Everyone has done it. Researching various treatments for mental health concerns and ending up more confused than when you started. What do all the clinical names mean? Why are there so many? What’s the difference between all of them? Searching around Google for various treatments and methods surrounding mental illness and addiction will typically point you in the direction of psychotherapy, specifically cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). You may also find yourself confronted with various types of CBT with confusing names. However, these treatment approaches are not as complicated as you might think; they just take some breaking down.
You cannot begin to truly understand treatment modalities in-depth if you do not know their basic definitions. This is a good starting place to bring about some understanding.
CBT is a more general term that is typically thrown around in mental health and addiction recovery circles. It is a type of psychotherapy, or talk therapy, that works to help clients frame their thoughts differently to see them from a different perspective. This is done by talking through your concerns and feelings and then flipping them to show them in a different light. There are multiple types of CBT, including Cognitive Therapy (CT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Stress Inoculation Training, Self-Instructional Training, and more. These therapies typically last for shorter periods and focus on cognition, emotional responses, and rationale.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of CBT created initially to treat borderline personality disorder, suicidal ideations, and self-harm. This treatment approach focuses more on helping clients change behavior patterns rather than solely focusing on talking through their concerns. DBT uses four modules to help clients learn to control emotional responses, practice mindfulness, think rationally, and take care of themselves throughout challenging scenarios.
CBT is useful for a wide range of concerns that individuals may be struggling with because it is a general term used to describe various psychotherapies. CBT has proven beneficial for individuals struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), sleep problems, depression, and panic disorder.
On the other hand, it is essential to remember that DBT was developed originally to treat borderline personality. However, it has been found to have numerous benefits for other mental disorders and addiction since then. Today the therapy is used for individuals struggling with substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and other mood disorders. It has also been found to be helpful with trauma survivors.
CBT and DBT share some similarities in that they are both psychotherapies that involve working through behavior patterns. However, they have more differences between them.
The philosophies behind both types of therapy are different concerning how the therapist will approach the patient. For example, CBT focuses more on critical thinking, rationale, and logic to help clients change their perspectives and ways of thinking. DBT, on the other hand, is more mindfulness-based, focusing more on how the client interacts with and accepts their environment, others, and themselves.
While both therapies have specific objectives for patients to achieve, CBT is more direct with them. CBT helps clients identify and analyze their various negative actions and then help them overcome these actions by framing them in a different light. DBT is less direct about goals as it mainly focuses on acceptance, emotional regulation, and the client’s relationship to themselves, others, and their environment. CBT differs in that it focuses more on behaviors rather than the relationships the client has.
DBT lasts longer than CBT - treatment usually lasts for months instead of a few weeks. CBT is more one-on-one with the therapist and works to move quickly through the treatment rather than lingering on specific concerns and issues the patient is struggling with. DBT, on the other hand, has the client in group settings and one-on-one as they work through various issues concerning themselves in relation to their environment, others, and their inner self.
The critical thing to remember when choosing between CBT and DBT is what each therapy is best for. CBT is best for PTSD, OCD, anxiety disorders, phobia management, and depression. DBT is best for eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, substance use disorders, self-harm, and chronic suicidal ideation. If you are still unsure about which modality to pursue, talk to a mental health professional to be set on the right track.
There are many treatment modalities and therapies to learn about when you are getting help for your mental health or substance use. CBT and DBT are two of these therapies you will most likely come across. While they may appear similar on the surface, some key differences distinguish them from one another. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that lasts for only a couple of weeks. It uses logic and rationale to help clients reframe their thinking about their lives and behaviors. DBT is more about mindfulness and focusing on one’s relationship to themselves, their environment, and others. DBT lasts longer than CBT in that it lasts for a few months at a time. Both are great options when you are considering getting help for issues you are struggling with. At Northstar Transitions, we offer CBT and DBT for our clients to give them the best treatment possible. If you are struggling with which is best for you, call us at (303) 558-6400, and we can point you in the right direction.
