Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat to Know About Cognitive Behavioral TherapyWhat to Know About Dialectical Behavior TherapyWhich Treatment Is Best for You?Can Dialectical Behavior Therapy And Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Be Used Together?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What to Know About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
What to Know About Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Which Treatment Is Best for You?
Can Dialectical Behavior Therapy And Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Be Used Together?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)anddialecticalbehavioral therapy (DBT)are types of psychotherapy (talk therapy).
CBT is one of the most common forms of evidence-based psychotherapy. It helps a person identify and change maladaptive thought processes and behaviors.
DBT is an evidence-based treatment that is derived from CBT. Instead of changing maladaptive thoughts and emotions, DBT encourages experiencing and accepting the emotions and developing healthy ways to cope with them.
Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between CBT and DBT.
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CBT is a well-established psychotherapy used to treat a variety of mental health conditions and symptoms, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, andsubstance-use disorders.
How Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Work?
CBT typically involves:
CBT can be modified and tailored to specific purposes or situations. For example, while based on the same principles, CBT fordepressionmay employ different techniques for eating disorders than CBT would.
Delivery of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is typically a structured, short-term treatment of about 10 to 16 sessions. Benefits may even become noticeable within a few sessions. CBT is goal-oriented and present-focused.
Basic CBT techniques include:
CBT can be administered in a number of settings, including face to face orvirtually.
Where to Get Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
To find a therapist who practices CBT:
Are CBT and DBT My Only Options?CBT and DBT can both be helpful in treating mental health conditions, but they aren’t the only options available.Other therapiesand programs, as well as medications and, in some cases, procedures, may be better suited to you and your needs. Talk to your healthcare provider or mental health professional about treatment choices.
Are CBT and DBT My Only Options?
CBT and DBT can both be helpful in treating mental health conditions, but they aren’t the only options available.Other therapiesand programs, as well as medications and, in some cases, procedures, may be better suited to you and your needs. Talk to your healthcare provider or mental health professional about treatment choices.
DBT treats people who have strong urges to harm themselves or who engage in self-destructive behavior. It has also proved effective at treating other mental health disorders, such asmood disorders, substance-use disorders, eating disorders, and PTSD.
How Does Dialectical Behavior Therapy Work?
DBT strives to teach skills and tools needed to handle stress. Instead of changing negative thoughts (as seen in CBT), DBT helps change maladaptive coping strategies into productive ones with the goal of improving emotion regulation and interpersonal relationships.
The four key components of DBT are:
DBT assumes that:
Delivery of Dialectical Behavior Therapy
DBTis designed to have four stages:
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
Stage 3:
Stage 4:
Are All Four Stages Necessary?DBT was designed to start at the first stage but is flexible and can be modified for individuals with less intensive needs.
Are All Four Stages Necessary?
DBT was designed to start at the first stage but is flexible and can be modified for individuals with less intensive needs.
Comprehensive DBT involves four components:
Skills training group:
Individual psychotherapy:
Telephone consultation/coaching:
Therapist consultation team:
A full DBT program takes about a year, but shorter programs (sometimes called DBT-informed programs) are offered in some situations.
Where to Get Dialectical Behavior Therapy
To find a therapist who provides DBT:
Which treatment to choose depends on the person’s needs and goals.
Both treatments are evidence-based and can help with addressing, overcoming, and regulating emotional challenges.
Though they have similar outcome goals, there are key differences between the therapies, including:
CBT has proved effective in treating:
DBT may be well-suited for treating:
Which Treatment Should I Choose?Before deciding on a treatment, talk to your healthcare provider or mental health professional. They can go over your needs and goals with you and help determine the course of action that works best for you.
Which Treatment Should I Choose?
Before deciding on a treatment, talk to your healthcare provider or mental health professional. They can go over your needs and goals with you and help determine the course of action that works best for you.
Because DBT was developed as an extension of CBT, it incorporates some of the training skills and aspects of CBT. They are considered to be part of a family of interventions operating on the belief that changing maladaptive behaviors can help decrease problematic behaviors and emotional distress.
CBT is more established, while DBT is newer and currently studied to determine its effectiveness and applicability in different situations.
Help Is AvailableIf you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat1-800-273-8255for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
Help Is Available
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat1-800-273-8255for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
Summary
CBT and DBT are types of evidence-based psychotherapies.
CBT focuses on identifying, addressing, and changing maladaptive thought processes and behaviors.
DBT was developed as an extension of CBT with a stronger focus on acceptance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal relationships.
CBT has been shown to be effective at treating a number of mental health conditions, includinganxiety, depression, andOCD.
DBT was developed to treatBPD, particularly for people with BPD who show self-harm or suicidal ideation or behaviors. It has also been shown to be effective for conditions such as eating disorders and substance-use disorders. It is currently being researched to see if it may help in other situations.
Research suggests that DBT may be especially helpful for adolescents.
A Word From Verywell
If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, talk to your healthcare provider ormental health professionalabout treatment options. Depending on your situation and needs, CBT or DBT may be beneficial to you.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Delphi Behavioral Health Group.Cognitive behavioral therapy vs dialectical behavior therapy.Bass C, Van Nevel J, Swart J.A comparison between dialectical behavior therapy, mode deactivation therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy in the treatment of adolescents.International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy.2014;9(2):4-8. doi:10.1037/h0100991May JM, Richardi TM, Barth KS.Dialectical behavior therapy as treatment for borderline personality disorder.Mental Health Clinician.2016;6(2):62-67. doi:10.9740/mhc.2016.03.62Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division.What’s the difference between CBT and DBT?Shift Cognitive Therapy.Cognitive therapy vs psychotherapy.Linehan MM, Wilks CR.The course and evolution of dialectical behavior therapy.APT.2015;69(2):97-110. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2015.69.2.97Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).Behavioral Research & Therapy Clinics — University of Washington.Dialectical behavior therapy.Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles.CBT vs DBT.Vogel EN, Singh S, Accurso EC.A systematic review of cognitive behavior therapy and dialectical behavior therapy for adolescent eating disorders.J Eat Disord.2021;9(1):131. doi:10.1186/s40337-021-00461-1
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Delphi Behavioral Health Group.Cognitive behavioral therapy vs dialectical behavior therapy.Bass C, Van Nevel J, Swart J.A comparison between dialectical behavior therapy, mode deactivation therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy in the treatment of adolescents.International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy.2014;9(2):4-8. doi:10.1037/h0100991May JM, Richardi TM, Barth KS.Dialectical behavior therapy as treatment for borderline personality disorder.Mental Health Clinician.2016;6(2):62-67. doi:10.9740/mhc.2016.03.62Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division.What’s the difference between CBT and DBT?Shift Cognitive Therapy.Cognitive therapy vs psychotherapy.Linehan MM, Wilks CR.The course and evolution of dialectical behavior therapy.APT.2015;69(2):97-110. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2015.69.2.97Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).Behavioral Research & Therapy Clinics — University of Washington.Dialectical behavior therapy.Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles.CBT vs DBT.Vogel EN, Singh S, Accurso EC.A systematic review of cognitive behavior therapy and dialectical behavior therapy for adolescent eating disorders.J Eat Disord.2021;9(1):131. doi:10.1186/s40337-021-00461-1
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Delphi Behavioral Health Group.Cognitive behavioral therapy vs dialectical behavior therapy.Bass C, Van Nevel J, Swart J.A comparison between dialectical behavior therapy, mode deactivation therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy in the treatment of adolescents.International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy.2014;9(2):4-8. doi:10.1037/h0100991May JM, Richardi TM, Barth KS.Dialectical behavior therapy as treatment for borderline personality disorder.Mental Health Clinician.2016;6(2):62-67. doi:10.9740/mhc.2016.03.62Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division.What’s the difference between CBT and DBT?Shift Cognitive Therapy.Cognitive therapy vs psychotherapy.Linehan MM, Wilks CR.The course and evolution of dialectical behavior therapy.APT.2015;69(2):97-110. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2015.69.2.97Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).Behavioral Research & Therapy Clinics — University of Washington.Dialectical behavior therapy.Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles.CBT vs DBT.Vogel EN, Singh S, Accurso EC.A systematic review of cognitive behavior therapy and dialectical behavior therapy for adolescent eating disorders.J Eat Disord.2021;9(1):131. doi:10.1186/s40337-021-00461-1
Delphi Behavioral Health Group.Cognitive behavioral therapy vs dialectical behavior therapy.
Bass C, Van Nevel J, Swart J.A comparison between dialectical behavior therapy, mode deactivation therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy in the treatment of adolescents.International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy.2014;9(2):4-8. doi:10.1037/h0100991
May JM, Richardi TM, Barth KS.Dialectical behavior therapy as treatment for borderline personality disorder.Mental Health Clinician.2016;6(2):62-67. doi:10.9740/mhc.2016.03.62
Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division.What’s the difference between CBT and DBT?
Shift Cognitive Therapy.Cognitive therapy vs psychotherapy.
Linehan MM, Wilks CR.The course and evolution of dialectical behavior therapy.APT.2015;69(2):97-110. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2015.69.2.97
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).
Behavioral Research & Therapy Clinics — University of Washington.Dialectical behavior therapy.
Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles.CBT vs DBT.
Vogel EN, Singh S, Accurso EC.A systematic review of cognitive behavior therapy and dialectical behavior therapy for adolescent eating disorders.J Eat Disord.2021;9(1):131. doi:10.1186/s40337-021-00461-1
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