Techniques Utilized in Rational Emotive Behavior, Therapy (REBT)

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Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is a therapy developed by Albert Ellis with the goal of helping client’s modify their self talk. (Smith, 2012) Self talk is intrapersonal communication that occurs within ones mind, disturbed behavior and unhappiness are the result of irrational self talk and is based on the way one reacts and interprets the various events in their lives. Thus, if a client interprets a given event negatively they will then start the negative self talk within their own mind which will then lead to negative responses. REBT asserts that most of us subscribe to some if not all of the “11 irrational beliefs” which fuel our irrational self talk and negative responses to events. The 11 irrational beliefs are as follows: 1. that you need to have love and the approval of those that you love or admire; 2. the belief that you cannot fail at anything; 3. the idea that when someone else acts in a way that you find unacceptable you should damn them and see them as bad; 4. awfulizing, the idea that when something does not go the way you intended or thought it would go you have to see the situation as awful or terrible; 5. that we are unable to control or change how we feel about a situation due to external forces; 6. Catastrophizing- believing that when our life is not exactly the way we envisioned it is catastrophic; 7. a persons belief that it is safer to avoid the challenges of life rather than seek them out for fear of failure; 8. the irrational belief that you need to be dependant on someone other than yourself; 9. irrational belief that events in the past determine our future and will continue to do so; 10. The irrational idea of being highly upset over someone else’s problems; 11. lastly, the irrational belief tha... ... middle of paper ... ...different emotional problems between sessions. These instances recorded on the self help form can then be discussed with the counselor at the next session. REBT has been shown to be a clinically effective therapy in thousands of studies over the years. (Ellis, 1971) Due to the number of techniques of this therapy it is one in which the counselor can tailor to the individual needs of their client utilizing those which are helpful but not necessarily all of the techniques. REBT is practiced widely and the research and information available on its effectiveness, different variations of the techniques are many. Works Cited Ellis, A. (1971). Emotional disturbances and its treatment in a nutshell. Canadian Counsellor, 5(3), 168-170. R Jones-Smith, E. (2012). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: An integrative approach. [Kindle version]. ISBN-978-1-4129-1004-0.

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