Talk therapy is diverse in its offerings, coming in many forms, based on what the patient is looking for or needs. During the course of addiction treatment, you may encounter either Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Both CBT and DBT can be a part of a comprehensive addiction treatment program. Finding a DBT or CBT program in New Jersey can help in providing further insight into your addiction and support for your recovery. For today, let’s address the dichotomy and confluence between cognitive behavioral therapy vs. dialectical behavior therapy (CBT vs. DBT).
Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) simply put, is an evidence-based type of talk therapy. Psychotherapists have long used this treatment to help people with behavioral health disorders. One of our certified, trained counselors with North Jersey Recovery Center will work with you for a certain number of sessions in CBT. The sessions will work to address the following needs and concerns:
CBT can help you with:
- Identifying ways to manage your emotions
- Resolving conflicts in your relationships
- Coping with grief or loss
- Learn coping techniques in stressful situations
- Managing behavioral health symptoms, which include substance use disorders, anxiety, and depression
Moreover, CBT can help you in further exploring your feelings and experiences. It may not always be an easy task to undertake. It’s possible to feel drained after discussing in length about painful, harrowing experiences that have come up in your life. Exposure therapy is something you have probably heard of before. It’s a specialized form of CBT that can help patients with phobias and OCD. Exposure therapy will gradually expose people with phobias or OCD to situations that they deem fearful. The process helps them to confront fear and mitigate repetitive behaviors.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is sometimes lumped in with CBT, but its early iterations were created to help people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Sufferers of BPD are at risk for impulsive behavior, substance use disorders, and other serious ramifications in life. It could be to your benefit to use DBT during a dual diagnosis treatment program, which seeks to address addiction and any other co-occurring disorders.
As it pertains to the “dialectical” component in this model, it denotes the way that DBT brings two opposing tendencies together. The dialectic in DBT is between acceptance and change. Therapists who deal with dialectical behavior therapy are firm believers in bringing these two opposing tendencies together. In doing so, they are hopeful that this creates an improvement in health and behavioral symptoms, rather than addressing the tendencies individually.
DBT can frequently combine the following core elements:
- Individual therapy
- Group skills development
- Phone coaching
- A team approach to health care and recovery
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a good choice for clients with high-risk behaviors and a boatload of challenges in recovery. When considering a DBT or CBT program in New Jersey, regardless of what you choose or what is recommended, both are sufficient in improving behavioral health.
What’s Right For Me? CBT Vs. DBT
A fair question to pose-which is ideal for my recovery, CBT vs. DBT? Your treatment plan is contingent on your history of substance use and other treatments that may or may not need to be utilized. Due to your unique needs, it might mean that you could benefit from both types of therapy to stop using drugs and build a strong recovery. There is no denying that substance use disorders are complex, in every sense of the word. They are multifaceted and involve a less than harmonious relationship between your body, mind, and the relationships you keep with family and friends.
Neither us nor are the people in your life, insisting that you need to make a down to the wire choice for a DBT or CBT program in New Jersey. DBT is basically an outgrowth of CBT that dials in on your acceptance of things you cannot change. It’s also crucial in helping you to make changes that can augment your health and solidify a strong recovery from now and for years to follow. Additionally, with CBT, you can use it to efficiently deal with trauma and coping skills.
CBT and DBT can be seamlessly integrated into your residential drug rehab program, outpatient treatment program, and other varying aftercare programs and services. Both therapy types are useful in managing relapse triggers, making it easier in continuing to travel down the road less traveled-which is.. Sobriety!! Studies put forth by NIDA-National Institute on Drug Abuse, has shown that people do not need to make a choice between CBT & DBT. The more forms of therapy that a patient can get access to, the higher their chance of success for the long term.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Vs. Dialectical Behavior Therapy: North Jersey Recovery Center
Here at North Jersey Recovery Center, all of our addiction treatment programs are highly personalized and above all, effective in providing targeted solutions for our patients. Regardless of the scope of severity, we can create a treatment program to help you reclaim your old life. To get started, contact us through admissions today! We know that you can benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy vs. dialectical behavior therapy
