A sleep study uses sensors to track your breathing and other body signals through the night. Doctors use it mainly to check for sleep apnea, where breathing repeatedly stops or turns shallow. Insomnia is usually diagnosed from your sleep history, so many people with insomnia do not need a study.
We do not perform sleep studies. Sleep apnea and insomnia often occur together. We treat insomnia and coordinate referrals to partners who treat sleep apnea.
In network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Cross Blue Shield (HMO plans), Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage, Cigna / Evernorth, Medicare, UnitedHealthcare / Optum, UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
Use this as a guide, not a diagnosis. Many people recognize signs in both columns.
| May point to sleep apnea or another sleep disorder | May point to insomnia |
|---|---|
| At night | |
| Loud snoring most nights, or someone has seen you stop breathing, choke or gasp. | A long time falling asleep, or long stretches awake. Your mind stays busy when you try to rest. |
| In the morning | |
| Headaches or a very dry mouth on waking. | Waking earlier than planned and not getting back to sleep. |
| During the day | |
| Falling asleep without meaning to, such as mid-conversation or behind the wheel. | Feeling worn out or on edge, yet unable to nap. |
| Other signs | |
| High blood pressure that is hard to control, or acting out dreams in your sleep. | Dozing on the couch in the evening, then feeling alert once in bed. |
Signs in the first column are worth raising with your doctor, who can decide whether you need a study. Insomnia does not usually require one, though a doctor may suggest it if another problem is suspected. Signs of insomnia do not rule out sleep apnea, and some people have both.
Write down what you have noticed before your appointment. Ask a bed partner or family member about snoring or breathing pauses, since you cannot notice these while asleep. Note any daytime dozing, morning headaches or high blood pressure, and how long sleep has been a problem.
This self-check is a screening aid, not a diagnosis. Only a sleep study can confirm sleep apnea. Talk it over with a clinician, such as your doctor or one of ours.
A small kit worn in your own bed for one or more nights. It usually records breathing, airflow and oxygen, and looks for obstructive sleep apnea, where the throat narrows or closes during sleep.
You sleep at a testing center while a technologist, a staff member trained to run the recording, monitors you. It adds signals such as brain activity and leg movements. Doctors use it when a home test is unsuitable or another disorder is suspected.
Neither test shows why your mind stays alert at night; your own account of your sleep does that. The ordering doctor chooses the test.
Our treatment for insomnia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): weekly sessions focused on sleep habits and schedules, without medication. See our insomnia treatment page.
Most patients see a Texas-licensed clinician by video. A limited number of clinicians also provide in-person visits; availability is confirmed at booking.
We do not order sleep studies. Your primary care doctor or a sleep physician, a doctor who specializes in sleep disorders, arranges testing. With your permission, our clinician can share evaluation findings with them. Health professionals can find referral details on our referrals page.
A normal result rules out some problems, but poor sleep can have other causes, and a home test can occasionally miss sleep apnea. Ask the doctor who ordered it about follow-up. If falling or staying asleep is still hard, CBT-I may help. Bring your results to your first appointment.
These clinicians are licensed in Texas and have CBT-I training. They are based in San Antonio and Laredo and see patients statewide. The full team is on Our Clinicians.
Insomnia Specialist
Insomnia, Anxiety, ADHD, Trauma and PTSD, Career and work stress
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational interviewing
Ashleigh Jewett, LCSW, received her Masters of Social Work from Baylor University. She has also received additional training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and specializes in helping clients overcome insomnia. During the initial sessions, clients will dive into the issues they are experiencing and create a treatment plan together. Most clients see a gradual lifting of symptoms within the first month and sustained improvement thereafter. Ashleigh enjoys helping clients from various walks of life.
Ashleigh's approach to therapy:
I understand that every single person has been molded and formed by their environments around them. In order for effective change to take place, therapy must be a safe and welcoming place in order for you to feel comfortable learning and discovering which route to take in your self-discovery journey. I prefer to be the passenger while you are in the driver’s seat telling me the route you want to take, and me helping you navigate the way to get there. I can’t promise that the journey will always be rainbows and sunshine, and there will be tough truths and strategies that seem hard to implement, but the destination will be one that you have longed for and are ready to receive.
Insomnia Specialist
Insomnia, Trauma and PTSD, Life Transitions, Grief
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness
Cris Tovar is a bilingual therapist who believes in the power of empathy, genuine connection, and each person's inherent capacity for growth and healing. He works with clients navigating grief, trauma, life transitions, relationship concerns, and cultural adjustment, providing care that is compassionate and culturally responsive. Mr. Tovar has completed specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), further expanding his ability to support clients through evidence-based approaches. He creates a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their experiences, gain clarity, and build the resilience needed to move forward with confidence.
The first appointment is billed as outpatient behavioral health, the insurance category used for counseling. We are in network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Cross Blue Shield (HMO plans), Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage, Cigna / Evernorth, Medicare, UnitedHealthcare / Optum and UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage. We check your benefits, including any referral rules, beforehand.
You do not need a referral to book with us. The first appointment lasts about 50 minutes. The clinician asks how you sleep, how you feel during the day, and whether anyone has noticed snoring or breathing pauses. If testing seems worth discussing, the clinician says so at the visit, along with what to tell your doctor. If insomnia is the main problem, you plan CBT-I together. See How It Works.
Ask your primary care doctor or a sleep physician. Describe what you or others have noticed, such as loud snoring, breathing pauses or daytime dozing. A study needs a doctor’s order, and your plan may have its own coverage rules. We do not perform or order studies.
It could be. CPAP is a bedside machine that pushes air through a mask to keep your airway open during sleep. Insomnia can continue alongside treated sleep apnea. Keep using CPAP as your doctor advised. If falling or staying asleep is still hard, CBT-I may help.
Not necessarily. Tiredness has many causes, including insomnia and stress. Falling asleep when you did not intend to is different and should be checked by your doctor.
Book an evaluation with a Texas-licensed clinician. If a doctor has already advised testing, keep that appointment and bring the results. If worry keeps you awake, read about anxiety therapy.
Book AppointmentCall (214) 216-2330