REBT

Founder

Albert Ellis

Assumptions

• Emotional disturbances and dysfunctional behaviors arise primarily from irrational, rigid, and dogmatic beliefs people hold about events, not the events themselves.

• People create their own emotional distress through their interpretations and beliefs.

• Individuals have the capacity to change these irrational beliefs through rational thinking.

• Psychological health involves acceptance of self, others, and life despite imperfections and difficulties.

Basic concepts

• ABC Model:

  • A (Activating Event): An event or situation that occurs.

  • B (Beliefs): The individual’s interpretation or belief about the event, which can be rational or irrational.

  • C (Consequences): Emotional and behavioral responses resulting from the beliefs, not directly from the event.

• Irrational beliefs often involve demandingness ("musts" and "shoulds"), awfulizing/catastrophizing, and low frustration tolerance.

• Three forms of acceptance taught in therapy:

  • Unconditional Self-Acceptance

  • Unconditional Other-Acceptance

  • Unconditional Life-Acceptance

• Insight alone is insufficient; change requires active disputing and replacing of irrational beliefs.

Goals of Therapy

• Help clients identify and challenge irrational beliefs.

• Promote development of rational, flexible thinking.

• Reduce emotional distress and dysfunctional behaviors caused by irrational beliefs.

• Foster unconditional acceptance of self, others, and life.

• Enable clients to live more fulfilling, emotionally healthy lives

Role of Therapist

• Active, directive, and sometimes confrontational in disputing irrational beliefs.

• Educator who teaches clients the ABC model and how beliefs affect emotions and behavior.

• Encourages clients to practice disputing irrational beliefs and adopting rational alternatives.

• Provides logical, honest feedback rather than just warmth and support.

• Collaborates with clients to develop practical strategies for change.

Assessment

• Identify activating events that trigger distress.

• Explore the client’s beliefs about these events, distinguishing between rational and irrational.

• Assess emotional and behavioral consequences linked to these beliefs.

• Evaluate the client’s readiness and ability to engage in disputing irrational beliefs.

Interventions

• Teaching the ABC model to increase client awareness of belief-emotion links.

• Disputing irrational beliefs through logical questioning and evidence examination.

• Cognitive restructuring to replace irrational beliefs with rational ones.

• Behavioral homework assignments to practice new thinking and behaviors.

• Encouraging acceptance of self, others, and life through reframing.

• Use of humor and directness to challenge rigid thinking.

Change

• Change occurs by recognizing and actively disputing irrational beliefs.

• Clients learn to tolerate discomfort and uncertainty with greater resilience.

• Emotional distress decreases as beliefs become more rational and flexible.

• Clients develop healthier emotional responses and adaptive behaviors.

• Change requires ongoing effort and practice beyond insight

Termination

• Therapy ends when clients consistently apply rational thinking independently.

• Clients have developed skills to manage future emotional challenges.

• Consolidation of gains and preparation for self-directed growth.

Evaluation

• Success measured by reduction in emotional distress and dysfunctional behaviors.

• Increased use of rational beliefs and acceptance.

• Client’s self-reported improvements in emotional well-being and functioning.

• Behavioral changes observed in daily life and relationships.