What is the difference between a therapist and a psychiatrist?

A therapist (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, PhD, PsyD) provides talk therapy — sessions where you work through thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with evidence-based methods like CBT, DBT, or EMDR. Therapists do not prescribe medication. A psychiatrist (MD, DO) is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health — they evaluate, prescribe, and manage psychiatric medications. At Positive Reset Eatontown, both work together when needed.

What therapy modalities do your clinicians use?

We use evidence-based modalities: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Behavioral Activation, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples. Each clinician has primary modalities they're trained in — we match you to a clinician based on your concern and preferences.

Can I switch therapists if it's not a good fit?

Yes. Therapeutic fit matters more than credentials, and we make switching easy — call our intake team and we'll match you with a different clinician. About 1 in 6 first matches don't click; this is normal, and switching does not delay treatment by more than a week or two.

Do you do online therapy or telehealth?

Yes. We offer telehealth (video) therapy and psychiatry across all of New Jersey. Telehealth works for most outpatient mental health concerns; some psychiatric evaluations and most TMS sessions require in-person visits. Insurance generally covers telehealth at the same rate as in-person care. If you live anywhere in New Jersey, we can see you online — see telehealth in New Jersey.

How do I book my first appointment?

Call (732) 724-1234, or use the booking form on this site. The first call takes 10–15 minutes — we verify insurance, ask about your concern, and match you with the right clinician. We confirm your first appointment by phone or email within 24 business hours.

How do I choose a therapist?

You don't have to. When you call, our intake team matches you to a clinician based on three things: your concern (anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc.), your insurance and availability, and any preferences you share (gender, age range, modality). Most patients trust the intake match — and if it doesn't click after the first session, switching is easy.

Comparison · clinically reviewed

CBT vs DBT: Which therapy is right for you?

Quick answer

When people search "CBT vs DBT"

They're usually trying to decide between the two most-recommended evidence-based therapies in mental health. Both work — for different patterns. CBT is the broader workhorse for anxiety, depression, and OCD. DBT is more specialized for emotional dysregulation, self-harm, and borderline personality disorder. This page summarizes the differences so you can ask the right question at intake.

Side by side

The dimensions that most often drive the choice — what each treats best, format, duration, cost, evidence base, and side effects (when relevant).

Dimension	CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)	DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
What it treats best	Anxiety, depression, OCD, phobias, insomnia	Borderline personality disorder, self-harm, emotional dysregulation, chronic suicidality
Format	Individual sessions, weekly, often 12-20 weeks	Combined individual sessions + weekly skills group, often 6-12 months
What you do in session	Identify and reframe unhelpful thought patterns; behavioral experiments between sessions	Learn skills in four modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness
Insurance coverage	Covered by NJ FamilyCare and most commercial plans as standard outpatient therapy	Covered by NJ FamilyCare and most commercial plans; the skills-group component may be billed separately

When to choose

When CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) fits.

When CBT is the right fit

CBT is the first-line evidence-based therapy for most outpatient mental-health concerns: anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, insomnia, and specific phobias. If your problem fits a clear pattern of unhelpful thoughts driving unhelpful behavior — and you want a structured, time-limited treatment with measurable progress — CBT is the standard recommendation.

When to choose

When DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) fits.

When DBT is the right fit

DBT is more specialized: it was developed for borderline personality disorder, chronic suicidality, and severe emotional dysregulation, and it's now also used for eating disorders and substance use when emotional intensity is the central problem. If you experience intense emotional swings, frequent crises, or self-harm, DBT's combined individual + skills-group structure has the strongest evidence base.

Both, at our clinic

We offer both. Your clinician will help you decide.

Many people benefit from CBT skills within a DBT framework, or vice versa. If you're not sure, the first 1-2 sessions with any of our clinicians will clarify which approach fits your specific concern.

Meet our clinicians — many specialize in both approaches.

FAQ

Common questions about CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) vs DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).

What is the difference between a therapist and a psychiatrist?
A therapist (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, PhD, PsyD) provides talk therapy — sessions where you work through thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with evidence-based methods like CBT, DBT, or EMDR. Therapists do not prescribe medication. A psychiatrist (MD, DO) is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health — they evaluate, prescribe, and manage psychiatric medications. At Positive Reset Eatontown, both work together when needed.
What therapy modalities do your clinicians use?
We use evidence-based modalities: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Behavioral Activation, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples. Each clinician has primary modalities they're trained in — we match you to a clinician based on your concern and preferences.
Can I switch therapists if it's not a good fit?
Yes. Therapeutic fit matters more than credentials, and we make switching easy — call our intake team and we'll match you with a different clinician. About 1 in 6 first matches don't click; this is normal, and switching does not delay treatment by more than a week or two.
Do you do online therapy or telehealth?
Yes. We offer telehealth (video) therapy and psychiatry across all of New Jersey. Telehealth works for most outpatient mental health concerns; some psychiatric evaluations and most TMS sessions require in-person visits. Insurance generally covers telehealth at the same rate as in-person care. If you live anywhere in New Jersey, we can see you online — see [telehealth in New Jersey](/services/telehealth-new-jersey/).
How do I book my first appointment?
Call (732) 724-1234, or use the booking form on this site. The first call takes 10–15 minutes — we verify insurance, ask about your concern, and match you with the right clinician. We confirm your first appointment by phone or email within 24 business hours.
How do I choose a therapist?
You don't have to. When you call, our intake team matches you to a clinician based on three things: your concern (anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc.), your insurance and availability, and any preferences you share (gender, age range, modality). Most patients trust the intake match — and if it doesn't click after the first session, switching is easy.

References

CBT is the most-researched form of psychotherapy and is effective for a wide range of conditions. APA (opens in new tab)
DBT was developed for borderline personality disorder and is the strongest evidence-based treatment for the condition. NIMH (opens in new tab)
Both CBT and DBT are recognized evidence-based treatments by the American Psychological Association. APA (opens in new tab)

Clinically reviewed by Joseph Vacchiano, LCSW, LCADC (NJ license 44SC04567891). Last reviewed: 2026-04-29.