Dialectical Behavior Therapy vs CBT: Key Differences and Benefits

CBT can even be used to treat physical conditions like chronic pain in some cases. Dialectical behavioral therapy is recommended as a first-line treatment for borderline personality disorder and has been shown to reduce the need for medical care and medications by as much as 90%. DBT, while also addressing relapse prevention, takes it a step further by teaching distress tolerance skills. These skills are specifically designed to help you manage situations that might otherwise lead to relapse, especially when emotions are running high. CBT focuses on equipping you with skills to recognize and challenge negative thought patterns that might lead to relapse. It’s very much about identifying triggers and developing coping mechanisms to avoid slipping back into old habits.

How to Find a CBT or DBT Therapist near You

Both modalities will involve homework and therapeutic assignments for clients to complete between sessions. The strong emphasis on thinking and behavior placed by CBT makes it an especially suitable treatment for those seeking to overcome specific problems. For those less interested in psychoanalysis and the influence of past events, CBT can dialectical behavioral therapy be an effective way of addressing current thought patterns and yielding positive behavioral results.

What is DBT?

DBT was first used to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder and was developed in the early 1990s by Marsha Linehan. Since then, it has been used to treat various other mental health disorders. Both CBT and DBT are useful for treating a wide range of mental health issues. To determine which approach will work best for you, consult with a therapist. DBT aims to teach people how to develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve relationships with others.

Where to Get Dialectical Behavior Therapy

• It helps people undergo cognitive restructuring for more balanced and healthier thoughts.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are two different modalities of therapy that can be helpful if you’re looking for a therapist.
• While both CBT and DBT can be effective for treating depression, the evidence behind CBT in treating depression is more exhaustive.
• Those with such conditions battle impulses to eat to excess or, conversely, to deprive themselves of food.

CBT is widely used to address anxiety disorders, depression, and other more general mental health concerns. In contrast, DBT was initially developed for borderline personality disorder and has since expanded its reach to other conditions characterized by emotional dysregulation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was developed in the 1960s by psychiatrist Aaron Beck and grew in popularity during the 1980s and 1990s.

• The key is to find the right approach for you and to be consistent with your therapy sessions.
• Let’s take a closer look at these types of behavioral therapies and how they are related.
• The commitment to attending multiple therapy sessions and skills training groups can be time-consuming.

Dialectal behavior therapy (DBT) is based on CBT principles but incorporates principles of mindfulness practice. Traditional outpatient DBT includes individual therapy, DBT skills groups, and phone coaching. In DBT, you can use phone coaching to reach a therapist who coaches you to use DBT-based skills during a crisis. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, also known as DBT, is a modified alternative to CBT.

How to Find a CBT or DBT Therapist?

A large part of CBT is using reason to identify thinking patterns and distortions that can contribute to issues like anxiety, depression, and drug cravings. DBT often involves weekly individual therapy sessions, skills training groups, and phone consultations. In individual therapy, you and your therapist work on identifying and changing specific behaviors and thoughts that contribute to your difficulties. The skills training groups provide education and practice in the four core areas of DBT.

CBT nearly always takes place in a one-on-one setting with the therapist. The client and therapist work together for the session, and then the client will often have homework to take home. Rather, the client is more mindful and accepting as they validate themselves in reality, but it is not the active, challenging process that happens in CBT. Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education.