Rational-Emotive Therapy

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy: Key figures I Rational-Emotive Therapy include Albert Ellis, Maxie Maultsby and Janet Wolfe. This theory asserts that humans are both inherently rational and irrational, people can disturb themselves by what they think, that children are the most vulnerable, and that the words people use to describe themselves are often a mistake. This theory supports the belief that it is not the events of our lives that disturb us but our interpretation of those events. It teaches that self-talk is the source of disturbance. The goals of REBT include helping the client live more relational and productive lives, stop irrational thinking, stop self-defeating habits, gain tolerance and acceptance of self and others, and the elimination of thoughts such as, “I ought, I should, I must” which are viewed as wants that a person makes into demands in their minds. The role of the counselor is to teach, confront and correct irrational thinking. The counselor teaches the client how to analyze their self-talk. One very popular technique is called the A-B-C-D-E system. It is used to assist clients in evaluating how their thoughts or belief system are affecting them, and how to gain rational control of it.  A=an event or “Activity”. B=belief-a form of self-verbalization. C=consequent affect or feeling which can be rational or irrational. D=Disputing of the irrational belief causing the affect. E= effect or thoughts that change the self-verbalization once analyzed. Other techniques used in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy include role playing, bibliotherapy, imagery, and home work.

Strengths of this theory include the concreteness of the methods which are easy to teach, it is short term and it combines well with other theories. The main limitation of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy is the fact that it cannot be used with all clients, especially the mentally impaired.