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Day 1 Part 1

p. 5 Chart: Development of Rational Living Therapy

Rational Living Therapy is a cognitive behavior therapy approach to help people get better. It is
a philosophy technique and an instructive approach that a person can apply to their life. It’s
better to think rationally than to think irrationally. RLT takes the best of other approaches such
as finding underlying assumptions (schema therapy), using hypnotherapy, rational emotive
behavior therapy, and teaching that words have meaning (neuro linguistic programming). It also
adds a few important techniques such as the ABCs of Emotions, classical conditioning, and
operant conditioning. RLT includes both self-help therapy and a social learning aspect of the
work of a therapist. RLT has been influenced by Maxie Maultsby, the founder of Rational
Behavior Therapy; Aaron Beck, the father of cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy;
and Albert Ellis, one of the most eminent thinkers in the history of psychology who helped
pioneer cognitive behavioral therapies. Cognitive behavior therapy is a general term because
there are different approaches of CBT.

The entire point of RLT is to not need a therapist. RLT is about learning it and doing it on your
own. It can help you cope rationally with an issue and better deal with any issue that might
come up in life.

2 Reasons why some counselors are not successful:

1.) They have difficulty recognizing irrational thoughts. We need to identify rational
thoughts in our own life before we can help other people identify them in their life.
2.) They are unable to help clients correct themselves. We need to help others develop a
replacement thought and practice those new thoughts.

How the 2 hemispheres in the brain work: (Brain Functioning)

The left hemisphere learns, processes, and understands words, speech, and language.
The right hemisphere produces images, dreams, daydreams. The right brain understands all
words except the word “NOT.” For example, “I don’t want ice cream” will register as “I want ice
cream.” It is better to state what you want rather than what you don’t want. “I refuse to eat ice
cream.” “I like going for a walk.” “I am going to eat an apple.” Avoid saying DON’T. In
hypnotherapy, avoid saying “I will…” Say “I want…” and “I do…” In hypnotherapy, let your
statements be in the present tense: “I am this way now…(desire).” In hypnotherapy,
believability does not matter.

Perception research – ABCs of Emotions

Underlying assumptions (schemas)

CDT – Cognitive Development Theory – A certain process where a person’s thinking develops
for the long-term. When we recognize an irrational thought, we can intentionally replace it with
a rational thought.
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14? 11 Characteristics of Rational Living Therapy – How it differs from other therapy

Cognitive Emotive Dissonance – is a strange feeling about doing therapy with a therapist. Right
at the beginning of session one, the therapist needs to explain cognitive emotive dissonance to
the client. It is feeling strange about therapy since we are not used to it. After one learns RTL,
then the strange feeling goes away.

1. RLT is based on a cognitive model of emotional response:

**Our thoughts cause our feelings and behavior.**

2. RTL is briefer than other approaches. On average, it takes 16 sessions to get better.
Some require more, some less. It depends on many things. RTL works more quickly than
other approaches. Re: Time-limited – At some point, the client and therapist decide
together when to end all sessions.
3. A sound therapeutic relationship is necessary for effective therapy, but not the focus.
People don’t care what you know until they know how much you care and empathize.
1 – First understand the client accurately
2 – Then teach how our emotions work: the ABCs of emotions.
3 – Then dispute a client’s thought.
4 – Teach the client how to recognize an irrational thought.

4. RLT is a collaborative effort between the therapist and the client. To get better, the
client and therapist work together. The therapist asks and expects good results. The
therapist never gives up on the client nor blames physiology. The therapist does not
lower the bar nor say the client is beyond hope.
5. RLT is based on certain stoic philosophy. A practical problem implies a goal has been set.
If there is an obstacle, we might need to find another goal. Practical problems are not
objective. The degree of it can vary. Often, the obstacle such as a broken car does not
care how we feel. The reality of a broken car doesn’t care how we feel. Getting angry
about a broken car does not fix the car. We might as well stay calm. Staying calm is
being stoic. We want to be in a better position to care and fix the car. It’s better to stay
calm and say “I don’t like that my car broken down, but it’s not the end of the world. I
will calmly find a way to get it fixed.” If you want to feel depressed, go ahead, but here
are some consequences to being depressed…
6. RLT uses the Socratic Method. Ask Ask the client how he or she feels, but don’t’ tell
them how to feel. Ask what they mean by… (trust, respect, etc.)
7. RLT is structured and directive.
2nd Session:
1 - Review homework from the time before. Never skip this.
2 - Teach the client something.
3 - Invite client to share what is on his or her mind.
4 - Apply RLT to what they shared.
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We don’t tell the client their goals. We don’t tell them what to do.
We help them understand:
1 – Goals
2 – Find ways to help them achieve the goals
3 – Find more effective ways to achieve the goals to produce a better result
Directive – What does the client want? Show how to do what they want.
Ask, Why do you want to be a drug dealer?
Ask, How long do you plan on …?
Point out, What is the price you’ll pay? What will losing weight do for you?

8. RLT is based on an educational model.

We teach a client how to do well. It isn’t magic. It is an instructive approach.
9. RLT theory and techniques rely on the Inductive Method.
We encourage our clients to think about their thoughts and perspectives.
Technique – A homework assignment includes making a list of thoughts that they hope
they are wrong about, and explain why they hope they are wrong.
Ex: I’m ugly, but I hope I’m wrong because I want a date.
Teach ABCs of emotions.
10. RLT focuses on the present (not particularly concerned with the origin of the problem,
but what maintains it). We do not “dig” for a cause in the past. The past is gone. “It’s
last year’s snow.” The past does not care how we feel. Ex: A client says he is too dumb
to attract a mate. Ask: What gives you that idea?
11. Homework is a central feature of RLT. It is essential because it will bring faster results. It
speeds up the process. It will teach them how to solve problems on their own. Call
homework “Self-Help Assignments” instead of homework.

*If a client stops completing the homework, ask the client why.
1 – Ask yourself, Have I helped establish a goal that he or she is willing to work toward?
Does the client have a reason to work? There is no such thing as an unmotivated client.
We are all motivated by something. What is the client motivated about? How can we
use it? Say, “As soon as you stop doing ________ and start doing _________ you won’t
need to come here anymore.
2 – Ask yourself, Have I established a link in the client’s mind between doing the
homework and achieving their goal? Have I shown how it work and why it works? Why
am I encouraging the client to do this homework? Explain it, so the client follows. Ex:
The reason why I want you to take this pill is to avoid a sudden death.
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Additional Assumptions of Rational Living Therapy

1. An objective reality exists independent of our awareness of it.

We help a person’s perception of reality to be as close to reality as possible.
Perception is not a reality. Reality is what is. Perception is what you think. How do
you know your perception is close to reality? Don’t go by consensus; some people
used to think the Earth was flat.
2. Some things simply are a matter of opinion. If you think an opera is boring, that is
your opinion. If a client says “Operas are boring,” say, “FOR YOU…AT THIS TIME.” It
might change in the future.
No facts are involved in an opinion.
3. RLT requires rational thinking on the therapist’s part, as well as a belief in its
philosophy. Sell RLT to the client.
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p. 9
11 Myths of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (Objections to it)

1. Obj: CBT teaches clients to be unfeeling robots.

Response: No. The truth is we are always feeling something. We teach/allow clients to
care and be in the best position to care.
2. Obj: CBT therapists teach their clients to accept everything and change nothing.
Response: No. The truth is you don’ t have to like it. Your emotional state reveals your
thoughts. We don’t teach to suppress.
3. Obj: CBT therapists tell their clients what to do/how to feel.
Response: No. The truth is we don’t teach how to feel.
4. Obj: A person must be above average in intelligence to benefit from CBT.
Response: No. Anyone can benefit.
5. Obj: All CBT therapists swear like Ellis.
Response: No. We discourage swearing.
6. Obj: CBT therapists do not believe in God.
Response: No. Ellis was an atheist. We work with the client’s framework of their
understanding of God. Focus on the Family’s “Truth Project” is a small group curriculum
that explores life from a biblical perspective and being transformed by the renewing of
your mind.

Nonsense Arguments Against CBT

1. Obj: It’s wrong to come off as an expert.
Response: No. It’s ok to come off as an expert.
2. Obj: All people want is to get things off their chest, vent.
Response: No. Venting is not ok. If a fire is under a pot, turn off the flame. We do not
encourage practicing being upset.
3. Obj: People are not going to use what they learn anyway.
Response: We plant seeds. You do have a sense to learn and use RLT successfully.
4. Obj: CBT therapists talk too much.
Response: Therapists talk in the first session, but as the client begins to use RLT, the
client will talk more and more.
5. Obj: CBT is too much work.
Response: Actually, CBT ends up being less work after you learn it.
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p. 10 CHART
How We Acquire Our Thoughts includes
“5 Factors That Make a Thought Grow” – ON THE TEST

10 things that influence our thoughts:

1. Desirability, 2. Consistency, 3. Evidence/Expert Voice, 4. Repetition, 5. Emotional
Insight,
6. Observation and Operant, 7. Operant Conditioning, 8. Classical Conditioning, 9.
Observation, and 10. Hypnosis.

1. Desirability – We see an advantage to thinking a certain way. If this X thought is correct,

you’ll be much better.
2. Repetition – repeat a message to self. We want clients to repeat new statements. The
goal is to repeat it because the client will be more likely to understand and believe/think
it.
3. Evidence/expert voice – The more evidence a person has to support a thought, the
more the information is credible. They’ll be more likely to continue to believe it.
4. Consistency – The more consistence a thought, the more likely it will grow. The less
contradictory, the more they’ll believe it.
5. Emotional insight – The thought feels right to a person (no more CB dissonance). They
are more accustom to it.

Observation – we observe our parents, friends, etc.

Operant conditioning – to the degree of being praised or punished. Ex: Put a coin in
a soda machine to get a reward.
Observation and operant – I want _________ to win. Praise “At a way!”
Hypnosis – We all have been hypnotized. We have a state of hypnosis in the morning
right when we wake up and at night right before we fall asleep. During the day, we
go into a state of hypnosis every 90-120 minutes, and it lasts for 20 minutes.
People acquire thoughts through hypnosis.
We are free to reject it. We are free to not believe it.
Ex: Seeing people causes me to be relaxed, smile, and feel good.
Classical conditioning -

END Day 1, Part 1

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DAY 1, PART 2