ABSTRACT
J. H. Geer and E. S. Katkin report the case of a 29-yr-old female treated for insomnia by a variant of systematic desensitization. Although the treatment was found to be successful, a procedure whereby relaxation is provided in vivo, with minimal therapeutic contact, would appear to be a more efficient way of dealing with this particular target problem. The purpose of this case report is to demonstrate this in vivo use of self-relaxation as it was employed in the treatment of insomnia in an 11-yr-old child. The decision to begin treatment by focusing on the insomnia problem, and not the fear of being alone, was based on the more serious consequences associated with the insomnia; the lack of sleep was affecting 11-yr-old child's performance at school. Further, it was felt that her fear of being alone at night would be minimized if her difficulty in sleeping were eliminated.
