What Is The Difference Between CBT And Relational Therapy?

​When you're navigating the challenges of mental health, choosing the right therapy can feel as complex as untangling a knotted thread. Whether it's dealing with anxiety, depression, or relationship issues, understanding your options is crucial to beginning your journey toward healing.

​What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

​Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, most often referred to as CBT stands out in the world of psychotherapeutic interventions for its evidence-based approach. It targets the intricate link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Therapists who use this method work collaboratively with individuals to identify and challenge negative thought patterns that lead to emotional distress or harmful actions.

How Does CBT Work?

​CBT is based on the idea that thought distortions and maladaptive beliefs lead to psychological distress. By identifying and challenging negative automatic thoughts and core beliefs, patients learn to shift to more realistic and helpful ways of thinking.

This cognitive change then leads to improvement in problematic moods and behaviors. CBT provides patients with concrete skills to break cycles of dysfunctional thinking.

What is Relational Therapy?

​Moving beyond the structured approach of CBT, relational therapy delves into the fabric of our interpersonal relationships and how they shape our mental health. This form of psychotherapy recognizes that each person's unique experiences within their relationships profoundly influence emotions and behaviors.

It shifts focus from rectifying negative patterns to nurturing positive connections between individuals and their worlds.

How Does Relational Therapy Work?

Relational therapy is an approach that focuses on the therapeutic relationship as a key instrument for change. It emphasizes relatedness, exploring how an individual's connections with others shape their mental health. Psychologists examine interpersonal relationships in this therapy to identify patterns impacting emotional well-being. 

Central to this method is that clients may project feelings from significant relationships onto their therapists. Enactment is another crucial technique, allowing clients to surface and confront underlying behavioral patterns during therapy sessions. 

Additionally, there are methods where individuals unconsciously project undesired feelings or aspects of themselves onto others. This approach holistically addresses how interpersonal dynamics influence an individual's mental health, leveraging the therapeutic relationship to foster deep understanding and change.

How to Get Started With Therapy?

Getting started with therapy can be a significant step towards improving mental health and well-being. Finding the right approach and therapist to meet your needs is important.

• Find a licensed CBT therapist or psychologist to guide you. Research their background and make sure you feel comfortable opening up to them.
• Educate yourself on the basics of CBT before your first session. Understand that it focuses on changing negative thought patterns.
• Be open and honest during sessions. Share your feelings, behaviors, and thought processes to allow the therapist to understand your situation fully.
• Use CBT techniques like identifying cognitive distortions and mindfully challenging negative automatic thoughts between sessions.
• Stick with CBT. It takes consistent practice over 8-20 sessions to start seeing results. Gradually apply skills outside of therapy.

Understanding the difference between CBT and relational therapy empowers you to make informed decisions about your mental health care. CBT might be your go-to option if you seek a structured approach targeting specific negative patterns.

​On the other hand, those wishing to delve into deeper relationship dynamics may find relational therapy more beneficial. Each therapy offers unique tools tailored to various needs, guiding you toward improved well-being.