“Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy”
Introduction
1. Definition of REBT
1.1 Historical Background
2. Key Concept of REBT
2.1 Therapist’s role
2.2 Irrational Beliefs
2.3 Characteristics of Rational Thoughts
2.4 A-B-C Theory of Personality
3. Practice of REBT
3.1. Cognitive Method
3.2. Emotive Technique
3.3. Behavioural Technique
4. Maintenance & Enhancing of REBT
5. Implication for Pastoral Theology
Conclusion
Bibliography
1
Introduction
Since the late 19th century, the use of scientific methods has been used for the studying
of human behaviour. The understandings of intelligence, perception, cognition, emotion, and
human development have been researched in order to comprehend how and why people behave
and think as they do. An individual’s personality has become a popular area of study and out
of it has emerged many unique theories which try to explain its dynamics. There are many
theorists and therapies that try to explain personality. Among those theories and therapies who
tries to explain personality is Albert Ellis. Ellis created Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy
in 1953 after he decided psychoanalytic theory, the theory he received a Ph.D. in from
Columbia University in 1947. Thus, this paper is explores about the definition of REBT, key
concept, different roles, belief and characteristic as well as different practice of REBT with the
implication.
1. Definition of REBT
Rational Emotive behaviour Therapy (REBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioural
therapy (CBT) that emphasizes the role of rational and irrational beliefs in emotional and
behavioural problems. Developed by psychologist Albert Ellis in the 1950s, REBT is grounded
in the idea that individuals are not disturbed by events themselves, but by the beliefs they hold
about those events. The therapy focuses on identifying irrational beliefs, challenging them, and
replacing them with rational alternatives to foster healthier emotional and behavioural
outcomes.1
1.1 Historical Background
Albert Ellis introduced REBT as an evolution of his earlier work in psychoanalysis.
Dissatisfied with the passive nature of traditional therapies, Ellis sought to develop a more
active and directive approach. By the 1960s, REBT had become a prominent therapeutic model,
distinguishing itself from other CBT approaches by its emphasis on philosophical change and
the direct confrontation of irrational beliefs. 2 While REBT shares similarities with other
cognitive therapies, such as Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy, it uniquely focuses on the
philosophical underpinnings of irrational beliefs, encouraging clients to adopt a rational, self-
accepting worldview.3
1 Albert Ellis, Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy (New York: Lyle Stuart, 1962), 45.
2 Albert Ellis, The Basic Clinical Theory of Rational Emotive Therapy (New York: Springer Publishing
Company, 1977), 100-101.
3 Windy Dryden, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: Theoretical Developments (London: Routledge,
2003), 75.
2
2. Key Concept of REBT
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is the first form of cognitive behavior
therapy (CBT) and was created by Dr. Albert Ellis in 1955. Rational Emotive Behaviour
Therapy (REBT) is based on the concept that emotions and behaviours result from cognitive
processes; and that it is possible for human beings to modify such processes to achieve different
ways of feeling and behaving. REBT was originally called ‘Rational Therapy’,soon changed
to ‘Rational-Emotive Therapy’ and again in the early 1990’s to ‘Rational Emotive Behaviour
Therapy’.4
2.1 Therapist’s role
The therapist's role is mainly to show the client that he or she has incorporated many
irrational “should,” “ought” and “musts,” to demonstrate that the client keeps his/her emotional
disturbances active by continuing to think illogically and by repeating self-defeating meanings
and philosophies, to help the client modify his/her thinking and abandon his/her irrational ideas,
and to challenge the client to develop a rational philosophy of life.5
REBT attempts to help people to distinguish or discriminate the appropriate feelings
from the inappropriate and to intensify the former and minimize the latter. What we
conventionally label “emotions” and “Feelings of emotional disturbances” are largely but not
exclusively the direct concomitants of people’s thoughts, ideas, or constructs.
2.2 Irrational Beliefs
REBT identifies several common types of irrational beliefs that contribute to emotional
distress:
• Musturbation: The belief that certain conditions “must” be met for an individual to be
happy or successful (e.g., “I must be loved by everyone”).
• Awfulizing: The tendency to view situations as far worse than they are (e.g., “If I fail,
it will be awful and unbearable”).
• Low Frustration Tolerance: The belief that one cannot tolerate discomfort or
inconvenience (e.g., “I can’t stand it when things don’t go my way”).
4 Rajeswari. H, “Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy,” December 2014, accessed January 6, 2025,
[Link] publication/319165885, 1.
5 D. John Antony, Psycho Therapy in Counselling: Include Theories and Personality (Tamil Nadu:
Anugraha Publication, 2003), 120.
3
• Global Rating: The tendency to judge oneself or others entirely based on a single
aspect or mistake (e.g., “I made an error, so I am a complete failure”).6
2.3 Characteristics of Rational thoughts
• First of all they are true in the sense they are based on objective reality.
• They lead one to protect one’s life.
• They lead one to get what one wants quickly.
• They keep one from feeling the way one does not want to feel.
• They keep one out of trouble one does not want with the police, boss, sweetheart, and
the spouse.7
2.4 A-B-C Theory of Personality
REBT follows a model called the A-B-C-D model of emotional episodes to explain the
connection between Activating events, Beliefs about that event, and the emotional and
behavioral Consequences that occur due to their Beliefs. 8 This model presents that the A,
activating event, is a situation, person, or occurrence a person encounters, and B is the belief
that the person develops because of their encounter with the activating event. This belief will
bring about a C, or consequence, for the person that can be either adaptive and appropriate or
disturbed and inappropriate. Some of the most frequent and strongly held onto disturbed beliefs
are termed “core irrational beliefs”.9 For example a child, Timmy, receives an F on an exam.
The activating event (A) would be the REBT and Children 10 receiving of an F exam, which
to this child is terrible. A belief (B) that could come from this could be the belief of “I am
worthless because I performed poorly on this exam.” The emotional-behavioral consequence
(C) that could result from this belief is depression or rage, which are disturbed and
inappropriate responses. Yet another child, Dave, could also receive an F on an exam he also
studied hard for but develop a belief of “I did my best, and I will just have to try harder next
time.” The emotional-behavioral consequence that could result from his belief is sadness and
frustration. Although sadness and frustration are not positive feelings, they are appropriate
feelings for the context of the situation and can be used by Dave to motivate him to do better
next time. Timmy’s maladaptive consequences of depression or rage, that are a result of his
6 Michael Neenan and Windy Dryden, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: Advances in Theory and
Practice (Hove: Brunner-Routledge, 2004), 128.
7
Antony, Psycho Therapy in Counselling, 120.
8 R. DiGiuseppe & M. E. Bernard, “The application of rational-emotive theory and therapy to school-
aged children,” School Psychology Review no. 19 (March 1990): 268.
9 J. Sherin & L. Caiger, “Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy: A Behavioral Change Model for
Executive Coaching?” Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research no. 56 (April 2004): 226.
4
irrational belief of his self-worth, are self-defeating and reduce his hope in receiving a better
grade next time.10
3. Practice of REBT
As REBT is multimodal and integrative it uses a variety of cognitive, affective, and
behavioural techniques tailoring them to the given client. REBT is usually used for the
treatment of anxiety, depression, anger, marital difficulties, poor interpersonal skills, parenting
failures, personality disorders, obsessive/compulsive disorders, eating disorders,
psychophysiological and psychotic disorders. disorders,
3.1 Cognitive Method
The therapist points out to the client directly and quickly what it is that he/she is
continuing to tell himself/ herself and then teaches him/her how to deal with such self-
statements. It heavily relies on thinking, disputing, debating, challenging, interpreting,
explaining and teaching.
Rational analysis: analyses of specific episodes to teach the client how to uncover and
dispute irrational beliefs (as described earlier) are usually done in-session at first; then, as the
client gets the idea, they can be carried out as homework.11
Double-standard dispute: If the client is holding a ‘should’ or is self-downing about
their behaviour, ask whether they would globally rate another person (e.g. best friend, therapist,
etc.) for doing the same thing, or recommend that person hold their demanding core belief.
When they say ‘No’, help them see that they are holding a double standard.12 This is especially
useful with resistant beliefs which the client finds hard to give up.
Disputing Irrational Beliefs: The therapist usually challenges the client by asking
questions such as “Where is the evidence for your beliefs? Why is it terrible and horrible if life
is not the way you want it to be? Where it is written that you cannot stand a situation? The
client may be taught to indoctrinate himself/herself saying “If I do not succeed then it is not a
catastrophe but only just inconvenient,” One can logically, and pragmatically dispute them in
10 Sarah Spencer, “Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: It’s Effectiveness with Children,” (MSc.,
University of Wisconsin, 2005), 10.
11 Wayne Froggatt, A Brief Introduction To Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (Hastings, New
Zealand: Stortford Publication, 2005), 6.
12 H, “Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy,” 14.
5
many ways, especially by realizing that irrational beliefs are self-defeating, do not conform to
social reality and are illogical, inconsistent and contradictory. 13
3.2 Emotive Technique
In Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), clients are taught to accept
themselves unconditionally, often modelled by the therapist. The focus is on identifying and
changing a person’s belief system by replacing irrational beliefs with rational ones. Key
techniques include “Rational-Emotive Imagery,” where clients imagine how they want to think,
feel, and act; “Role-Playing,” where they practice handling emotions in safe scenarios;
“Shame-Attacking Exercises,” where they face fears of embarrassment to build self-
acceptance; and “Use of Force and Vigour,” where clients actively dispute irrational beliefs.14
Overall, REBT helps clients overcome fears, eradicate irrational thinking, and adopt healthier
beliefs to improve their lives.
3.3 Behavioural Technique
Behaviour therapy helps people change their fears and behaviours using different
methods. These include reinforcing good behaviours (operant conditioning), teaching people
to manage their own actions (self-management), and slowly exposing them to things they fear
(systematic desensitization). Relaxation techniques help with anxiety, and the therapist may
show the person how to act (modeling).15 For example, someone afraid of dogs might start by
looking at a dog, then slowly work up to touching it, helping them feel less scared over time.
4. Maintenance and Enhancing of REBT
Maintaining and Enhancing Rational Emotive Behaviour gains (REBT) works for you and you
feel great about it. At times you may fall back. Here below you will find some methods that
will help you maintain your gains and enhance them, if you ever get into your old feelings of
anxiety, depression or self-downing:
• You can remind yourself of the specific thoughts, feelings, and behaviours you
previously changed to bring about your improvement. By identifying these, you can
pinpoint how you used REBT to overcome inappropriate negative emotions. For
example, you might use coping statements such as: “It is good to be loved and approved
13 Antony, Psycho Therapy in Counselling, 125.
14 Daniel Burnabas ed., A Textbook on Pastoral Care and Counselling (Delhi: Christian World Imprints,
2021), 146-147.
15 Antony, Psycho Therapy in Counselling, 132.
6
by significant people, but if I cannot obtain this approval, it does not mean I am a
worthless person.”
• Keep seeking, discovering, disputing and challenging irrational Keep forcefully and
persistently disputing your irrational beliefs whenever you see that you are letting them
creep in again. Keep risking and doing things that you irrationally fear, for example,
giving a public speech. Try to see the difference between healthy negative feelings such
as those of sorrow, regret, and frustration and unhealthy negative feelings such as
depression, anxiety, self-hatred, and self-pity. When you experience unhealthy negative
feelings acknowledge that you are having a statistically normal but a psychologically
unhealthy feeling and that you are mainly bringing it on yourself with some dogmatic
should, ought or must. Realize that you are capable of changing your unhealthy (or
masturbatory) feelings into healthy (or preferential) ones.16 For example, depression
can be worked into regret and anxiety can be worked into apprehensiveness
5. Implication for Pastoral Theology
REBT (Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy) can be a valuable tool in pastoral care
by helping individuals identify and challenge irrational beliefs that cause emotional distress.
Pastors can guide parishioners to recognize unhealthy thought patterns, like fear or guilt and
replace them with rational, faith-based beliefs grounded in scripture. This process involves
helping individuals understand how their beliefs about God, themselves, and others shape their
emotions and actions. By applying REBT’s cognitive, emotive, and behavioural techniques,
pastors can support parishioners in developing a more balanced, resilient faith, improving their
emotional well-being, and living in a way that aligns with biblical truth.
Conclusion
When someone faces discouragement in life, a counsellor can use practical methods
from REBT (Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy) to help them overcome negative
behaviours and thoughts. Albert Ellis, the founder of REBT, predicted in 1995 that the
approach would remain popular and effective, especially in areas like education, self-help and
therapy. Eight years after his prediction, REBT continues to be widely used and effective. This
paper highlights the importance of REBT for counselors, showing how its techniques can
support clients in changing irrational beliefs and improving their emotional well-being.
16 Antony, Psycho Therapy in Counselling, 132-133.
7
Bibliography
Antony, D. John. Psycho Therapy in Counselling: Include Theories and Personality. Tamil
Nadu: Anugraha Publication, 2003.
Burnabas ed., Daniel. A Textbook on Pastoral Care and Counselling. Delhi: Christian World
Imprints, 2021.
DiGiuseppe, R. and M. E. Bernard. “The Application of Rational-Emotive Theory and Therapy
to School-Aged Children.” School Psychology Review no. 19 (March 1990): 268.
Dryden, Windy. Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: Theoretical Developments. London:
Routledge, 2003.
Ellis, Albert. Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy. New York: Lyle Stuart, 1962.
Ellis, Albert. The Basic Clinical Theory of Rational Emotive Therapy. New York: Springer
Publishing Company, 1977.
Froggatt, Wayne. A Brief Introduction to Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy. Hastings, New
Zealand: Stortford Publication, 2005.
H, Rajeswari. “Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy.” December 2014. Accessed January 6,
2025. [Link] publication/319165885, 1.
Neenan, Michael and Windy Dryden. Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: Advances in
Theory and Practice. Hove: Brunner-Routledge, 2004.
Sherin, J. and L. Caiger. “Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy: A Behavioral Change Model
for Executive Coaching?” Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research no.
56 (April 2004): 226.
Spencer, Sarah. “Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: It’s Effectiveness with Children.”
MSc., University of Wisconsin, 2005.