For many women, insomnia is not a single bad night of sleep, but months or years of exhaustion quietly woven into daily life. A new sleep health group offered through PCOM Psychological Services (PPS) provides evidence-based support for women experiencing chronic insomnia, combining clinical expertise, peer connection, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).
Led by Jacqueline D. Kloss, PhD, a professor and longtime sleep health specialist, and Alexa Bonacquisti, PhD, an associate professor and reproductive health psychologist focused on women’s mental health across the lifespan—both faculty in PCOM’s Department of Clinical Psychology—the weekly, in-person group is designed to help participants improve sleep quality, reduce sleep-related distress, and build sustainable skills that support overall mental and physical well-being.
The PPS Sleep Group for Women is a structured CBT-I program for women ages 18 and older and is offered in a small-group format across eight to 10 weekly, in-person sessions. After an initial individual evaluation to assess fit for CBT-I, participants move into group sessions that blend psychoeducation, skills training, and guided practice.
Kloss, who has spent more than 25 years helping individuals overcome sleep difficulties, brings significant expertise in CBT-I and sleep science. Bonacquisti complements that work with a clinical and research focus on women’s mental health across the lifespan, with an emphasis on psychological aspects of the reproductive journey. Together, they saw an opportunity to merge their professional interests to better serve patients while also training the next generation of clinicians in effective sleep treatment.
“This group is grounded in the science of sleep, while also uniquely addressing the issues, contexts, and lived experiences relevant to women that may interfere with their sleep, such as hormones, psychosocial stressors, and reproductive experiences,” Bonacquisti said.
CBT-I is considered the frontline treatment for chronic insomnia. Unlike sleep medications, CBT-I addresses the underlying behaviors and thought patterns that interfere with sleep and offers tools that produce long-term improvement. The therapy focuses on two core components:
“Many people don’t realize that insomnia is treatable,” Kloss said. “They might assume poor sleep is something they just have to live with, or they may rely on short-term fixes that don’t resolve the problem.”
Women are more likely than men to experience sleep disturbances, yet they are also more likely to minimize their symptoms or place their own health needs last. Hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause can significantly affect sleep, and rates of chronic insomnia often increase during these transitions. Roughly 10 percent of women experience chronic sleep difficulties, with even higher prevalence during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Despite this, sleep disruption—especially in the context of motherhood—is often normalized or dismissed.
“There’s a cultural narrative that exhaustion is just part of being a woman, particularly a mother,” Bonacquisti said. “But chronic sleep deprivation has real consequences for mental health, physical health, and quality of life.”
For many people with insomnia, nighttime becomes a breeding ground for worry, rumination, and frustration, which the program addresses by targeting both the cognitive and behavioral patterns that sustain sleep difficulties. Between sessions, participants track their sleep using diaries, build healthier sleep habits, and practice skills such as mindfulness, relaxation and breathing techniques, present-moment awareness, and sensory grounding to support change beyond the group setting. The group format also provides something many participants have never experienced before: connection with others facing similar sleep challenges.
Kloss and Bonacquisti emphasized that regular sleep is vital for health—it is a core regulator of mental, emotional, and physical health, alongside nutrition and physical activity. Sleep disturbance is often associated with depression, anxiety, daytime fatigue, and impaired functioning, yet it often goes unaddressed in routine health care.
“Treating sleep is treating overall health,” Kloss said. “CBT-I works for most—and it works without the risks that may come with long-term medication use. When sleep improves, people often feel more rested and notice changes in mood, concentration, resilience, and their ability to cope with daily stressors.”
Those interested in participating in the PPS Sleep Group for Women can schedule a free screening call by contacting PCOM Psychological Services. Visit pcomhealth.org/psychological-services or call 215-871-6487 to learn more and begin the process.
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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