Sifting through the alphabet soup of mental health treatments and psychotherapies can usually be overwhelming and confusing. What do the various clinical names mean? And why are there so many? If you are searching Google or Bing for various treatments and methods surrounding addiction and mental illnesses, such as depression or anxiety, you will likely come across psychotherapy, particularly Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). These treatment techniques are evidence-based and extremely useful… and are not as complex as you may think.
You should know that cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy are both popular forms of psychotherapy regularly used as part of a comprehensive mental health or addiction treatment program. Both methods have been proven effective for treating many commonly co-occurring mental health issues and substance use disorders.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT is a general term often thrown around in addiction and mental health recovery circles. CBT is a reliable behavioral treatment and comprises a group of similar talk therapies that help patients frame their thoughts differently in order to see them from a different and positive perspective. CBT helps patients find the connection between their feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. At its core, CBT centers on the idea that your thoughts directly affect your behavior and feelings.
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a specific type of CBT that was developed initially to treat borderline personality disorder. However, now DBT is used to treat various mental illnesses, such as depression, eating disorders, addictions, and self-harm. The dialectical part of its name refers to the idea that sometimes opposite concepts can be true simultaneously.
This treatment technique focuses more on helping patients change behavior patterns instead of solely focusing on talking through their issues and concerns. DBT uses 4 modules in order to help patients learn to control emotional responses, think rationally, practice mindfulness, and take good care of themselves throughout difficult and challenging scenarios.
The main goal of CBT is to change your negative behaviors and thoughts. On the other hand, DBT focuses on helping patients change their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors by accepting them.
An experienced, compassionate, and certified therapists can help you determine whether DBT or CBT is right for you.
Main Differences between CBT and DBT
While DBT and CBT are similar in that they are both psychotherapies, they have some key differences that make them appropriate for specific mental health disorders and issues. Here are the key differences between CBT and DBT.
The Philosophies
A major difference between DBT and CBT is how they approach the patient. For example, CBT focuses on critical thinking, logic, and rationale to help patients change their perspectives and how they think. On the other hand, DBT is more mindfulness-based. It focuses on how the patient interacts with and accepts others, their environment, and themselves.
Objectives
Although both therapies have specific goals and objectives, CBT is more goal-oriented. CBT helps patients identify negative thoughts and behaviors and gives patients tools and resources to adjust to these problems. CBT helps you overcome negative actions and behavior by framing them in a different light.
In contrast, DBT is less direct about goals since it primarily focuses on emotional regulation, acceptance, and the patient’s relationships with others, themselves, and their environment.
Length of Treatment
Note that DBT lasts considerably longer than CBT. DBT treatment typically lasts for months. CBT sessions are generally shorter sessions than DBT sessions. CBT is one-on-one with the therapist and aims to move quickly through the treatment instead of dwelling on specific concerns or issues the patient is struggling with.
Conversely, DBT often places the patient in group settings as well as one-on-one as they work through different issues.
Which is Right for You?
The main thing to keep in mind when choosing between DBT and CBT is what each therapy is most suitable for. For example, CBT is best for OCD, PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, and phobia management.
DBT is more suitable for borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and chronic suicidal ideation. Which modality is best for you depends on your needs and particular situation. If you’re not sure about which modality to pursue, it is best to speak with a mental health professional so you can make the right decision.
You can call/ text us today at (720) 515-3551 to a schedule free consultation call or your first session.