my insomnia recovery journey

Hello, I’m Monica, Founder of Insomnia Relief Coach, LLC—a Certified Sleep Coach with a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling.

I work with thoughtful, caring people who are exhausted—not just in their bodies, but in their hearts and minds. Many of my clients are healthcare professionals, teachers, and parents. Others are navigating recovery from chronic illness like Lyme disease or long COVID. What they all share is burnout, self-pressure, and a deep longing to feel safe enough to rest.

I know the pain of insomnia firsthand.

For five years, I struggled with relentless insomnia. For two of those years, I was also living with Lyme disease—an added layer of physical and emotional stress that left my nervous system overwhelmed. I was deeply tired, yet unable to rest. Sleep became something I chased but couldn’t reach.

I consulted countless physicians and specialists. While their intentions were good, conventional advice often missed the mark. I felt isolated, anxious, and increasingly disheartened.

Determined to heal, I tried everything—lifestyle changes, therapy, supplements, medications, essential oils, even whale sounds (yes, really). Nothing helped long-term. I felt like I was failing.

Everything shifted when I stopped trying to “fix” sleep and began to understand it. I dove into research and discovered how fear, pressure, and effort were keeping me stuck in the insomnia cycle. Slowly, everything began to change.

I became a Certified Sleep Coach through an education program developed by Dr. Daniel Erichsen, a renowned sleep physician known for his compassionate, science-informed approach to insomnia recovery. 

Today, I draw from evidence-based frameworks—Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Insomnia (ACT‑I), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT‑I), and mindfulness—while staying rooted in emotional safety, lived experience, and the understanding that healing is never one-size-fits-all. 

While I hold a Master of Education (M.Ed) in Counseling, I am not a licensed therapist and do not provide therapy, clinical mental health treatment, or crisis intervention. 

My role is that of a coach: to offer education, guidance, and a steady presence as you shift your relationship with sleep. If you are seeking mental health treatment, I encourage you to connect with a licensed professional. 

I don’t offer rigid protocols or quick fixes. I offer a grounded, supportive space where you can gently release the struggle and begin reconnecting with rest—even in the presence of wakefulness.

I support people who:

• Overthink, self-monitor, or try too hard to sleep
• Are deeply caring but often put themselves last
• Struggle with fear about being awake at night
• Feel emotionally and physically depleted from burnout
• Feel broken or ashamed because nothing has worked
• Are navigating complex health journeys, including Lyme disease

If you’re in the thick of insomnia and feel like you’ve tried everything—I see you. You’re not broken. You’re not failing. You’re right on time for your own healing. I’d be honored to walk alongside you.