Over the years, a myriad of behavior adjustment programs have been created to help manage drug addiction and other issues. These include CBT and DBT, two similar options that vary in subtle ways. Thankfully, we at Memphis Recovery Centers can help. Our specialists fully understand these programs and can help you settle the CBT vs. DBT debate quickly and easily.

The Nature of CBT

CBT or cognitive-behavior therapy is a treatment option that focuses on a person’s patterns of behavior. It states that people are creatures of habit with many ingrained unconscious beliefs that cause them to behave in specific ways. CBT strives to break these bonds and help a person learn. A typical CBT plan will:

  • Identify adverse behaviors – Understanding these actions can help you recover
  • Adjust behavior – Learn new ways of coping with life
  • Provide continual reinforcement – Positive thinking and mindfulness help focus recovery efforts
  • Create extra support with aftercare – CBT often requires multiple sessions to achieve full success

This process may seem simple on its surface. And, in many ways, the idea of changing behaviors is straight forward. However, the methods used to achieve that goal vary. It isn’t enough to change for a day. A person must commit to lifelong and continual behavior changes. That is the only way to avoid drug addiction or other emotional troubles connected to it. So before deciding the CBT vs. DBT debate, read on to learn more.

How DBT Helps People

DBT or dialectical behavioral therapy is an off-shoot of CBT designed for people with a borderline personality disorder. Though it can be used in other cases, it is mostly used for those with this condition. DBT helps these individuals in a variety of ways, including:

  • Reinforcing their sense of self – Learning who you are as a person can manage borderline personality disorder more easily
  • Identifying negative patterns of behavior – Find the unbalanced behaviors that make borderline personality worse for a person
  • Adjusting these actions – DBT helps a person gradually learn better coping mechanisms and more effective ways of dealing with emotional pain
  • Teaching social norms for behavior – Often, people with a borderline personality disorder do not connect with social norms well

These activities help a person with borderline personality disorder learn how to fit in with society. Critically, it also helps them learn how to avoid drug abuse and manage an existing addiction. Now, it is time to decide between CBT vs. DBT. Doing so can help you better understand which option is right for your drug rehabilitation process and your recovery.

CBT vs. DBT: The Best Choice for You

So how do you decide the CBT vs. DBT debate? By gauging your symptoms. If you find that your behavior isn’t necessarily out of control but is negative, you may want CBT. This treatment can identify how negative self-belief is affecting your drug use and causing you to suffer.

DBT, however, is essential for those with intricate self-destructive patterns of behavior. If you have very complicated and intense relationships, use drugs to create a sense of self, and cannot effectively socialize with others outside of your circle, your drug and alcohol rehab program at Memphis Recovery Centers may need DBT to be effective.

Recovery Options are Available

If the CBT vs. DBT debate still confuses you, call 866.304.8254 today to learn more. We at Memphis Recovery Centers offer many services that can help you recover. Beyond these behavior programs, we offer:

Our specialists focus on a caring and productive treatment environment that should help you feel like you’re at home. So please contact us to get started on the path to your sobriety.