DBT vs CBT: Understanding the Difference Between These Therapies

DBT and CBT are two well-known forms of psychological therapy, but they differ in how they approach thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. If you are experiencing difficulties that may benefit from psychological support, your psychologist can determine the approach most appropriate based on your individual needs.

In this blog, we explain the key differences between DBT vs CBT, including what each therapy focuses on and the concerns each is commonly used to treat. We also discuss why a proper assessment is important to understanding the concerns a person may be experiencing.

What Is CBT?

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy. It is built on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are closely connected, and that unhelpful thinking patterns can contribute to emotional distress. CBT has been practised for decades and remains one of the most widely used psychological therapies available.

During CBT, a psychologist works with an individual to identify unhelpful or unhealthy thinking patterns and understand how these thoughts influence feelings and behaviour. Rather than focusing on the past, CBT is often practical and present-focused, helping people develop skills they can apply to everyday situations.

Conditions CBT Is Commonly Used For

CBT has been used to support people experiencing a range of psychological concerns, including:

• Anxiety disorders, including generalised anxiety and social anxiety

• Depression and low mood

• Phobias and persistent fears

• Sleep difficulties, including insomnia

• Addictive behaviours

• Stress and difficulties related to life changes

Because CBT is structured and skills-based, sessions often involve breaking larger problems into smaller, manageable parts. This can help people work through specific difficulties and practise new strategies between sessions. To learn more about CBT, visit our CBT therapy page.

What Is DBT?

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of CBT that is generally used to help people who experience intense emotions and have difficulty managing them. While it shares some foundations with CBT, DBT places a greater emphasis on balancing acceptance of difficult emotions with strategies for change.

DBT is built around four key skill areas: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills can help people manage difficult emotions, cope with stress and improve how they relate to others.

Conditions DBT Is Commonly Used For

DBT was initially developed to treat borderline personality disorder, but it has since been adapted to support a wider range of concerns, including:

• Emotion regulation difficulties

• Self-harming thoughts or behaviours

• Depression and anxiety

• Difficulties maintaining relationships

• Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

• Non-suicidal self-injury

• Severe emotional dysregulation

• Interpersonal instability and difficulty managing conflict

To learn more about DBT, visit our DBT therapy page.

DBT vs CBT: What Is the Difference?

When comparing DBT vs CBT, the two therapies are closely related but differ in focus and structure.

CBT primarily works by identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns. It focuses on the connections among thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and how these can influence one another. CBT can be helpful for people experiencing patterns of negative thinking that contribute to anxiety, low mood, or stress.

DBT, on the other hand, was designed for people who experience intense or difficult-to-manage emotions. It incorporates CBT techniques but places greater emphasis on practical skills, particularly around mindfulness and distress tolerance.

A Side-by-side Comparison

Factor	CBT	DBT
Main focus	Thought patterns and behaviours	Emotional regulation and coping with distress
Key techniques	Identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours	Mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness
Underlying principle	Thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are connected	Balancing acceptance with change
Commonly used for	Anxiety, depression, phobias, insomnia, and other concerns	Borderline personality disorder, self-harm, emotional regulation difficulties, and other concerns
Relationship between therapies	A form of cognitive behavioural therapy	A modified form of CBT
Structure	Structured and goal-oriented	Structured and skills-focused
Role of psychologist	Guides the person through identifying patterns and developing strategies	Guides the person in learning and applying skills for managing emotions, distress, and relationships

Neither therapy is inherently better than the other. A psychologist considers a person’s circumstances and needs when deciding which may be most suitable.

Who Provides DBT and CBT Treatment Modalities?

Both DBT and CBT are delivered by psychologists trained and experienced in these modalities. These therapies should not be self-administered based on general information found online. A trained psychologist has the clinical experience to assess a person’s needs, determine which therapy, or combination of therapies, is appropriate, and adjust the therapy as progress is made.

At Adelaide Clinical Psychology, our team of clinical psychologists is trained in a range of evidence-based treatment modalities, including both DBT and CBT. Our warm and understanding psychologists take the time to know each person’s circumstances before recommending the most suitable treatment modality.

Our services include therapy for adults and children, with each tailored to suit individual needs and therapeutic goals. Learn more about our adult therapy and child therapy services here.

Taking the Next Step

Understanding DBT vs CBT can clarify the differences between these therapies, but a psychologist can help determine which may be suitable based on your individual needs. If you would like to learn more about DBT or CBT, our team at Adelaide Clinical Psychology can provide further information and support. Get in touch with our team today to see how we can help you take the next step.