Comparison and Contrast between MI, CBT, and DBT

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Comparison and Contrast between MI, CBT, and DBT
Motivational interviewing (MI), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) are some of the core psychotherapeutic approaches to behavioral changes. However, most of the time, a comprehensive psychotherapy session deploys the three methods simultaneously. They are integrated into a complete psychotherapy plan geared towards changes in thought patterns and behavioral changes.
The meaning and understanding of motivational interviewing (MI) has evolved since its initial description by William R. Miller deployed this approach to elicit behavioral change in people with problematic drinking (Miller, & Rollnick, 2012).  MI focuses on exploring and resolving ambivalence. It focuses on the core motivational process as target areas for individual-centric change. There is no external imposition for change in MI. Instead, change is internally motivated or elicited. Such change is congruent to an individual’s values, principles, and concerns. MI is increasingly applied in substance abuse, mental health, and primary and specialty health care. MI concentrates on underlying psychotherapy's relational factors and provides a foundation for client–practitioner communication. CBT focuses on alerting maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that underlie symptoms and malfunction. CBT is premised on the notion that thoughts and behaviors influence feelings. Thus, altering the thinking patterns, and one reacts to situations can aid one to feel better. This observation or notion can denote that CBT is not effective in managing a mental illness.
. The three approaches share similarities and differences in their understanding and applications.
Similarities
First, MI and CBT, and DBT can be used in an integrative approach, where MI can be used to prepare the client for change, while CBT and DBT are utilized to ensure that clients change their behaviors and thoughts. Integrative or sequenced application of MI, CBT, and DBT may enhance client care (Kaufman, Douaihy, & Goldstein, 2019). This integration and complementation between MI and CBT and DBT denote a difference in their application. MI is a tool that can be used to make a client-ready or motivated for change, while CBT involves an application to stimulate behavioral change through psychotherapeutic effects on thought and behaviors. Thus, both CBT supplements MI help clients learn how to modify their thoughts and behaviors. CBT and MI share similarities, including the goal of ultimate change in thought and behaviors. Thus, generally, the three concepts share a similar ultimate goal of altering behavior and thoughts for healthier living. Second, CBT, DBT, and MI have common features of therapeutic relationships between the client and therapists, which include elements of empathy and collaboration. Third, MI, CBT, and DBT share four core processes, including engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning, though they are applied at different points of psychotherapy (Naar & Safren, 2017). 
Differences
MI, CBT, and DBT still show variations. First, MI focuses on building motivation for change and evoking change or desire for change (Miller, & Rollnick, 2012). .In contrast, DBT and CBT focus on thought patterns that elicit feelings and behaviors. Second, clients undergoing DBT and CBT are often redirected in therapy sessions towards preset, preferred, or selected solutions. However, in MI, the client is often expected to pick his or her preferable solutions. MI does not direct people what to do, nor does it just mean good listening or following (Galvani, 2014). In contrast, CBT and DBT focus on building skills and strategies for change, enhancing clients’ education, and imparting pre-selected solutions. CBT and DBT provide direction on what a client should do to resolves malfunctioning.
Third, while CBT and MI are less specific, DBT is more specific on strong emotional disruptions or disturbance (Linehan, 2014). MI may not be effective in managing cert...