An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, normally involves spending three hours per day, three days per week with individuals in a psychoeducation group – a group where certain topics are addressed, including anger management, stress reduction, relapse prevention, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
CBT and DBT: The Differences
Treatment facilities such as Embrasse Treatment Center feature IOP for people who are seeking a solution for a mental health condition or substance abuse issue. Two of the therapies that are included at this type of treatment site include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). People often question the difference between the two.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: The Definition
Professionals who oversee outpatient treatment programs in Vista, CA elaborate on the differences. CBT is a commonly practiced form of psychotherapy – a treatment that assists individuals in learning how their thoughts can affect their behavior and feelings. This therapy is both goal-focused and time-limited.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT, is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy. DBT underscores the psychosocial part of treatment, or how a person engages with other people in certain relationships or environments. Specialists at outpatient treatment programs add that the idea behind DBT is to address why people tend to react more dramatically in certain situations. This form of therapy was originally established to treat borderline personality disorder.
Improving the Way You View Things
When CBT and DBT are used in outpatient treatment programs, individuals can explore their past and better understand how certain past incidents may affect their current responses. However, discussing a person’s history is not emphasized in either CBT or DBT. The idea is to help the patient learn how his or her thinking is affecting their actions and responses in life.
If you want to improve your overall wellness and mental health, you owe it to yourself to take part in an intensive outpatient program. Doing so will improve your outlook and your overall well-being.