Dr. Freeman's Blog Posts

A calm therapy office prepared for an EMDR session with comfortable chairs and natural light

What to Expect During EMDR Therapy: Before, During, and After a Session

If you are considering EMDR therapy, you can expect a structured process that begins with preparation, not immediate trauma processing. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is used most often for PTSD and trauma-related distress, and it may also be helpful when nightmares, anxiety, or sleep problems

June 26, 2026

Woman lying awake in bed looking worried after a poor night's sleep while her partner sleeps beside her

What Should You Tell Yourself After a Poor Night’s Sleep?

By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. What Should You Tell Yourself After a Poor Night’s Sleep? If you slept poorly last night, one of the worst things you can do is start the day with unrealistic expectations. Many people try to motivate themselves by saying, “I’m going to have an incredible

July 4, 2016

Dr. Freeman's Articles on Sleep, Trauma, and Behavioral Medicine

Can Health Anxiety Cause Insomnia?

Why Insomnia Patients Become Obsessed With Fixing Sleep

Why Childhood Criticism Can Affect Adult Sleep

Why Successful Professionals Develop Severe Insomnia

How Cognitive Distortions Can Keep You Awake at Night

Can Perfectionism Cause Insomnia?

When Insomnia Is Not Really About Sleep

Can Anxiety Cause Chronic Insomnia?

Sleep Hypnosis vs CBT-I: What’s the Difference?

Cognitive Distortions: How Unhelpful Thinking Affects Sleep, Anxiety, PTSD, and Recovery

Can Sleep Hypnosis Help Insomnia?

Why Trauma Affects Sleep for Years

What Is Sleep Hypnosis?

EMDR for Trauma-Related Problems

EMDR and PTSD Recovery

Why Does My Mind Race at Night?

What to Expect During EMDR Therapy: Before, During, and After a Session

How EMDR Works

Sleep Anxiety and Insomnia: Why Fear of Not Sleeping Keeps You Awake

Why You Can’t Sleep Even When You’re Exhausted

Can Gut Health Affect Anxiety, Inflammation, and Sleep?

ADHD and Sleep: Why Children Have Sleep Problems and Bedtime Battles

Eleven Best Foods That Help You Sleep

What Is EMDR Therapy?

Can EMDR Help Reduce Nightmares?

Foods That Help You Sleep: What to Eat Before Bed

What Is Sleep Coaching and Can It Help You Sleep Better?

Why Can’t I Sleep When It’s Hot?

When Should You Seek Help for Insomnia?

Why Can’t I Put My Phone Down at Night?

Why Insomnia Often Becomes a Habit

Paradoxical Insomnia (Sleep State Misperception): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

How CBT-I Treats Chronic Insomnia

Why Sleeping Pills Sometimes Stop Working

Finding a Sleep Therapist in San Diego

What Is CBT-I? A Complete Guide to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

Why Do I Wake Up at 3 A.M. Every Night?

Why Can’t I Fall Asleep at Night? Causes and Remedies That Work

Can Sugar Keep You Awake? The Connection Between Sugar and Sleep

How Hypervigilance Causes Sleep Problems and Insomnia