CBT vs DBT Therapy: Which is Right for You
Updated: April 28, 2024
CBT and DBT therapy are two different types of psychotherapy that are often used to help individuals with a variety of mental health conditions. While both approaches share some similarities, they have some key differences as well.
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT?)
CBT, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, is a type of talk therapy that focuses on helping individuals change their negative thinking patterns and behaviours. CBT aims to identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs and help people develop more adaptive thinking patterns.
CBT is effective in treating a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or trauma.
Learn more about CBT.
What is Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)?
DBT, or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, is a type of cognitive-behavioural therapy that was originally developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is based on the idea that individuals with BPD have difficulty regulating their emotions and often engage in impulsive and self-destructive behaviours as a way of coping with intense emotions. DBT focuses on helping individuals develop skills to manage their emotions and cope with stress more healthily and adaptively.
Learn more about DBT and our DBT therapist.
Differences between CBT and DBT
One key difference between CBT and DBT is the emphasis on emotional regulation. While CBT may address emotional regulation as part of the therapy process, DBT places a greater emphasis on developing skills for regulating emotions and coping with intense feelings.
Another difference between the two approaches is the use of mindfulness. While mindfulness techniques may be incorporated into both CBT and DBT, mindfulness is a core component of DBT and is used to help individuals become more aware of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in the present moment.
Ultimately, the choice between CBT and DBT will depend on an individual's specific needs and the nature of their mental health condition. A mental health professional can help determine which approach may be most beneficial for a particular individual.
Get Connected to a CBT or DBT Therapist
Our therapists at Virtual CBT Psychotherapy are CBT experts. They can integrate DBT skills into therapy but if your main focus is emotional dysregulation, you may want to find a DBT program near you. Our therapist, Alana Weinberg, offers DBT to some clients, especially youth who engage in self-harm behaviours. Click the tab below to book a free consultation with one of our therapists.
