Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are both evidence-based treatments. If you struggle with substance abuse or a co-occurring mental health condition, they could be instrumental for healing. When discussing cognitive behavioral therapy vs DBT, a therapist will assess your needs. Here’s what you need to know about these treatment approaches.
Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy vs DBT
At the cognitive and dialectical behavior therapy program Hanover, PA counts on, therapists have experience with both modalities. CBT is a treatment that focuses on patterns. In this case, they’re the patterns that exist between thoughts, feelings, and actions. Frequently, there’s dysfunction. For example, your thoughts might not fit with the situation at hand. Because they’re disharmonious, your emotions will not be suitable, either. As a result, your actions soon follow suit. When discussing cognitive behavioral therapy vs dialectic behavior therapy, CBT works on changing dysfunctional patterns. You, quite literally, relearn how to think clearly. Doing so eliminates significant triggers for substance abuse. Besides that, it helps you ground yourself in the present. In contrast, DBT hones in on your emotions. It’s a modality that primarily focuses on helping you regain control over intense feelings. In the past, these feelings might have drowned out rational thought. Today, you learn how to get back in charge. By doing so, you refuse to make emotion-driven choices or engage in behaviors just because they feel good. Rather, you think clearly and focus on doing what’s right for its own sake. Therefore, you regain control over feelings. You don’t pretend they’re not there; you just learn to manage them.
Incorporating Behavioral Therapy in a Comprehensive Care Protocol
After making the determination which modality’s right for you, there’s still more to do. In the cognitive behavioral therapy vs DBT discussion, it’s easy to miss the forest for the trees. Both treatments are excellent additions for an evidence-based care protocol. Therefore, therapists will add other treatments. Examples include:
- Dual diagnosis treatment for the management of underlying mental health conditions such as depression or personality disorders
- Family therapy program, which allows loved ones to heal and understand how to support recovery
- Trauma therapy treatment that helps remove significant stressors and triggers for substance abuse
Don’t Wait to Get Help
Substance abuse doesn’t get better on its own. Instead, it’ll worsen and cause emotional, health, and legal problems. Besides that, it’ll create difficulties with loved ones. Behavioral treatment is among the evidence-based therapeutic interventions that make a difference. You don’t have to limit yourself to only DBT or CBT. Perhaps you’re the right candidate for both care approaches. When talking about cognitive behavioral therapy vs dialectic behavior therapy, the emphasis is the client’s need. Some don’t require both modalities. Others do well with a brief stint of CBT. Therefore, therapists adapt a care curriculum to suit each individual’s needs. Find out more about cognitive behavioral therapy vs DBT. Therapists at The Ranch PA appreciate the opportunity to explain your treatment options. Most importantly, they’ll tell you how you can heal. Call 717.969.9126 to make lasting changes.
