CBT and DBT are two types of psychotherapy or "talk therapy" that can help individuals cope with various mental health challenges. While CBT focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behavior influence each other, DBT is a more specific form of CBT that focuses on helping people who tend to have extreme emotional reactions interact with the environment around them in a less emotional, healthier way. Here are some key differences between CBT and DBT:
CBT
- Focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behavior influence each other.
- Is structured, short-term, goal-oriented, and focused on the present.
- Helps individuals learn and practice skills and strategies like problem-solving or realistic thinking to help them make changes in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
- Is effective in treating many different mental health problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and substance use problems.
DBT
- Is a more specific form of CBT that focuses on helping people who tend to have extreme emotional reactions interact with the environment around them in a less emotional, healthier way.
- Is based on CBT, with greater focus on emotional and social aspects.
- Helps individuals regulate emotions, stay in the present moment, deal with crises, and be effective in their relationships.
- Is tailored towards helping people acknowledge the pain and discomfort they feel, yet still feel safe and "ok" in the moment and empowered to choose healthy behaviors instead of impulsive or harmful actions.
- Was created to help those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
Both CBT and DBT are evidence-based psychotherapies that aim to ultimately help the client change their thought patterns. However, the main difference between CBT and DBT is a matter of emphasis: CBT focuses on thought patterns and their redirection, while DBT focuses on balance and the relationship between acceptance and change.
