Substance abuse is a powerful physical and mental condition that alters your life. Once you develop a dependence on any drug, your life will never be the same. Psychotherapy approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are crucial tools to help individuals battling an addiction to embark on the recovery journey. If you or your loved ones are planning to check into rehab, Midwest Recovery Center reveals that it is essential to understand CBT and DBT. Learn more by calling 833.627.0039 today.
What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?
CBT is a form of addiction treatment therapy that helps you focus on problem-solving strategies by turning irrational or toxic thoughts into positive ideas to navigate difficult situations. Therapists recommend CBT as the most effective method of developing healthy coping skills to overcome substance use and mental health disorders.
Experts confirm that CBT increases self-consciousness towards your thoughts and actions, hence triggering active measures for desirable change.
Through this behavioral therapy, you can identify harmful behaviors and shift your focus away from using negative and dysfunctional emotions to achieve the happiness you desire. You get to learn crucial coping skills to avoid defense mechanisms and confront the realities of life and your behaviors in a healthy manner.
Therapists work closely with their clients to foster rational thoughts.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?
The difference between CBT and DBT is that CBT helps individuals change their mindset by identifying toxic thoughts and dealing with them. On the other hand, DBT focuses on helping you to take charge of your emotions and teaches you how to react rationally in different situations. Therapists begin by guiding their clients to accept the presence of their feelings and teaching them that it is not a crime to feel that way.
Acceptance becomes the first step towards recovery in DBT. After validating your behaviors, you will be more willing to work towards positive change. For example, DBT makes you accept your addictive habits and reveals that many other people are going through similar situations, but you can fully recover through rehab treatment.
The Benefits of CBT and DBT
Despite taking slightly distinct approaches in addiction treatment, the two therapies have numerous benefits, including:
- Enabling you to manage anger, irrational thoughts, aggression, anxiety, and depression
- Increasing your consciousness towards your thoughts, thus empowering you to face reality
- Allowing you to strengthen interpersonal relationships
- Preventing relapse after addiction treatment therapy
- Solving sleep disorders
Can You Use Both Options?
The significant distinction between CBT and DBT is – while CBT focuses on a wide array of individual aspects, including habits, thoughts, and behavior patterns, DBT narrows its focus to thoughts and emotions. Once you contact a rehab facility, your therapist will examine your condition and help you select the ideal method depending on your circumstances and personality.
If you experience factors that trigger addiction, such as stress, boredom, or old friends, CBT might work best for you. DBT is ideal for individuals with a dual diagnosis. However, the therapist can combine both methods or use them one after the other, depending on how you respond to treatment.
Besides talk therapy, your therapist may also recommend other kinds of services, such as:
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Drug addiction treatment
- Gender-based treatment program
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient treatment program
- Community housing
Learn More About Talk Therapy at Midwest Recovery Center
Millions of people in the US experience some forms of mental health conditions every year. CBT and DBT are useful psychotherapy approaches that can help you overcome mental health or substance use disorders. Contact Midwest Recovery Center at 833.627.0039 to get started on reclaiming your healthy life.
