Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)

View of Human Nature: human beings have both rational and irrational thinking are self-talking and self-evaluating have a tendency toward growth and actualization keep ourselves disturbed through self-talk have the capacity to change cognitive, emotive, and behavioral processes

Key concepts in REBT Stresses thinking, judging, analyzing, and doing Assumes that cognitions, emotions, and behaviors interact to have a causal effect relationship Is a highly didactic, directive approach concern thinking and feeling Emotions are mainly generated by our beliefs, evaluations, interpretations, and reactions to life situations

View of Emotional Disturbance We learn irrational beliefs from significant others during childhood Teach clients to feel un-depressed even when they are unaccepted and unloved by significant others. Self-blame  emotional disturbances Irrational idea  internalize  self-defeating We have a tendency to make ourselves emotionally disturbed by internalizing self-defeating beliefs

The A-B-C theory of personality

Irrational Ideas Irrational ideas lead to self-defeating behavior Some examples: “I must have love or approval from all the significant people in my life.” “I must perform important tasks competently and perfectly.” “If I don’t get what I want, it’s terrible, and I can’t stand it.”

Therapeutic Goals Minimize emotional disturbances Decrease self-defeating behaviors Become more self-actualized Acquire unconditional self-acceptance and unconditional other acceptance Think rationally, feel appropriately, and act more effectively in achieving the goals of living happily

Therapist’s function and Role Discover clients’ irrational beliefs Make connection of how irrational beliefs lead to emotional disturbances Modify clients’ irrational beliefs. Dispute irrational beliefs and substitute rational beliefs Not spending too much time on exploring clients’ early history

The Therapeutic Relationship The therapeutic relationship is important, but intensive relationship is not required. Therapists show great faith in their clients’ ability to change themselves. Therapists disclose their own beliefs to clients

Therapeutic techniques--Cognitive methods Disputing irrational beliefs If I don’t get what I want, it is not at the end of the world Writing cognitive homework Applying ABC theory to daily life problems Changing one’s language It would be absolutely awful.It would be inconvenient Cost-benefit analysis Make a list of advantages/disadvantages of smoking

Therapeutic techniques--Emotional Methods Rational-emotional imagery Imagine the worst things that could happen to them Role playing Shame-attacking exercises Take risks to do something that the clients are afraid to do because of what others might think…until they realize that their feelings of shame are self-created. Forceful self-dialogue A dialogue with oneself

Therapeutic techniques--Behavioral methods Activity homework Write assignments that target on irrational beliefs in order to reduce them Reinforcements and penalties Rewardwhen accomplish a task penalizefail to attempt a task Skill Training Assertiveness training

Research on REBT More than 250 studies Most research on irrational beliefs Review of outcome studies: REBT was more significantly more effective than other therapies or control group in 31 of 47 studies (DiGiuseppe & Miller, 1977) and in 49 of 89 studies (Silverman, McCarthy, & McGovern, 1992). Research Efforts Most studies focus only on cognitive methods

Summary and Evaluation Contributions focus on how we interpret and react to events put insight into action teach clients how to be their own therapists Limitations too confrontational ignoring the past power imbalance (teacher-student)