The CBT/DBT Approach

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are effective treatments for various mental health challenges. Both modalities provide targeted strategies: while CBT works to alter negative thought patterns and behaviors thus improving emotional regulation and problem-solving, DBT emphasizes skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation to help individuals manage intense emotions and build resilience.

What is CBT?

CBT focuses on identifying negative thought patterns and reframing them. It helps individuals understand how their thoughts affect their feelings and actions. By learning to challenge and reframe negative thoughts, our clients can develop healthier coping strategies, reducing anxiety, depression, and stress. CBT can help individuals identify cognitive distortions contributing to low self-esteem. For instance, an individual might learn to identify an "all-or-nothing" thinking pattern that causes them to view themselves as a total failure after a single setback such as failing a difficult algebra exam. Using CBT, that thought can be reframed, recognizing that one setback does not define one’s overall abilities or worth, thereby improving self-esteem.

What is DBT?

DBT combines CBT techniques with mindfulness and acceptance practices. It is particularly effective for individuals dealing with intense emotions, self-harm, or relationship issues. DBT teaches skills like emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and effective communication, helping individuals manage their emotions and improve their relationships. DBT can help individuals through specific skills training. For instance, a teen feeling anxious before a school presentation might use mindfulness techniques from DBT, like focusing on their breath and observing their thoughts without judgment, to stay grounded and calm.

At Inner Balance Therapy, we use both CBT and DBT to provide our clients with the practical tools that they need to understand and manage their emotions leading to improved mental health and overall well-being. In our experience, these tools not only empower our clients to process their experiences in therapy but also become skills that they can use independently in their day-to-day lives.