Originally posted on https://www.petersenfamilycounseling.com/family-counseling-blog/cbt-vs-dbt/

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) are both standard parts of psychiatric treatment. There are a few differences between CBT vs DBT, but both therapies are effective at helping people and their families. The right therapy option depends on the individual’s unique needs and situation.

What Is CBT vs DBT?

CBT is one of the most popular types of psychotherapy today. It helps people learn about how their thoughts can actually affect their behavior and feelings. CBT involves talking about your problems so that you can reframe your thoughts and develop different ways of living.

DBT is a subset of CBT. It builds on the initial foundation of CBT by addressing the pain and discomfort the individual feels. This type of talk therapy puts extra focus on dealing with thoughts and triggers. In DBT, the individual learns healthy responses and also coping mechanisms for those triggers.

While many people compare CBT vs DBT, these treatments are quite similar. DBT is a type of CBT and helps people regulate emotions. CBT is normally short-term and focuses on a goal. Often, CBT begins with learning about a challenge, mental illness or addiction.

CBT vs DBT: The Right Treatment for the Right Illness

Each mental illness requires a unique treatment. A cognitive behavioral therapy program works well for treating depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, sleeping problems, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. DBT is quite effective at helping with behavior patterns, borderline personality disorder, and impulsive actions. If someone suffers from intense emotional reactions, sexual trauma, suicidal ideation or self-harm behaviors, then DBT might be the right treatment option.

CBT vs DBT: Discovering Counseling Options for the Entire Family

A mental illness, trauma or an addiction affects the entire family. No one is truly alone when they have a chronic illness like an addiction. Before long, the disorder affects each friend and family member as well. Because of this, top treatment programs include family counseling and therapy.

By treating the entire family as well as the individual, therapists make recovery possible. In a treatment program, clients can find options such as:

• Couple, family and marital counseling
• Addiction treatment consulting and therapy services
• Family counseling services and family weekend programs
• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Adolescent counseling
• EMDR therapy and trauma therapy
• Codependency treatment

A family is like a small business. When an addiction or mental illness strikes, the entire business can suffer. Through the right family therapy services, individuals and their families can take the next step in healing an addiction or conquering mental illness. Furthermore, with the right support, families can get back on track and start the healing process.

When you learn the Finally, to begin rebuilding your family today, call Petersen Family Counseling at 720-513-1465.