REBT Learning Guide

SOR Theory in Behaviorism

Stimulus —> Organism —> Response

• We determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations

Physiological Aspects of REBT

• How does someone react to the environment

• Demand vs Desire

  • Demand is a component of need, desire is want

• We are hard wired toward demandedness, we interpret desires as demands

  • Instinctual Demandingness

Psychological Aspects of REBT

Interpretations of environment and what happens

Social Aspects of REBT

We define ourselves based on what either people think of us

What Causes Distress in REBT

• People develop _____ based on their own interpretations, the reason this happens is because we are thinking about things that are irrational

• The activating event doesn’t cause this it is the belief that does

• Humans largely create their own _____

Process of Reindoctrination

Condemn self for poor performance —> Feel guilty/depressed —> condemn self for guilt and depression —> condemn self for condemning self —> condemn self for seeing disturbance and not changing it —> condemn self for needing help and going to therapy  

Musterbation

The irrational thinking to clear the mind of the idea of the musts in life or perfection

Goals of Therapy in REBT: Correct demandingness

• Recognize should, ought and musts

• Give up perfectionism

Goals of Therapy in REBT: Develop High Frustration Tolerance

• Accepts reality, even when grim

• Is the worst thing that could happen really as bad as I melodramatically fantasize it would be

Irrational thinking in REBT

• Should

• Must (musterbation)

• Ought 

• I need

• Awful

Optimal Therapy Characteristics in REBT: Time and Effort

Make therapy sessions quick and as easy as possible

Optimal Therapy Characteristics in REBT: Rapid Symptom Reduction

We must be careful b/c one might be better in the short term but not healed for the long term

Optimal Therapy Characteristics in REBT: Lasting results

Reduce demandedness and increase frustration tolerance 

Optimal Therapy Characteristics in REBT: Generalizable

• Therapies need to be generalizable

• He wants to see therapy for as much different people, in as many different contexts, for as many different reasons as possible

How to Address and Reduce musts in REBT: Role Play

This helps clients adapt to different ideas in the moment via roleplaying

How to Address and Reduce musts in REBT: Humor

This makes the person feel more comfortable and safer to speak through laughter

How to Address and Reduce musts in REBT: Unconditional Acceptance

• We must unconditionally accept ourselves, others, and life itself

• The therapist is expected to bring this unconditional acceptance into the room

How to Address and Reduce musts in REBT: Strong Disputing

When the therapist vigorous and persistent challenge to these deeply held, irrational beliefs

Experimental Exercises in REBT: Take Risks

Put yourself in situations where those demands will not always be met

• Ex: For perfectionism, put people in situations where they will fail

How to Address and Reduce musts in REBT: Seek Pleasure

Seeking long term - self enhancing happiness

How to Address and Reduce musts in REBT: Stay in Poor Circumstances

A person may remain in an unsatisfying job, bad relationship or a state of inaction because their “musts” create too much anxiety and prevent them from pursuing change

How to Address and Reduce musts in REBT: Take on Hard Tasks

Used to combat low frustration tolerance by deliberately facing and completing difficult, uncomfortable activities

ABCD Model in REBT

Identify

• ABC Theory

• Identify activating event (A) —> Belief (B) —> consequence (C)

Dispute

• Irrational (awfulizing, absolutist) beliefs

How to Engage in Dispute with Clients

• Challenge patients to defend themselves

• Demonstrate logical fallacies

• Show why irrational beliefs do not work

• Reduce irrational beliefs to absurdity

What Therapy Settings is REBT generalizable to

• Individual Therapy

• Group Therapy

• Workshops

• Marriage

• Family Therapy

• Self Help

Mechanisms of REBT: Patient Beliefs

When patients can dispute their own negative beliefs, REBT works

Mechanisms of REBT: Therapist Approach

Empathy without sympathy

Theory of Personality in REBT

Humans largely create their own distress

Healthy Negative Emotions

• Disappointment

• Concern

• Annoyance

• Sadness

• Regret

• Frustration (high tolerance)

Unhealthy Negative Emotions

• Jealousy

• Anxiety

• Rage

• Depression

• Guilt

• Low Frustration tolerance