We want you to get the care you deserve.

Welcome!

I’m Dr. Thomas, a licensed clinical psychologist with board certification in behavioral sleep medicine.

My approach to care integrates the latest research with compassionate, personalized treatment, all while being committed to helping individuals navigate challenges related to sleep to help with mental health and overall well-being.

Philosophy of Care

I believe in a collaborative and holistic approach to treatment. Each individual’s experience is unique, and I work closely with my patients to develop personalized treatment plans that address their goals.

Together, we can explore strategies that foster resilience, improve sleep, and promote long-term well-being.

Therapeutic Approaches

Below are the evidence-based modalities we use, you don’t need to know which is right for you, but hopefully this list gives you an idea of our repertoire.

Individual Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold standard treatment for insomnia. CBT-I taps into the psychology and physiology of sleep to optimize your sleep quality and continuity. As part of treatment, patients are taught techniques to:

Increase your drive for sleep at bedtime
Consolidate sleep into a more restful, continuous periods
Combat stressful thoughts interfering with sleep

Course of treatment is usually 4-6 weekly or biweekly sessions with 1-2 booster sessions.

CBT-I

Classes

Adjusting to sleep with positive airway pressure (PAP) devices is challenging for adults with sleep apnea. This class is designed to help increase PAP use in individuals new or long-struggling with PAP therapy. This class is held over three, 1-hour sessions. As part of this class, attendees are taught:

What exactly is sleep apnea, and why is it so important to treat with PAP therapy?
Strategies to acclimate to PAP therapy so it becomes more second nature.
How to catch and change thoughts that get in the way of using your machine.
Developing habits and routines to set the stage for nightly use.

Classes are offered on Mondays at 11 AM EST. There is a $75 enrollment fee that includes all three sessions. Here are the 2025 dates:

September Class: 9/8, 9/15, 9/22
October Class: 10/6, 10/13, 10/20
November 11/3, 11/10, 11/17
December 12/1, 12/8, 12/15

PAP Essentials

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares (CBT-N) is an evidenced-based practice to reduce the impact of nightmares on patient’s sleep and emotional well-being. CBT-N works for nightmares that are trauma-related or unrelated to trauma (idiopathic nightmares). As part of treatment, patients are taught techniques to:

Rescript nightmares and rehearse this new, more positive version.
Relaxation techniques
Strategies to improve sleep habits

Course of treatment is usually 4 weekly or biweekly sessions with 1-2 booster sessions.

CBT-N

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Hypersomnia (CBT-H) is an evidenced-based practice to reduce the impact of central disorders of hypersomnolence, including idiopathic hypersomnia and narcolepsy (Types I and II). As part of treatment, patients are taught:

Education about hypersomnia.
Coping skills to improve emotion-regulation and symptom management
Provide training to maintain social support and long-term strategies for living with hypersomnia.

Course of treatment is usually 6 weekly or biweekly sessions with booster sessions as needed.

CBT-H

More About Dr. Thomas

I earned my PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. I completed my clinical internship in Clinical Health Psychology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and I pursued further specialized training in Behavioral Sleep Medicine as an Advanced Postdoctoral Fellow at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

I received my board-certification in Behavioral Sleep Medicine after completing 500 hours of sleep-related didactic training and clinical experience under the supervision of board-certified providers and passing the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Certification Examination.

Education and Training

Clinical Expertise

With extensive experience in treating sleep disorders, I specialize in applying evidence-based therapies for conditions such as:

Insomnia
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (CPAP adherence support)
Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Nightmares
Hypersomnias

I am particularly passionate about supporting individuals dealing with comorbid mental and physical health conditions, especially Veterans.

Research and Publications

My research focuses on sleep health in adults with comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea (coined “COMISA”) and its relationship with mental health and cardiometabolic health. In addition to my private practice, I continue to collaborate with researchers at the Pittsburgh VA and University of Pittsburgh to enhance clinical care and improve patients' quality of life.

I serve as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, where I teach my upper-level “Psychology of Sleep” course. Instructing students has been a rewarding aspect of my career, and I value the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the next generation of clinicians and researchers.

When not at work, I like to spend time with my family, walking our dog, rock climbing, and cooking.

Thank you for considering me as a partner in your mental health journey. I look forward to working with you!