Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

1. Rational Emotive BehaviorTherapy (REBT) Noemi Legaspi-Valverde

2. Albert Ellis • Born September 27, 1913 • REBT was founded in the 1950’s • Believed the role of the therapist was to help clients understand that one’s personal philosophy contains beliefs that lead to emotional pain. • Stressed changing self defeating beliefs by demonstrating their irrationality. • Today, REBT is a major cognitive behavioral approach.

3. Key Concepts-Assumptions of REBT • Thinking, feeling, and behaving continually interact with and influence one an another (Corey, p377). • Emotional disturbances are caused by biological and environmental factors. • We are influenced by people and the things around us. • And we also affect those around us. • Create irrational beliefs about events. • Emotional distress arises from our irrational beliefs from childhood. • Irrational beliefs can be modified by using cognitive, emotive, and behavioral methods. • In order for change to occur, we need to: • Take responsibility for our irrational thoughts. • Look at how we feel, think, and behave. • Do the hard work to change

4. Key Concept-Emotional Disturbance • The “shoulds”, “oughts”, and “musts” play a role in dysfunctional beliefs. • Three forms of “musturbation” • “I absolutely must do well and be approved of by significant others. I must win their approval or else I am inadequate, worthless person.” • “You must under all conditions and at all times treat me considerately, kindly, lovingly, and fairly. If you don’t, you are no damned good and are a rotten person.” • “Conditions under which I live absolutely must be comfortable so that I can get what I want without too much effort. If not, it is awful; I can’t stand it and can’t have any real happiness at all!”

5. Key Concepts-The ABC Theory • A=activating event (what happened; can be an event or image) • B= belief(s) about the event • C= consequence (emotional response) • Example: You find out you didn’t get a promotion at work. • A=not getting the promotion • B=you are a failure • C=feel rejected and hurt

6. Key Concepts-Confronting Irrational Beliefs • Teaching member’s the ABC theory. • When members can see how their irrational beliefs are linked to their emotional disturbance, they can dispute (D) their beliefs. • Process of Disputation of irrational beliefs • Detecting • Debating • Discriminating • Ultimate result is to reduce feelings of depression and rejection. • Effect of Disputing (E)

7. Key Concepts-Self Rating and Learning Self-Acceptance • Rating our acts and behaviors vs. rating ourselves as a person. • Example: “If I fail at something, I’m a failure in life” • The opposite of self rating is self-acceptance.

8. Goals of REBT Group • Help participants’ through process of achieving unconditional self-acceptance (USA) and unconditional other acceptance (UOA). • Help participants’ differentiate between realistic and unrealistic and self-defeating and self-enhancing goals (Corey, 2008). • Change dysfunctional emotions into healthy ones.

9. Role of the Group Leader • Serve as teachers and mentors • Demonstrate respect • Encourage and support • Self-disclose when beneficial for participants. • Develop trust • Use cognitive and emotive techniques. • encourage participants to discover irrational beliefs • Make connection of how the irrational beliefs lead to emotional distress • Challenge clients to modify their irrational beliefs • Dispute irrational beliefs and replace with rational beliefs

10. Therapeutic Techniques and Procedures • Purpose is to change clients’ way of thinking, feeling, and acting. Doesn’t look into individual’s early history. There is a focus on the here and now. • “Focus on specific techniques for changing a client’s self-defeating thoughts in concrete situations. In addition to modifying beliefs, this approach helps group members see how their beliefs influence what they feel and what they do; thus there is also a concern for changing feelings and behaviors that flow from dysfunctional thinking pattern” (Corey, 2008, p 382).

11. Cognitive Methods • Teaching the A-B-C’s • Active Disputation of Faulty Beliefs • Teaching Coping Self-Statements • Psychoeducational Methods • Cognitive Homework • Applying the ABC’s in every day life.

12. Emotive Methods • Unconditional acceptance • Rational emotive imagery • Imagine the worst thing that can happen. • Use of humor • Shame-attacking exercises • Take the risk to do something they are afraid to do because of what others might think. Then they realize their shame is created by them. • Role playing

13. Behavioral Methods • Homework assignments • Reinforcement and penalties • Skills training

14. Advantages of REBT Applied to Group Work • Homework assignments in a group context vs. one-to-one therapy. • Offers several procedures • Homework report forms • Sharing personal problems • Listening to other’s problems

15. REBT to Group Work in Schools • Applied to students, K-12. • The goal is to prevent emotional and behavioral problems. • Prevent intervention for those who exaggerate negative events. • The purpose is to help in dealing with students’ interpersonal relationships and home environment.

16. Applying REBT with Multicultural Populations • “When members are not challenged too quickly, they can be invited to examine the premises on which they behave” (Corey, 2008,p 391). • The focuses on the problems of living. • A group must be careful when challenging clients about their beliefs and behaviors.

17. Evaluation of REBT in Groups • Strengths • Many disorders can be addressed • Explore self-defeating beliefs and replacing with more rational ones. • Group leaders can learn to identify their internal dialogue. • Help members deal with everyday living.

18. Limitations of REBT in Groups • Group leader imposing his/her values on members. • Members may feel pressured to accept goals and values of the group leader. • Members may depend on group leader about what constitutes reality.

20. References • Corey, G. (2008). Theory and Practice of Group Counseling. Belmont, California: Brooke/Cole.