EMDR, CBT, DBT: Sorting Through the Alphabet Soup of Therapy Modalities

Source: LinkedIn

Therapy can feel like a sea of acronyms. Three of the most common—EMDR, CBT, and DBT—each offer unique benefits.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

• Focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

• Helps challenge unhelpful thinking patterns.

• Effective for depression, anxiety, and phobias.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)

• Emphasizes mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills.

• Originally designed for borderline personality disorder but helpful for many conditions.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

• Uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping) to help reprocess traumatic memories.

• Evidence-based treatment for PTSD and trauma-related conditions.

Takeaway

Each modality offers a different toolset. A skilled therapist may integrate several approaches to fit your needs.