Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

by Albert Ellis, Debbie Joffe Ellis

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy provides an introduction to the theory, history, research, and practice of this influential approach. Created in the 1950s by the coauthor, Albert Ellis, rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) was the pioneering cognitive-behavioral therapy.

In essence, REBT helps clients learn to challenge their own irrational thinking and develop the habit of thinking in beneficial and rational ways. This shift enables clients to behave more effectively and, ultimately, experience healthy emotions.

REBT is based on the simple idea that it is not external circumstances that make a person happy or unhappy, but rather internal thoughts about events or self. Thinking, feeling, and behavior are seen as linked and influencing one another. Because changing one's thinking is usually the simplest tactic in a given situation, it tends to be the focus of therapy, along with the encouragement to adopt the humanistic core REBT philosophies of unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional other-acceptance, and unconditional life-acceptance.

Ellis and Joffe Ellis present and explore this influential, practical, and compassionate approach, its theory, history, therapy process, primary change mechanisms, and the empirical basis for its effectiveness. They also examine developments that have refined the theory and expanded how it may be practiced.

This essential primer, amply illustrated with case examples featuring diverse clients, is perfect for graduate students studying theories of therapy and counseling, as well as for seasoned practitioners interested in understanding how this approach has evolved and how it might be used in their practice.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Nonfiction, Reference

154 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

Albert Ellis was an American psychologist who in 1955 developed Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). He held M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology from Columbia University and American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He also founded and was the President of the New York City-based Albert Ellis Institute for decades.
He is generally considered to be one of the originators of the cognitive revolutionary paradigm shift in psychotherapy and the founder of cognitive-behavioral therapies. Based on a 1982 professional survey of USA and Canadian psychologists, he was considered as the second most influential psychotherapist in history (Carl Rogers ranked first in the survey; Sigmund Freud was ranked third).

Reviews

[Kristína Žilíková · Rating 5 out of 5]

výborné, od definície REBT až po praktické využitie - autor sa síce prihovára čitateľovi ako terapeutovi, ale myslím, že kniha je veľmi užitočná aj pre laika. zaujímavé koncepty a myšlienky.

[Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must candidly acknowledge (but not “MUSTurbate”) before beginning this review that I have developed a bias contra therapies rooted in the Behavioral Sciences. I have endeavored to approach my understanding of several theories of psychotherapy by starting with the first wave viz., psychodynamic theories, and for undefined intentions, omitted the second wave of cognitive-behavioral based approaches, moving directly towards the humanistic theories. In an attempt to defend this decision, I openly admit that it is my strong roots in Existential thought that conceivably persuaded me to make this move.

In the humanistic theories, mostly Existential and Person-centered, I found a familiarity with my pre-conceived views of reality. Thus, it is unproblematic for me to make sense of and appreciate these theories because they are already recognizable and agreeable to me. Further, I struggled with the last book I read, Reality Therapy: A New Approach to Psychiatry, by William Glasser. As I examined, page after page, and attempted to surmount my bias, I found myself even more skeptical of the subject matter and the science it is based on. Notwithstanding, I still recognized the value in behavioral and cognitive-behavioral approaches, I just did not uncover it resonating within my personality.

As I began reading Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, I worried that I would again find myself extremely uncomfortable with the material and constantly “sharpshooting” the dialogue. Much to my surprise, my bias was softened almost immediately by the very approachable, dare I say, humanistic attitude presented by the author’s (Albert Ellis and Debbie Joffe Ellis). Instead of finding points of contention to disagree with, I instead, attempted to put in context, the material presented and its efficacy to truly helping people overcome their psychological barriers.

In the back of my mind, I still have a philosophical resistance to cognitive-behavioral approaches in general; however, this monograph has helped me understand some of the more critical underlying methods that Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is founded upon. It is within the main principles of REBT that I find myself agreeing, to a considerable extent, with the theory. These main principles, I find particularly accurate:

(1) The environment and biology both influence human behavior.

(2) From birth, we all have the ability to think both rationally and irrationally.

(3) If we actually take the time to think about what we think, it is us that makes the choices about how we behave, based on our thinking and feeling.

(4) If we choose to think realistically and rationally, the concomitant effect might very well be appropriate and healthy emotions, behaviors, and attitudes.

(5) Contrariwise, if we choose to think irrationally, it may very well have negative effects on anything from emotional balance to the physical manifestation of conditions.

Moreover, the core tenets, the “ABCs” of REBT, are instrumental in bringing the main principles to fruition. By putting the “ABCs” into practice, the results could help maintain a healthy, productive lifestyle in accordance with the main principles.

The main point of this review is to indicate that I do think the theory is worth investigating. The Unconditional Life – Acceptance (ULA), The Unconditional Other – Acceptance (UOA), and Unconditional Self – Acceptance, all seem congruent factors with a humanistic approach. Moreover, I think the main principles are flexible enough to be integrated into an eclectic style of counseling that would ultimately benefit the client.

I have enjoyed reading this monograph, and look forward to further exploring the behavioral and cognitive- behavioral approaches to psychotherapy.

Happy Reading!

[Mina Cuhadar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis is an ICON (seriously, check out her subtly sultry webcam pic on her Columbia faculty page). Her wild hair, colorful makeup, bead necklaces, sky-high stilettos & her animated expressions are GIVING.

I joined her class as a skeptic but she won me over. This book does a good job of explaining the philosophy behind REBT.

I used to see Albert Ellis as a narcissistic bully. Now, I’ve come to appreciate him as someone who used tough love to inspire personal growth. REBT might not be the first modality I’d recommend for individuals seeking warmth, empathy and validation. However, for 1) those ready for straight talk, and 2) those with a lot of self-awareness that hasn’t yet led to any meaningful change, REBT could be a game-changer.

But like with any other therapeutic modality, you need to be genuinely willing to make changes—to feel better and to live better. If not, no approach can truly help.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic Work

Great work. Perhaps a bit too repetitive in places. Informational and practical. Certainly will recommend this book to a couple of people that I know.

[Rosťa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stručně, jasně a přehledně. Takovouto přiručku by si zasloužila každá forma a každý směr terapie, pro rychlé obeznámení s historií, rámcem a technikami.