Evidence-Based Treatment of Night...
Evidence-Based Treatment of Nightmare Disorder: Skeptics Welcome!
Practical for Your Practice by The Consortium for Defense Psychology
S7 · E2
Oct 20, 2025
43:22
Episode notes

We often think of nightmares as a symptom that occurs as part of another condition, like PTSD or depression. But nightmares can be frequent and disruptive enough that they require their own clinical focus. We currently have 3 gold standard options for treatment: Imagery Rehearsal Therapy; Exposure, Relaxation, and Rescription Therapy; and Lucid Dreaming. Our guest today, Dr. Courtney Worley, introduces us to the diagnosis of Nightmare Disorder, explains why it deserves its own attention, and gives us an overview of the most effective treatments. Join us for a discussion that appeals to sleep nerds and healthy skeptics alike.

Dr. Courtney Worley is a Diplomate In Behavioral Sleep Medicine and Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist. She completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 2012 at The University of Alabama with specialized c ... 

Keywords
therapy
cognitive
evidence
sleep
evidence-based
Behavioral Health
social worker
CBT
cognitive-behavioral
nightmares
IRT
ERRT
lucid dreaming