How Does Ellis Use Rebt Theory

Dr. Ellis utilized REBT theory in all interactions with his client, Gloria. He closely followed the ABCDE model, explained by Murdock as A being the activating experience, B is the belief about A, C is the consequence, D is the dispute, and E is the new effect(2013, p.291) . Dr. Ellis allowed Gloria to begin freely asking her what she would like to do during session. Gloria identified her adaptation to being a single woman while raising children as her activating experience and verbally expressed some confusion. Gloria explained that she felt it was important that her children respect her as a mother, but felt that it was also important that she is satisfied as a woman. Gloria believed that a consequence of her belief is that she would lose the respect of her children or never find a man to satisfy her

The core of the therapy session was focused on the dispute, where Ellis challenged Gloria’s tendency to “catastrophize.” More specifically, he challenged Gloria’s irrational emotions (“If this is so, that would be awful,”), asking her, “Would that really be so awful?” In another attempt to point out her tendency to catastrophize, he had Gloria act “as if” she were an average woman like Jane Doe. Through this process of disputing the irrational emotions and thoughts, Gloria was able to move towards a new effect, or new thought/emotion about the same activating event. Ellis’ approach to therapy shares several similar techniques with Adler’s Individual Psychology. Both approaches encourage their clients to act as if in order to challenge their maladaptive thoughts. Both therapists also include the importance of creating images (Individual Psychology) or rational emotive imagery (REBT). While Ellis plays a more active role in therapy sessions by disputing his client's thoughts and emotions, his approach is similar to the less