Insomnia Treatment in Athens, GA, Backed by Sleep Psychologists
Work with a licensed sleep psychologist. Covered by insurance. Delivered virtually.
Work one-on-one with a Georgia-licensed sleep psychologist. Rise's sleep specialists treat chronic insomnia with therapy rather than medication. Most major insurance plans accepted.
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A sleep therapist treats insomnia with behavioral therapy rather than medication. At the RISE Sleep Clinic that therapist is a licensed clinical psychologist, and the treatment is CBT-I — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, which the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends as first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, ahead of sleeping pills. Sessions run weekly over secure video, so Athens residents can start without a referral and without waiting on a sleep-lab appointment.
RISE bills major insurance plans directly, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare; network status, benefits and out-of-pocket costs are verified with your plan before treatment begins.
What is the RISE Sleep Clinic?
The RISE Sleep Clinic is a virtual clinic specializing in the treatment of chronic insomnia.
We use CBT-I, the first-line treatment recommended by sleep medicine experts, to help adults who struggle with falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early — even after trying sleep tips, routines, or medication.
We treat patients across Georgia, including Athens, through online appointments that are often covered by insurance.
At a glance:
- One-on-one care with licensed sleep therapists
- Virtual sessions — no commute required
- Evidence-based, non-medication treatment
- Covered by most major insurance providers, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare
“For the first time, I had a safe place to talk about why I wasn't sleeping and someone who could show me exactly how to fix it. By improving my sleep, positive changes in the rest of my life just started stacking up.”
Who this treatment is for
You may be a good fit for the RISE Sleep Clinic if you:
- Take a long time to fall asleep
- Wake up during the night and can’t get back to sleep
- Wake earlier than you want
- Feel anxious or frustrated about sleep
- Have struggled with insomnia for months or years
CBT-I is designed to treat the root causes of insomnia — not just the symptoms.
“I wish more people knew about this. I can finally sleep better without a cocktail of medications every night.”
How insomnia treatment works
A structured, proven approach to better sleep
Get matched with a licensed sleep therapist
You’ll work one-on-one with a clinician licensed in Georgia and trained specifically in insomnia treatment.
Meet weekly via secure video sessions
Sessions are virtual and designed to fit into real life.
Follow a personalized treatment plan
Your psychologist helps you adjust sleep habits, timing, and thought patterns based on your specific sleep challenges.
Build skills that last
CBT-I focuses on long-term improvement — not short-term fixes.
Many patients begin noticing meaningful improvements within the first few weeks of treatment.
Takes just a few minutes. No obligation.
Why virtual sleep therapy works
Virtual CBT-I delivers the same evidence-based insomnia treatment as in-person care — with fewer barriers.
- Comparable outcomes to in-person treatment
- No commuting or waiting rooms
- Easier scheduling that fits real life
- Licensed insomnia therapists — psychologists who specialize in chronic insomnia
- Practice sleep strategies in your own bedroom environment
- Secure, HIPAA-compliant video sessions
You get expert insomnia treatment without disrupting your life.
How the RISE app supports your care
Some patients choose to use the RISE app alongside therapy to better understand their sleep patterns and stay engaged between sessions. The app is included as part of your treatment at the RISE Sleep Clinic, at no additional cost.
The app can help you:
- Track sleep consistency and timing
- Understand circadian rhythm patterns
- Reinforce strategies from therapy
- See progress over time
Your psychologist will help you decide how — or whether — the app fits into your treatment. Therapy always comes first.
“I feel like I finally understand the way sleep works and more importantly, how to make it work for me.”
What to expect from treatment
- Weekly virtual CBT-I sessions with a licensed sleep therapist
- A structured, time-limited course of care (not open-ended therapy)
- Clear guidance and adjustments between sessions based on your sleep patterns
- Support when setbacks happen — including stress, travel, or schedule changes
- Practical tools and skills you can continue using long after treatment ends
No guesswork. No trial-and-error sleep hacks.
Meet Your Athens Sleep Psychologists
All of our clinicians are licensed in Georgia, board-certified in behavioral sleep medicine or licensed psychologists with specialized training in CBT-I.
Dr. Jane Dyonzak
Ph.D., FAASM
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine with 20+ years specializing in sleep and behavioral medicine. Dr. Dyonzak has served as a consultant to sleep disorders centers and principal investigator for clinical trials on sleep medications and devices.
Dr. Lauren Neaman
Psy.D., A-CBT
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. Dr. Neaman completed advanced training through the University of Pennsylvania's Behavioral Sleep Medicine program and specializes in insomnia, anxiety disorders, and circadian rhythm issues.
Dr. Benjamin Pfeifer
Ph.D.
Founding clinician at RISE Sleep Clinic specializing in treating adults with insomnia and sleep disorders. Dr. Pfeifer completed his Ph.D. at The Ohio State University and holds PSYPACT authorization for telehealth practice. His background includes work with veterans at VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Dr. Daniella Marchetti
Ph.D., DBSM
Licensed Clinical Health Psychologist and Diplomate in Behavioral Sleep Medicine. Dr. Marchetti specializes in insomnia treatment, CPAP adherence, nightmare therapy, and circadian rhythm disorders. She earned her doctorate from the University of Miami and completed her fellowship at the Miami VA Medical Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is treatment at the RISE Sleep Clinic covered by insurance?
Is a sleep therapist the same as a CBT-I therapist?
Is treatment at the RISE Sleep Clinic in person or online?
Do I need a sleep doctor or a sleep therapist for insomnia?
Do I need to live in Athens to receive care from the RISE Sleep Clinic?
How quickly can I start treatment at the RISE Sleep Clinic?
How do I find a sleep specialist near me for insomnia?
Is virtual insomnia treatment as effective as in-person care?
Who provides care at the RISE Sleep Clinic?
What’s the difference between CBT-I and sleep therapy?
Do I need a referral to start treatment at the RISE Sleep Clinic?
Is the RISE Sleep Clinic the same as the RISE app?
What makes Athens challenging for sleep?
Athens is a college town dominated by the University of Georgia's 9,800 employees and 40,000 students. The campus sets the rhythm for a city of 125,000 where the median age is 28.1 and the local economy bends around the academic calendar.
- University of Georgia's campus economy: UGA employs nearly 10,000 people, and the student population adds 40,000 more. Late-night study culture, game-day weekends that rearrange the city, and service-industry jobs that revolve around student demand all push sleep schedules later. Faculty and graduate students face publish-or-perish anxiety that converts bedtime into work time.
- Pilgrim's Pride and food-processing shifts: Pilgrim's Pride employs over 1,500 people in food processing, an industry where production lines start before dawn and run into evening. The 15.9-minute average commute keeps drive time low, but arriving at a 5am shift means waking at 3:30am, and the body doesn't adapt to that schedule as easily as the alarm clock suggests.
- Piedmont Athens Regional's 427 beds and 12.9% uninsured: Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center serves a 17-county area with 427 beds, and St. Mary's Health Care adds another system. Georgia's 12.9% uninsured rate hits college towns particularly hard, where part-time workers, graduate students, and gig-economy employees often fall through coverage gaps. The hospital is there; the insurance to walk through the door frequently isn't.
CBT-I works for the graduate student who can't stop thinking about their dissertation at 2am and the Pilgrim's Pride worker whose alarm goes off four hours later. Telehealth delivery fits around academic calendars and factory rotations alike. Most insurance plans cover it, and sessions typically run 6-8 weeks.
Other insomnia treatment options in Athens
For your reference, here are other sleep medicine facilities in the Athens area. This is provided for informational purposes only.
Athens Sleep & Wellness Center
Athens Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine
Disclaimer: The facilities listed above are independent healthcare providers. RISE has no affiliation with these organizations. This information is provided for reference only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Please verify all information directly with the facility.
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Ready to get help for insomnia?
If you've tried sleep tips, routines, supplements, or medication — and you're still not sleeping — CBT-I can help. Start evidence-based insomnia treatment with a licensed sleep psychologist. Most major insurance accepted.
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