Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Albert Ellis REBT is based on the premise that whenever we become upset,

t, its not the events taking place in our lives that upset us; it is the beliefs that we hold that cause us to become depressed, anxious, enraged, etc. According to Albert Ellis, the vast majority of us want to be happy. When this is blocked, we can respond in ways that are healthy and helpful, or we can react in ways that are unhealthy and unhelpful. A general goal of REBT is to help clients minimize emotional disturbances, decrease self-defeating behaviors, and become happier. If individuals can think rationally and have fewer irrational beliefs, Ellis believes they will live happier lives. A ACTIVATING EVENT John asks Mary if she would go out with him and she replied that she is busy every Saturday night this year. B - BELIEFS (IRRATIONAL) Johns emotional system reacts immediately with negative self-talk: It is awful that she rejected me. I am worthless because of this. No desirable woman will ever accept me. I should have done a better job of getting her to accept me. I am such a loser. Irrational Beliefs These are unrealistic, illogical and absolutist. It is a persons irrational beliefs that lead to great anxiety, depression, shame, anger, and guilt, not the event which he /she is experiencing. Musterbation Albert Elliss phrase to characterize the behavior of clients who are inflexible and absolutistic in their thinking, maintaining that they must not fail or that they must have their way. Three Basic Musts

1. I must perform well and win the approval of important people, or else I am an inadequate person! 2. Others must treat me fairly and considerately! 3. My life must be easy and pleasant. I need and must have things that I want, or life is unbearable! Low Frustration Tolerance Awfulizing Example: Im the worst mother in the world! C CONSEQUENCES what happens because of the irrational belief of the person John feels worthless, anxious and depressed so he wont risk asking anyone else out; he wont try again. D DISPUTING IRRATIONAL BELIEFS The most difficult part of the therapy. Three parts of Disputing 1. Detecting the client and therapist detect the irrational beliefs that underlie activating event. 2. Discriminating the therapist and client discriminate irrational from rational beliefs. 3. Accepting 1 and 2, knowing that insight does not automatically change people, and working hard to effect change. Why is it awful that she rejected me? How am I worthless because she refused me? Where is the evidence that no desirable woman will ever accept me? Why should I have done a better job of getting her to accept me? Why am I a loser because she didnt want to go out with me? E. EFFECTS OF DISPUTING (Cognitive) Rational Beliefs It is disappointing that she rejected me.

Being rejected doesnt mean I am worthless. There is no evidence that no girl would ever accept me. I probably could have done a better job of getting her to accept me, but there is no reason that I should have done a better job of getting her to accept me. Rejection never makes me a loser. F. FEELINGS (Emotional) Appropriate Feelings Sorrow, frustration, disappointment, self-acceptance, hope G. GOALS (Behavioral) Desired behaviors Improve myself Keep pursuing Ask someone else out Acceptance Emotionally healthy human beings develop an acceptance of reality, even when reality is highly unfortunate and unpleasant. REBT therapists strive to help their clients develop three types of acceptance: (1) unconditional self-acceptance, (2) unconditional otheracceptance, and (3) unconditional life-acceptance.