Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

Over the past hundred years several psychotherapy methods have been developed, four of which are the leading of special interest: Humanistic approach, Psychodynamic approach, Behavioral approach, and Cognitive approach (Short & Thomas, 2014), and from these four approaches more than a few others emerge. In the current paper an overview will be presented on the main theoretical framework of Albert Ellis, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). The issue focused on is the therapeutic applications of REBT on anxiety disorders. Furthermore the effectiveness of REBT on anxiety is evaluated.

In the 1950’s Albert Ellis pioneered Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) that caused the foundation of the well-known Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT). Historically, REBT began as rational therapy (RT), next it was reevaluated in1961 and became rational-emotive therapy (RET) because of the importance of emotions in psychotherapy. The final portrait was presented in 1993 as REBT employed the behavioristic techniques involved in the therapeutic approach (Enfield, 2010).

REBT is a form of psychotherapeutic approach combined with a philosophy of living. The philosophical idea of REBT was initially proposed 2000 years ago by Epictetus, who suggested that the only things that make people upset are

activating event). His irrational belief might be that he is an incompetent or low intelligence individual (B. irrational belief). What follows could be feelings of anxiety, depression and behaviors such as avoidance or withdrawal (C. emotional and behavioral reaction). The therapeutic approach of an REBT therapist will be to restore more rational beliefs, such as that the failure in the exams is a result of inadequate preparation or the extremely high level of the test, instead of the belief that the failure is a reflection of the worthlessness of the student as a human being (Ellis & Blau,