Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) can be beneficial for people seeking help with addiction. They both fall under the talk therapy label, but their approaches are significantly different. When looking at CBT vs DBT, a therapist will consider the patient’s goals in addiction therapy, the treatments they’ve already tried, and whether they are dealing with mental illness.
What is CBT?
A therapist uses CBT as a way to help their patients identify thought patterns and feelings that influence their behavior. When thoughts and emotions are negative or unrealistic, they can lead to adverse activities such as substance abuse. The therapy sessions centered around achieving specific goals and fixing the present.
CBT helps the patient work on practical ways to change these thoughts into ones that are positive, productive, and realistic. They develop coping skills and build up new ways of thinking that shift the behavior. The therapist uses CBT to aid the patient’s problem-solving abilities and leads them to the ideal outcome.
CBT is often used as the first line of treatment for substance abuse, addiction issues, and mental illness. It’s highly effective in a cognitive behavioral therapy program in Arizona. One of the biggest advantages of CBT is that it revolves around solving a specific problem. Since it’s so focused, it takes less time and fewer sessions to see results.
What is DBT?
DBT concentrates on interpersonal relationships, stress management, and overwhelming emotions. This therapy has a heavy focus on developing coping skills to change problematic behavior, build acceptance, and improve the way that the patient reacts.
Throughout their time in a dialectical behavior therapy program in Arizona, the patient learns mindfulness to help them work their way through problematic behavior and thought patterns. The therapist guides their patients into regulating their emotions.
Patients may need to examine past experiences during this process, to learn more about their personal relationships and the source of extreme emotions. Over time, they accept themselves and find ways to better cope with their lives. DBT may require more sessions than CBT, as it takes a broader approach when addressing substance use, addiction, mental illness, and other conditions.
CBT vs DBT: Which is Right For You?
Therapists work closely with their patients to determine whether CBT, DBT, or other therapies are the most appropriate for their treatment plan. CBT vs DBT share many characteristics, and the right selection depends on the patient’s situation.
CBT provides patients with a short-term, focused therapy that addresses a specific problem. It can help people work through difficult situations in their lives by bringing a better understanding of how thoughts, behavior, and feeling are all related.
DBT works well for handling impulsive, destructive, or harmful behavior that has a negative impact on the patient’s life. The therapist spends time helping people accept themselves, so they have a foundation to change these actions and thoughts.
Addiction treatment therapy programs in Arizona offer CBT vs DBT as needed to help people achieve a better future and help you get on the path to recovery today.