Is used to treat mood disorders as well as those who need to change patterns of behavior that are not helpful, such as self-harm, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse. This approach works towards helping people increase their emotional and cognitive regulation by learning about the triggers that lead to reactive states and helping to assess which coping skills to apply in the sequence of events, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to help avoid undesired reactions. DBT assumes that people are doing their best but lack the skills needed to succeed, or are influenced by positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement that interferes to function appropriately.

A person with dual diagnosis has a mental or mood disorder (anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, etc.) as well an addictive disorder (alcohol addiction, drug addition, etc.). What is important about dual diagnosis is the realization that the presence of both conditions and forming an approach to treat both simultaneously to be effective.

Behavioral therapy is designed to provide the addicted individual learn the skills need to make meaningful change in their life from drug and alcohol addiction. Through therapy, in drug addiction rehab, they'll learn the ways the maladaptive behaviors that have kept them using, and they'll develop positive attributes and techniques that can be used to avoid drug use in the future.