RATIONAL EMOTIVE

BEHAVIOR THERAPY
STOP SHOULDING ON YOURSELF
-ALBERT ELLIS
 INTRODUCED BY:
REBT a type of Cognitive behavior therapy CBT,
developed by Albert Ellis a clinical psychologist
in 1950s
A result of dissatisfaction with Psychoanalysis
and Psychoanalytic therapy
Thought: Some clients felt better but rarely
improved in a way that would help them be
“Symptom Free” and more “In control” of their
lives.
First used term “ Rational Therapy” Misinterpreted
as “Therapy without emotions”
Philosophy of pathology: “Emotional disturbances
is the result of personal belief system that is not
consistent with reality” i.e negative view of
yourself, world etc
RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY
REBT is an action-oriented approach
focused on helping people deal with irrational
beliefs
learn how to manage their emotions, thoughts,
and behaviors in a healthier, more realistic way.

When people hold irrational beliefs about themselves

or the world,
problems can result.

REBT helps people

recognize and alter those beliefs and negative
thinking patterns in order to overcome
psychological problems and mental distress.
 RATIONAL BELIEF IRRATIONAL BELIEF
rational beliefs are those that are Irrational beliefs are rigid, extreme,
logical, realistic, and helpful in and illogical, unrealistic, and hinder
achieving our goals. our well-being. Lead to unhealthy
They are based on evidence and emotions and behaviors.
promote healthy emotions and
behaviors. "I must always be perfect and never
"Making mistakes is a part of learning make any mistakes."
and growing."
Philosophical Humanism focuses on valuing and
respecting yourself and others. It's about

Viewpoints
recognizing the worth and potential in each
person.
Accept that people make mistakes and
they have worth
Unconditional Self Acceptance (USA)

Responsible hedonism in REBT Rationality refers to people using efficient,

means finding a balance between flexible and logical ways in attempting to
enjoying life and being responsible. achieve their goals or emotions.
Balancing long-term and short-term Develop new philosophy of life that
leads to increased long-range
goals making sure they are positive
happiness.
goals
 Biological Factors
Ellis believes individuals have inborn
tendencies to react to events in certain
patterns, regardless of environmental
factors

Social Factors
People define themselves as good or

Factors
worthwhile, depending on how they see
others reacting to them.
Receive Acceptance = Feel good
BeReceive
kindCriticism:
in yourFeel worthless
interactions
and be quicktoindisturbance
Vulnerability mending any
communication
The issues.
more frequent Irrational beliefs occur, the
more an individual may be vulnerable to
psychological disturbance.
Whether these IB comes from Biological or
Social factors is immaterial, as they are
disruptive
ABC THEORY OF ACTIVATING EVENT

PERSONALITY
A
Individuals have goals that
may be supported or
prevented by activating
This system works well for individuals when events (As)
the activating events are pleasant and
support their goals.
BELIEF SYSTEM

B
When individuals believe something must They then react, consciously or
happen as they wish, emotional disturbance unconsciously, with their belief
system (B)
occurs.

Example: Wave at someone and they

don’t wave back (Activating event) CONSEQUENCES

C
Have I done something wrong to They also experience the
emotional or behavioral
upset her? (Belief) Feeling anxious consequence of the activating
and worried (Consequence) event
ABC THEORY OF PERSONALITY
Rational belief: pleasant activating event:
A in test (A) believe in her ability to
achieve/succeed (RB) feeling happy (C)

Rational belief: unpleasant activating event:

B in test (A) I don’t like to fail a test (RB) Works
harder for next test (C)
(Negative event - RB - Healthy Negative emotion)

Irrational belief: unpleasant activating event:

B in test (A), I SHOULD HAVE received an A (IRB)
angry and depressed (C)
(Negative event - IB - Unhealthy negative emotion)

Disturbances about disturbances:

People disturb themselves by turning a disturbed
consequence into a new activating event.
 INTERRELATION BETWEEN ABC
Musts/ Low
Anxiety
Musturbation Frustration
Implicit in individuals’ consequences Low frustration leads to more Two types of anxiety—
are musts, such as “I must do well on difficulty.
the exam,” Discomfort anxiety:
statements as example individuals’ comfort level is
Ellis divide these irrational beliefs into
“That’s too difficult,” threatened
three categories:
“I can’t take the pressure,”
demands about self,
“I’m too frightened to do it” Ego anxiety:
demands about others,
individuals’ sense of self-worth is
demands about the world and/or
life conditions. threatened
 REB THEORY OF PSYCHOTHERAPY
GOALS OF REBT
Assist people to
minimize emotional disturbances
decreasing self defeating self behaviors
become more Self actualized and lead happier existence
Help people to
think more clearly and rationally
feel more appropriately
act more efficiently and effectively with Negative feelings such as
sorrow, regret, frustration and annoyance
Deal with Unhealthy negative feelings such as depression, anxiety,
worthlessness by using Rational Emotive Behavior Philosophy
 ASSESSMENT IN REBT
REBT assessment is of two overlapping Rating forms such as the REBT Self-
types: Help Form on which:
First, Assessment of cognition and clients enter their activating
behaviors that are sources for the
events and consequences, help
problems
determine important irrational
Second, use of the A-B-C theory of
beliefs
personality to identify client problems
dispute the irrational beliefs that
In addition to therapy-oriented assessment, apply and replace them with
a wide variety of scales and tests can be effective rational beliefs
used to assess client concerns such as the

Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory II

Beck Depression Inventory
Frustration-Discomfort Scale
THERAPEUTIC
RELATIONSHIP
Ellis believed that the best way to develop
a therapeutic relationship is to help solve
the client’s immediate problem

Clients see and hear that they are being

listened to and responded to.

Clients not only feel understood but also

sense that therapists understand their
feelings better than they do.
A-B-C-D-E THERAPEUTIC
APPROACH
The core of REBT is the application of
the A-B-C philosophy to client
problems.
Often this approach is used in the first
and subsequent sessions.
Where possible, therapists prefer to
explain and make explicit each of the
three aspects.
In addition, therapeutic interventions
require the use of D and E.
 When beliefs have
Detecting been actively and
irrational beliefs successfully disputed,
clients will Experience
E Effect

Discriminating
irrational from Three E:
Basic D: Effective
rational beliefs Disputations

A new effect—a logical

philosophy and a new
Debating
level of affect
irrational beliefs.
appropriate to the
problem
 INTERRELATION BETWEEN ABC
D: E:
Disputing Effective
The therapist first detects irrational beliefs in
This philosophy, following the A-B-C
the client and helps the client detect irrational
beliefs in his perceptions.
model, helps individuals develop rational
thoughts to replace inappropriate irrational
Detecting the irrational belief “Others must thoughts.
find me intelligent and witty”
Discriminating Musts, shoulds, oughts, This new effective philosophy can bring
helps the client learn which beliefs are rational about more
and which are not productive behaviors,
Debating irrational beliefs helps clients
minimize feelings of depression
change their beliefs to rational ones, “Why
self-hatred, and bring about satisfying
must you do everything better than everyone
else at work?”
and enjoyable feelings
COGNITIVE APPROACHES
Coping self-statements
Cost-benefit analysis
Psychoeducational methods
Teaching others
Problem solving

EMOTIVE TECHNIQUES
Imagery
Role playing
Shame-attacking exercises
Forceful self-statements
Forceful self-dialogue
BEHAVIORAL METHODS INSIGHT
Activity homework Changing unhealthy feelings and behaviors
usually requires three types of insight.
Reinforcements and penalties
First: insight of acknowledging that
Skill training
disturbances come not only from the past but
also from IB
Second: how individuals continually re-
indoctrinate themselves with the same kind of
irrational beliefs that originated in the past
Third: insight refers to accepting the first two
levels of insight with the realization that
knowledge of these insights does not
automatically change people
 REFERENCE
Sharf, R.S. (2012) Theories of psychotherapy and counseling
: concepts and cases (5th ed.). Brooks/Cole.