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What are we working toward?
Describe the situations that affect your life most. Ask how the recommended approach relates to those concerns and how progress will be assessed.
CBT and DBT both connect what happens in therapy with changes you practice in daily life. The best starting point is a conversation about your concerns, treatment history and goals. Nao Medical offers both approaches virtually across New York.
| Question | CBT | DBT |
|---|---|---|
| What is the focus? | How thoughts, emotions and behaviors affect one another. | Acceptance and change, with skills for emotions, distress and relationships. |
| What might I practice? | Examining assumptions, tracking patterns and changing behavior in manageable steps. | Mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. |
| What is the format? | Format and frequency depend on the clinician and treatment plan. | Individual DBT skills therapy differs from a comprehensive program, which typically has several components. |
| How do I choose? | Discuss your symptoms, goals, history and available treatment options with a clinician. | |
A therapy name alone does not tell you the clinician’s experience with your concern, how often you will meet or what support is included. Ask about those details before committing to treatment.
DBT is a form of cognitive behavioral treatment, so the approaches share principles. They are not competing labels with one universally better choice. Your clinician may recommend specific techniques based on your needs.
Describe the situations that affect your life most. Ask how the recommended approach relates to those concerns and how progress will be assessed.
Confirm session format and frequency, practice between appointments and contact policies. For DBT, ask whether the service is individual skills work or a comprehensive program.
Ask when you will review progress and how to raise concerns. Treatment plans can change as you and your clinician learn what works for you.
Nao offers virtual CBT and DBT across New York, including NYC and Long Island. Therapy enquiries use the psychiatry scheduler. Specify the therapy service you want so the care team can confirm the appropriate clinician and format.
Learn about cognitive behavioral therapy and the kinds of practical changes you may work on.
Learn about dialectical behavior therapy and the treatment components to confirm.
Review virtual therapy options and the questions to ask about eligibility, fees and coverage.
DBT is a form of cognitive behavioral treatment. It combines change-oriented methods with acceptance and specific skills for mindfulness, emotions, distress and relationships.
The answer depends on an assessment of your symptoms and needs. CBT is commonly used for anxiety; other approaches may also be appropriate. Ask a clinician why they recommend a particular treatment for you.
Clinicians may draw on more than one method when appropriate. Ask how the proposed skills fit your treatment goals and how your progress will be reviewed.
No. Tell the care team what you are experiencing and ask for help identifying an appropriate therapist. You can discuss the treatment method during the clinical assessment.
No. Online delivery describes where the appointment happens, not which treatment components are included. Confirm whether you are booking individual therapy, a skills group or a comprehensive program.
Nao offers virtual CBT and DBT across New York. Use the psychiatry scheduler and specify that you want therapy so the team can confirm availability, format and the appropriate clinician.
Virtual therapy at Nao Medical · CBT therapy · DBT therapy · CBT vs DBT
General treatment information: NIMH: Psychotherapies and Columbia Psychiatry: Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Program descriptions at other organizations do not describe the services included in a Nao appointment.
Tell the care team you are seeking CBT or DBT therapy. Confirm the therapist, format, availability and costs before your first visit.