The Difference Between Psychotherapy vs. CBT
What Are the Differences Between Psychotherapy and CBT?
When comparing psychotherapy vs. CBT, also known as cognitive-behavioral therapy, it’s important to understand that they are both effective and helpful as part of an addiction treatment program. Psychotherapy focuses on understanding the underlying causes of a patient’s mental health and addiction struggles and then working with the person to address these problems. CBT, a specific type of psychotherapy, is an approach that aims to deal with issues that have happened rather than identifying the cause of the issues. Cognitive-behavioral therapy changes unhealthy thought patterns after identifying how negative thoughts impact emotions, physical sensations, and behaviors.
The main goal of psychotherapy is to help people regain control over their emotions and how different situations affect them while also looking deeper into what has caused these issues in the past. Part of this process is trusting a therapist based on mutual respect. However, psychotherapy isn’t the complete opposite of CBT; instead, they’re both used to help people with mental health struggles, but the exact approach in therapy sessions will look different.
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What Should I Expect in a CBT Session?
According to the Mayo Clinic, when you start psychotherapy that specifically uses the CBT approach, you can expect to learn about the mental health conditions that are causing your addiction or mental health struggles — and then identify different techniques and ways of thinking that can help you cope with these struggles. Your therapist will work with you on relaxation, stress management, and assertiveness techniques.
But first, an introductory session will gather information about you and identify the thoughts or patterns of behavior that will be changed throughout treatment. This first therapy session will be helpful for you as the patient as you interview your therapist and learn more about their approach while determining your treatment goals together.
During a cognitive-behavioral therapy session, your therapist will encourage you to open up in a safe place about the thoughts and feelings affecting your daily life. This goal-oriented approach in treatment is often complemented by homework assignments ranging from reading, activities, or practice on what was learned in sessions. There are several steps involved in CBT:
- Identify the troubling situations in your life. You and your therapist might find it more beneficial to take time to determine what problems and goals to focus on.
- Become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs that feed into these problems. Once you’ve identified these areas to work on, your therapist will give you space to speak about them so you can get beneficial feedback.
- Identify negative and untrue thoughts or beliefs. It’s important to examine the patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to your issues. Your therapist might suggest that you become more aware of your physical, emotional, and behavioral responses in specific situations.
- Rewire the way you think if it’s from a negative point of view. Your therapist will help you reshape your thinking by asking yourself whether the view of the situation is based on a fact or your interpretation of what’s going on.
Another factor to consider when choosing general psychotherapy vs. CBT is the length of therapy. While the timeline varies, CBT treatment usually consists of five to 20 sessions, and it’s meant as a short-term plan of action. It all depends on the type of disorder, how severe your symptoms are, and how long you’ve been having them.
What Should I Expect in a Traditional Psychotherapy Session?
According to the American Psychological Association, during a psychotherapy session, they’ll work with a therapist who will apply scientifically backed procedures to help with their mental health. It’s a collaborative type of therapy treatment based on the relationship between the patient and their therapist, offering a safe space to talk with an objective and neutral professional. You should consider psychotherapy if you have been struggling with intense emotions or have mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. Other signs you need to seek out psychotherapy are feeling helpless, suffering from excessive worries, or having difficulty concentrating on work, school, and other daily responsibilities.
In your first psychotherapy session, you should expect to answer a lot of questions about your background and mental health history. The therapist will also probably ask more in-depth questions about your family’s history of mental health issues. Your therapist might want to do some assessments and tests to understand your mental health background better. You can also expect long discussions about your specific issues and how you solve problems to identify alternative ways of thinking that could help you feel better and more appropriately respond to challenges in the future.
What Are the Pros & Cons of CBT & Psychotherapy?
When comparing the two types of therapy, you must consider the pros and cons of CBT vs. psychotherapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a reliable counseling method backed by evidence-based principles. It requires a shorter time commitment than traditional psychotherapy sessions and is usually over in 45 minutes. Psychotherapy also has pros, such as providing an objective view during treatment and helping people gain the clarity they once lacked in their thoughts and feelings.
As for the cons of CBT, it can only work if the patient is motivated to use the new skills, and some patients don’t want to do the work, especially if it’s homework having to be done outside of therapy sessions. The cons of traditional psychotherapy include its cost, especially if insurance doesn’t cover these appointments, and duration of treatment because psychotherapy can take longer than CBT treatment.
Get Mental Health Treatment at Resurgence Behavioral Health
When going through addiction treatment, people might not consider how their mental health is also affecting their journey to recovery. At Resurgence Behavioral Health, there are mental health therapists who specialize in therapy for people suffering from addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. Resurgence Behavioral Health can help you figure out psychotherapy vs. CBT and which therapeutic approach is best for your treatment. When you’re ready to start your mental health and addiction treatment, call us at 855-458-0050. We’re ready to help you.
External Sources
- Mayo Clinic — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- American Psychological Association — Understanding Psychotherapy and How It Works
