Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

What is the nature of the theory?

• The main philosophy of REBT is that thinking, behaving and emoting practically never occur alone, they go together or interact significantly.  They also often have a cause and effect connection.
• Although it purports that emotional issues are rooted in childhood, the problem exists in the here and now with the irrational beliefs that people have.
• This theory focuses on feelings, cognitions and behaviors using Albert Ellis’ ABC theory of self-disturbing. A for Adversities, B for beliefs (recently updated to believing-emoting-behaving) and C for consequences.

Describe the role of the therapist and the therapeutic relationship?

• Although Ellis proposes the therapist be fully accepting of the client, he does state that too much warmth and understanding can be counterproductive. (Corey, 2001)
• The therapists role is to “honestly confront” clients faulty cognitions and self-destructive behaviors.
• The therapist is often open and discloses their own values and beliefs.
• The therapist functions as a teacher with a very active-directive approach.

What are the therapeutic goals of the theory? 

• The primary therapeutic goal of the theory is to help people overcome their self destructive beliefs and patterns, by acquiring a new, rational and/or tolerant philosophy.
• Clients are taught that it is the interpretation of events in life that are crucial, not the events themselves.
• Clients are taught how to dismantle their “oughts”, “shoulds” and “musts”.
• To increase wanted behaviors and/or thoughts.
• To reduce unwanted thoughts and behaviors
• Increase problem-solving skills to rid the client of their unwanted or maladaptive symptoms and patterns.

How does the theory approach the assessment process? 

• In REBT the therapeutic process focuses on the client’s experience in the here and now. In the assessment the therapist would help the client extract and identify the problem, analyzing and describing any troubling or destructive behavior in detail.
• According the ABC model of self-disturbing, the therapist would help the client identify the adversities, beliefs and consequences.

• The therapist would assess the client by uncovering their Irrational Beliefs (IB) including many of the following elements as described by Ellis (2001);
• "Musturbating " a term coined by Albert Ellis, is defined as strong desires and goals that have become absolute musts, shoulds and demands.
• Illogical Overgeneralizing is when people rate their thoughts, behaviors or feelings as good and bad.  Putting their entire worth, rather than their performance on the line.
• Awfulizing is when the client tends to view frustrating situations as “the end of the world”.

• REBT therapists approach treatment in a multimodal and integrated way, utilizing affective, cognitive and behavioral techniques that they tailor to the individual client.
• REBT views treatment as not only helping clients to “feel” better, but helping them to “get” better.
• Many different cognitive, behavioral and emotive techniques can be employed in treatment. According to Ellis (2001) REBT has about 30 techniques specific to it.

What are the terms and concepts associated with treatment? 

• A major method is called Unconditional Self Acceptance (USA), which Ellis states is executed through “…clear directive teaching; and by persuading them to back up your teaching with experiential-feeling and activity-oriented homework assignments”. (Ellis, 2001) This is done through realistically Disputing (D) the clients Irrational Beliefs (IB).
• Assigning cognitive homework is common such as making lists of problems, seeking out the clients absolutistic beliefs and disputing these beliefs on their own.
• Clients are also encouraged to challenge their self-limiting beliefs in some risk-taking situations. For example, a client is afraid of getting in front of an audience, but wants to be an actor, they would be encouraged to take a role in a small play.
• Changing ones language is another technique where one takes their musts, shoulds and oughts and replaces them with preferences.
• Using humor is another cognitive method used.
• REBT therapists use Rational-emotive imagery, where clients imagine themselves thinking, feeling and behaving exactly the way they would like to in real life.
• Role playing where the therapist steps in and comments when the client falls into their IB’s. The therapist often interrupts to show the client what they are telling themselves to create their problem and to help them change their feelings from inappropriate ones to appropriate ones. (Corey, 2001)
• Shame-attacking exercises to help clients reduce irrational shame over behaving in a certain manner.
• Many behavioral techniques are used such as, operant conditioning, modeling, relaxation techniques etc.