top of page
Blog Reminder
Please be mindful of the fact that if you subscribe to or comment on this blog, others may be able to see the name and/or contact details you enter. If you are uncomfortable with the self-initiated release of your name, you are encouraged to consider this reminder and use whatever option serves you best. Solicitation, marketing, botting, and other web-scraping subscriptions will be removed.
Was It Truly Awful?
[ DISCLAIMER ] I recently discussed with client X the death of an elderly family member. The person with whom I’ve worked for quite some time is familiar with both the ABC model and unconditional acceptance (UA) of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Nevertheless, client X self-disturbed regarding beliefs about the passing of a loved one. For context, it may be useful to discuss the two aforementioned techniques used in REBT. This is done for your benefit, so th
Deric Hollings
Oct 20, 202510 min read
Young Blood
[ DISCLAIMER ] If you visited a local shopping mall, trendy nightclub, or hipster dive bar toward the end of 2010, I imagine that you heard “ Young Blood ” by New Zealand indie electronic band The Naked and Famous from their album Passive Me, Aggressive You (2010). “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah”! If you’re a fan of electronic dance music (EDM) and the song “Young Blood”, then I suspect you’ll also enjoy “ Young Blood (Tiësto & Hardwell Remix) ”. How could one go wrong with th
Deric Hollings
Oct 20, 20255 min read
When Here and Now Crumbles and Falls
[ DISCLAIMER ] I have particular fondness for electronic dance music (EDM) which has meaning , as is the case for much of the old house music to which I once danced my nights away. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that I don’t enjoy trance music and other subgenres. Still, I appreciate house much more. To provide an example of what I mean, and why house is personally preferable, consider the track “ Finally ” by house music project Kings of Tomorrow (also known as Sand
Deric Hollings
Oct 20, 20255 min read
You Need to Stop
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs ). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness . For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable a
Deric Hollings
Oct 20, 20257 min read
Would There Be Enough Evidence to Convict You?
[ DISCLAIMER ] When attending United States Marine Corps Recruit Training (1996), a drill instructor stated to my platoon, “If someday a person accused you of being a Marine, would there be enough evidence to convict you? ” His appeal was to how we would one day carry ourselves as Marines. For instance, would we exemplify military physical fitness standards, maintain military bearing, adhere to uniform standards, and so forth? If there wasn’t enough evidence to convict on
Deric Hollings
Oct 20, 20255 min read
When Ambitions Overshadow Convictions
[ DISCLAIMER ] The above photo was taken during “boot leave” (10-day authorized time off from duty for military personnel) following completion of United States Marine Corps Recruit Training in 1996. Only a year prior to that time, I was closely associated with members of street gangs. Therefore, the transitionary period captured in the photo represents my ambition (a character trait that describes people who are driven to better their station or to succeed at lofty goal
Deric Hollings
Oct 19, 20255 min read
Better Watch Your Tone
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs ). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness . For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable a
Deric Hollings
Oct 19, 20256 min read
Surprise and Embarrassment
[ DISCLAIMER ] The above photo was taken many years ago, before I knew anything about Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and how people self-disturb when using irrational beliefs . For context, a model with whom I worked as an amateur photographer invited me to dinner. She expressed wanting to honor my birthday—an event I’d stopped celebrating by that point in my life. I was informed that it would be a discrete event, as I previously informed this individual that
Deric Hollings
Oct 19, 20256 min read
Even Steven
[ DISCLAIMER ] Regarding my daily practice of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I appreciate self-challenge related to use of the ABC model and unconditional acceptance (UA) that I wouldn’t typically encounter in my sessions with clients. This is done in the interest of rational living . Today, I’ve chosen to find at least one psychoeducational lesson from the fourth commercial mixtape by rapper Trippie Redd , entitled A Love Letter to You 4 (2019). As such
Deric Hollings
Oct 19, 20257 min read
Adhering to Invisible Scripts
[ DISCLAIMER ] The above photo was taken in 1991, shortly after my sister and I were placed into the Southwest Cottage (SWC) of a children’s home. That’s when I began the informal practice of life coaching . Mainly, I assisted other children with their problems , while also aiding some adults on campus. I’ve deliberately chosen not to clean up the highly speckled and off-centered photograph, as to represent the imperfect nature of my being ( unconditional self-acceptance
Deric Hollings
Oct 19, 20257 min read
Overtones
[ DISCLAIMER ] When earlier listening an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by K_Oxana , I heard the track “ Overtones ” (2020) by Frost . The sampled vocals of the song reportedly originate from an interview concerning British rapper of Nigerian descent Sneakbo , as he states: I’ve done a lot in my life It’s been ups and downs You know that I’ve done big shows, I’ve done small shows I’ve traveled so much And I’ve learned a lot along the way And I realized there’s more
Deric Hollings
Oct 19, 20255 min read
Revolution
[ DISCLAIMER ] In my youth, I was often bored in school. Therefore, when the American Revolution was discussed, my only takeaway was that the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain had irreconcilable differences, culminating in the American Revolutionary War . There was death involved, as well. That bloody event was said to have resulted in the independence of the colonies as the United States (U.S.). Then, when learning about the American Civil War , I understood that the
Deric Hollings
Oct 18, 202513 min read
You Aren't as Important as You Believe
[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman . The authors quote ancient Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius who stated, “Watch the stars in their courses and imagine yourself running alongside them. Think constantly
Deric Hollings
Oct 18, 20256 min read
Content With Settling, Not Seeking
[ DISCLAIMER ] *Spoilers for A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025) contained herein. Photo credit , property of Sony Pictures Releasing, fair use A Big Bold Beautiful Journey I recently watched A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025), a romantic fantasy film, with slight expectation for a particular outcome. To my surprise, I enjoyed it quite a bit! (With little doubt, I’ll be watching it again in the future.) Describing the plot, one source states: Some doors bring you
Deric Hollings
Oct 17, 202515 min read
The Impermanence of Life
[ DISCLAIMER ] *Spoilers for Tron (1982), Tron: Legacy (2010), and Tron: Ares (2025) contained herein. The Tron Franchise I saw Tron (1982) in childhood, though I couldn’t remember much about it aside from how the Light Cycles turned at sharp angles. Similarly, I watched Tron: Legacy (2010) upon its release, yet I couldn’t recall much about the film other than Serinda Swan ’s depiction as Siren #2. Given how forgettable the Tron franchise has been to me, I didn
Deric Hollings
Oct 16, 202512 min read
I Complied
[ DISCLAIMER ] Recently, I received a number of image takedown notices regarding photos used on my blogposts that were associated with media images – which I properly credited under standards of fair use . All the same, I complied with the requests, as no harm or abuse was intended. Nevertheless, I consider this matter worthy of a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy (REBT). Specifically, use of the ABC model and unconditional acceptance (
Deric Hollings
Oct 16, 20255 min read
To What Are You a Servant?
[ DISCLAIMER ] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman . The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca ’s first century AD fabula crepidata (Roman tragedy with Greek subject) Thyestes , as follows: “ Tantalus : The highest power is— Thyes
Deric Hollings
Oct 15, 20256 min read
Don't Go Outside
[ DISCLAIMER ] Photo credit , fair use Halfway through my fifth grade year, my mom sent me from Amarillo, Texas, where I lived with her, to live with my dad in Aurora, Colorado. I was an overweight, white-appearing, biracial (white and black) child with a thick Texas accent, and who didn’t know any other kids at school. When enrolled in Crawford Elementary School (pictured above), I was introduced to Crips who lived in the local neighborhood. This introduction was by way
Deric Hollings
Oct 14, 20258 min read
Playing Games
[ DISCLAIMER ] In 1998, while on leave from Okinawa, Japan when serving in the United States Marine Corps (USMC), I sat watching gameplay concerning boys of the family who accepted me into their household from the children’s home in which I previously lived. At the time, I was self-disturbed by irrational beliefs about a former intimate partner who broke up with me as I underwent USMC Recruit Training in 1996. Per my distorted view, she was playing games with my affect
Deric Hollings
Oct 14, 20256 min read
Turning a Cube Inside Out
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I invite people to consider perspective shifts . Are you familiar with this helpful approach to rational living ? For context, the American Psychological Association defines perspective as: “[T]he ability to view objects, events, and ideas in realistic proportions and relationships,” and, “the capacity of an individual to take into account and potentially u
Deric Hollings
Oct 14, 20258 min read
bottom of page