What is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)?

By:  Kimberly Swanson, MS-Psy, CNA

When it comes to Rational  Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Albert Ellis (1957, 1962) suggests that individuals holds a certain set of  belief systems that stems from their upbringing, culture, environment and their life experiences.  With these belief systems, it guides people in making life decisions and it becomes a determining factor as to how these individuals reacts to certain situations.

It is believe that some people’s personal beliefs and mindsets can be irrational and may cause them to react in certain unfitting ways; these negative behaviors can prevent them from excelling and achieving their goals.  This dysfunctional behavior is what Dr. Ellis termed irrational assumptions (McLeod, 2015).

There are times when some individuals have the belief system they are not a true success when they don’t have someone to love them; these individuals are continuously looking for acceptance and are constantly rejected.  Due to these rejections, their behaviors begins to reflect their negative beliefs about themselves and they feel unhappy due not receiving affection or reciprocated love in return.

The following are some examples of Ellis’s irrational thinking:

·         You have to be knowledgeable and know everything.

·         Believes that no one has control over their joy and happiness.

·         Believes that your past mistakes rules your present and future circumstances.

·         Believes that you have to find the solution to everything and if you don’t find it everything is in total chaos.

Dr. Ellis believed that individuals often times cling to their irrational thought processing.  Ellis’s REBT therapy incorporates emotive strategies to assist clients in changing their negative way of thinking (McLeod, 2015).

References

Ellis, A. (1957). Rational Psychotherapy and Individual Psychology. Journal of Individual Psychology, 13: 38-44.

Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy. New York: Stuart.

McLeod, S. A. (2015). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-therapy.html

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