Addiction is a physical illness and has a strong psychological component. When dealing with addiction, psychotherapy is an extremely useful tool. It works well because it helps people identify why they struggle with addiction, so they learn methods of fighting off cravings and triggers. If you or a loved one is considering Oregon’s cognitive-behavioral therapy programs, it is helpful to learn about DBT vs. CBT programs. Here is what you need to know about these helpful addiction treatments.
What Is CBT?
To understand CBT vs. DBT, it is important to first understand how these therapies work. CBT stands for cognitive-behavioral therapy and is a type of psychotherapy treatment that focuses on problem-solving and hands-on assistance. CBT is a widely used and highly effective therapy that helps with addiction, depression, and PTSD. Unlike some other forms of therapy, CBT has highly structured sessions and a short time frame that lasts a few days to a couple of months. CBT is done in one-on-one or group counseling sessions.
The goal of CBT is to change a person’s behavior by helping them understand the patterns and distorted thinking behind their behavior. During a session, the therapist works with the patient to identify negative thinking patterns, habits, and triggers that lead to drug abuse or other problematic behavior. Then, the therapist discusses techniques for changing thought patterns and overcoming triggers. This treatment is valuable for people with addictions because it helps them seek help after a relapse.
What Is DBT?
DBT stands for dialectical behavior therapy and is technically a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy. It gets its name from dialectic, a Greek philosophical form of thought that focuses on synthesizing opposing views instead of trying to pick one view and discard the other. DBT is about rephrasing irrational thoughts to have a positive effect on one’s behavior. It can also be done in individual or group therapy meetings. However, DBT is a little more open-ended than CBT. One of the key differences between the two is that DBT is more about changing general ways of thinking to improve mood regulation.
This subset of CBT focuses primarily on dealing with the emotions behind behaviors and thoughts. It teaches people to accept, move on, and change instead of getting stuck in negative cycles. In DBT, a therapist helps the patient identify black and white thinking, such as “you cannot be both an addict and a good person.” Once the type of thinking is identified, DBT replaces it with more reasonable thoughts like “addiction is a disease that can affect good people too.” This creates a supportive and accepting environment giving a person the chance to heal and seek the help they need.
How to Tell Which One Is Right for You
The main difference between CBT vs. DBT is that CBT is broader and tends to discuss a wide range of thoughts, habits, behaviors, and patterns while DBT is mostly about emotions and thoughts. Choosing DBT vs. CBT often depends on your personality and actions. People dealing mostly with addiction triggers like boredom, old friends, or stress at work will benefit from CBT. People struggling with mental health problems like borderline personality disorder alongside their addiction will benefit from DBT. In some cases, a combination of both forms of therapy is the right mental health and addiction treatment plan.
Programs at Sunstone Recovery
As you can see, both DBT and CBT is an effective means for addressing the mental side of addiction. At Sunstone Recovery, we are proud to offer dual diagnosis treatment in OR that helps with both addiction and the underlying triggers.
Therapy programs can be utilized in any of our programs, including:
- Holistic rehab programs
- Men’s and women’s rehab
- Substance abuse treatment programs
- Intensive outpatient treatment program
Contact us today at 855.833.9199 to get the treatment you deserve. Take control of your addiction and live the life you deserve.
