Rhenda Hodnett PhD., LCSW, Rhenda Hodnett, PhD., LCSW

I am a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of professional experience and currently specialize in treating insomnia and the underlying conditions that often contribute to it.

As a licensed clinical social worker who spent many years of my career in the trenches of a mission-driven, high-stress environment, I know first hand how chronic stress can quietly unravel the things we rely on most. Sleep. Focus. Hope. The sense that tomorrow might actually be better than today.

That lived experience shapes everything about how I work with clients. I don't just understand burnout and chronic stress academically. I know what it feels like to push through exhaustion, to lie awake at 2 a.m. with a mind that won't quiet down, and to wonder if this is simply who you've become. It isn't. And you don't have to stay there.

If you've struggled with insomnia for months, years, or even decades, you may have tried everything: sleep aids, cutting out caffeine, going to bed earlier, staying up later. Maybe the medications helped for a while, or maybe they stopped working altogether. Maybe you've simply accepted that you're just "a bad sleeper."

I want you to know something important: insomnia is highly treatable — without medication — and the results can be lasting.
I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which is recognized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the American College of Physicians, and sleep researchers worldwide as the gold-standard, first-line treatment for chronic insomnia. Unlike sleep medications, which manage symptoms, CBT-I addresses the underlying thoughts, behaviors, and patterns that are keeping your brain in a state of hyperarousal.

The results speak for themselves. In as little as 6 to 8 weeks, clients who have struggled with insomnia for years — some for decades — reclaim their ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling rested. People who came to me dependent on sleep medications have been able to reduce or eliminate them entirely, under their physician's guidance. This isn't a quick fix that wears off. CBT-I builds skills and changes the relationship between you and sleep that hold long after our work together ends.

Every step is grounded in research, explained clearly, and adapted to your specific situation. You'll understand why we're doing what we're doing — because that understanding is part of what makes the change stick.

When Insomnia Isn't the Whole Story
For many people, insomnia doesn't exist in isolation. It is often linked to chronic stress, anxiety, or depression. The sleeplessness feeds the stress. The stress feeds the sleeplessness. It becomes a cycle that's hard to break from the inside. In my practice, I treat the whole picture. In addition to CBT-I, I work with adults navigating:
Chronic stress and burnout — including those in high-demand careers, caregiving roles, or life transitions that have depleted their reserves
Anxiety — from generalized worry and racing thoughts to the specific nighttime anxiety that makes sleep feel impossible
Depression — including the fatigue, hopelessness, and disrupted sleep that so often travel together

My approach integrates evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based techniques, and strengths-based practice. I meet clients where they are — whether they're in crisis, in maintenance, or simply ready to feel like themselves again.

Why Telehealth Works — and Why It Works for Sleep
All of my services are offered via telehealth, which means you can access care from the comfort of your own home; a dedicated, private hour focused entirely on you.
I currently serve clients throughout Louisiana.

Note on Who I Work With
I work with adults of all ages who are ready to stop just surviving their nights and start actually living their days. You don't have to be in crisis to reach out. You just have to be tired — tired of being tired — and willing to try something that actually works.
Whether you've been struggling with sleep for six months or sixteen years, whether you're currently on sleep medication or have never taken a pill in your life, whether insomnia is your only concern or one piece of a larger puzzle — there is a path forward, and I'd be honored to walk it with you.

Currently Accepting New Clients
I am currently welcoming new clients for telehealth appointments. Taking that first step can feel daunting, especially when exhaustion has worn down your sense of hope. But reaching out is the right move — and you don't have to have it all figured out before you do.
Let's talk about what's keeping you up at night. Literally.