As we have seen, CBT (cognitive-behavioural therapy) and DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy) are two of the more readily available forms of psychotherapy (sometimes refered to as talking therapy).

In both of these therapies, you work with a mental health professional to learn more about the challenges you experience in your life, and learn coping skills to help you manage challenges on your own.

CBT looks at how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours inflence each other other. For example, you might believe that people don’t like you, which is your thought. This then leads to the behaviour of avoiding social situations, which results in your feelings of loneliness, abandonment or resentment.

CBT can teach you how a positive change in a thought or behaviour can lead to a positive change in feelings, or vice versa. It’s an approach used by many mental health professionals for a wide variety of conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance disorders, eating disorders and more.

It is a structured process, used in the short-term, and focused on goals – what you want to get out of the therapy.

DBT is derived straight from CBT (see lesson 2 of this module), and is a therapy tailored for people with BDP (although it is used more and more for other complex conditions). The CBT foundations and skills were adapted, and added to, to produce a person-centred approach that teaches vital skills in four key areas.

The key differences are really to do with validation and relationships. DBT teaches you that your experiences are valid and real, and teaches you how to accept who you are regardless of your experiences and challenges in life. It looks at relationships as a key, important factor – not just romantic relationships, but friendships, work relationships and the relationship between you and your therapist.

In addition to the CBT skills, DBT teaches you about recognising and managing emotions, building relationships, coping with distress, mindfulness and acceptance.