Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia consists of the following: Helping patients improve sleep hygiene, particularly restricting time spent in bed, establishing a regular sleep schedule, and controlling stimuli Teaching patients about the effects of sleeplessness and helping them identify inappropriate expectations about how much sleep they should get Teaching patients relaxation techniques Using other cognitive therapy techniques as needed Restricting the amount of time spent in bed aims to limit the time patients spend lying in bed trying unsuccessfully to sleep.