicine and sleep medicine in general.

Behavioral Sleep Medicine

Sleep medicine encompasses everything from breathing-related disorders like sleep apnea, to neurological conditions like narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome, to behavioral conditions like chronic insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders. The treatments and the training are different for each category.

Dr. Shelby holds a Diplomate certification in Behavioral Sleep Medicine — a specialty within sleep medicine that focuses specifically on the behavioral, cognitive, and circadian dimensions of sleep disorders. The work is non-pharmacological, structured, and time-limited. It pairs well with sleep medicine physicians who manage the medical side of patient care, and the practice maintains referral relationships across the New York area.

What follows is a categorized list of what the practice treats directly and what the practice refers out. Patients sometimes arrive expecting the practice to be the only stop. For some, it is. For others, it's part of a coordinated care plan.

Conditions treated

Behavioral sleep disorders in adults and children.

Chronic Insomnia

Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early — for at least three nights per week. The most common condition treated in the practice. Addressed with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).

Circadian Rhythm Disorders

Sleep timing problems — delayed sleep phase (night-owl patterns that don't align with required schedules), advanced sleep phase (evening-only sleepiness), shift work disorder, jet lag, and irregular sleep-wake patterns. Treated with light exposure protocols, chronotherapy, and behavioral scheduling.

Sleep-Related Anxiety

Anxiety that emerges specifically around sleep — performance anxiety about falling asleep, hypervigilance to body sensations at bedtime, panic responses to night wakings. Treated within the CBT-I framework or with parallel cognitive behavioral approaches.

Behavioral Sleep Issues in Children

Bedtime resistance, night wakings, nightmares, and behavioral sleep problems in children from infancy through adolescence. Uses pediatric behavioral protocols distinct from adult CBT-I.

Insomnia in Pregnancy and Postpartum

Sleep problems that emerge or worsen during pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause. CBT-I is safe across all of these life stages and is the recommended first-line treatment in current obstetrics and menopause society guidelines.

Hypersomnia Disorders

Excessive daytime sleepiness that persists despite adequate time in bed. Conditions such as idiopathic hypersomnia and narcolepsy can interfere with concentration, work performance, mood, and daily functioning. Patients often feel exhausted throughout the day, struggle with unrefreshing sleep, or have difficulty maintaining alertness despite “sleeping enough.” Treatment may include behavioral sleep strategies, structured scheduling, symptom management, and coordination with medical care when appropriate.

Chronic Nightmares

Frequent nightmares are non-REM parasomnias that disrupt sleep quality, increase nighttime anxiety, or create fear around sleep itself. Chronic nightmares commonly occur alongside insomnia, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, and periods of significant stress. Treatment may include evidence-based approaches such as Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), cognitive behavioral strategies, and interventions aimed at reducing nighttime hyperarousal and improving restorative sleep.

CPAP Non-Adherence (CPAP Intolerance)

Difficulty consistently using CPAP therapy despite a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. Common barriers include discomfort with the mask, nasal congestion, air pressure intolerance, claustrophobia, or disrupted sleep patterns that make regular use challenging. This can limit treatment effectiveness even when CPAP is medically indicated. Management focuses on identifying the specific barrier to use, improving mask fit and comfort, desensitization strategies, behavioral support, and when appropriate, coordinating with sleep physicians to explore adjustments or alternative treatment options.

Treatment approach

Behavioral, structured, evidence-based.

For chronic insomnia and most insomnia subtypes, the primary treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) — a six-to-eight-session course delivered over twelve to sixteen weeks.

For circadian rhythm disorders, the protocols include strategic light exposure, scheduled sleep timing changes, and chronotherapy.

For sleep-related anxiety, the work integrates cognitive restructuring and exposure-based approaches alongside the CBT-I behavioral components.

For pediatric sleep issues, the protocols are developmentally appropriate and adapted to the child's age, family context, and the parents' goals.

In every case, treatment is time-limited. The course ends when the patient can sustain the gains independently.

Explore specific conditions

Deeper detail on the conditions most commonly treated.

Each of the pages below goes further on a specific population or co-occurring concern — useful if you're trying to determine where your situation sits before scheduling the consultation.

The first conversation is a 15-minute call.

No referral required. The call is used to understand what you're experiencing and to determine whether the practice is the right fit. If it's not, you'll get a referral to someone who is.