Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

641 Words2 Pages

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) focuses on working with thinking and acting rather than expressing primary feelings. REBT assumes humans are born with a potential for both rational and irrational thinking. REBT sustains negative emotions caused by what we tell ourselves, so what we tell ourselves about situations is what upsets us – not the situation.

Three main concepts of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy are View of Human Nature, View of Emotional Disturbance, and A-B-C Framework. View of Human Nature is based on the assumption that human beings are born with rational (e.g., straight) and irrational thinking (e.g., crooked). It helps people accept themselves as able to make mistakes and yet be at peace with themselves; humans are …show more content…

Counselors should use a not true/true grid. Counselors teach clients about the cognitive hypothesis of disturbance and showing how rigid and extreme irrational beliefs lead to disturbed negative consequences. Counselors should dispute clients’ irrational beliefs and encourages clients to engage in activities that will counter their self-defeating beliefs and to replace their rigid “musts” with preferences.

REBT treatment goal is to teach clients how to change their dysfunctional emotions and behaviors into healthy ones.

REBT treatment techniques are emotive techniques, cognitive methods, and behavioral techniques. Emotive techniques are rational emotive imagery (clients are asked to vividly image one of the worst things that might happen to them), using humor (enlighten the mood), role-playing (rehearsal of certain behaviors), and shame-attacking exercises (making them feel their shame). Cognitive methods are disputing irrational beliefs (musts and shoulds), doing cognitive homework (REBT Self-Help Book), bibliotherapy (empirical support for depression), changing one’s language (must be replaced with preferences), and psychoeducational methods (educational education). Behavioral techniques are operant conditioning, self-management principles, systematic desensitization, relaxation techniques, and

Open Document