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.
Skepticism: I Doubt It
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I’ve appealed to principles of skepticism (an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object). For instance, I stated in Encouragement of Doubtfulness : [A]s I practice REBT in my personal and professional life, I’m able to remain honest with myself and clients about doubts, reservations, and objections to aspects of
Deric Hollings
Feb 246 min read
Euphoria: Walking on Clouds
[ DISCLAIMER ] I invite you to consider that from a psychological perspective, people distress and disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection . Still, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection . Perhaps if you’re unfamiliar with Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), that last paragraph may be bewildering to you. “A-C and B-C connections?” you may ask, “What is D
Deric Hollings
Feb 238 min read
Stay In Yo' Lane
[ 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
Feb 2310 min read
Philosophy May Help
[ 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 who stated, “The person who has practiced philosophy as a cure for the self becomes great of soul , filled with confidence, invincible—
Deric Hollings
Feb 237 min read
Institutionalization: When I Get Free
[ DISCLAIMER ] From half of my seventh grade year to the end of my freshman year of high school, I was a resident in a children’s home. Thereafter, a family took me in to live with them until halfway through my senior year. I then returned to finish out my high school term in the children’s home. By the time I graduated in 1995, I had little understanding about why my mindset was better adjusted to institutionalization than to that of most other children not in my situati
Deric Hollings
Feb 2214 min read
We're Going Around in Circles: The Circle Exercise
[ DISCLAIMER ] When recently listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Lisa Marty , I heard her spin the song “ Circles (Extended Mix) ” (2024) by Deflee and Panic Chase . Lyrics state, “We’re going around in circles. When is this going to end?” Viewing these lyrics through the proverbial lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I think of an helpful exercise designed to enhance the therapeutic alliance . For context, the American Psychological As
Deric Hollings
Feb 225 min read
Mind Reading
[ DISCLAIMER ] On the electronic dance music (EDM) song “ Read My Mind ” (2009), by Reshum and featuring John Keys , the vocalist states, “What will it take for you to see? What will it take for you to really feel me? What will you do for peace of mind? The answers are here, just read my mind .” Quite often, while providing care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “ mental health ”), I’ve heard similar statements. Thus, when using Rational Emotiv
Deric Hollings
Feb 226 min read
Down the Rabbit Hole
[ DISCLAIMER ] Earlier, when listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Pivot Back , I heard him spin the track “ Rabbit Hole ” (2024) by Marsh and featuring ALLKNIGHT . Presumably, the song is a reference to the phrase “down the rabbit hole,” about which one source states: “Down the rabbit hole” is an English-language idiom or trope which refers to getting deep into something, or ending up somewhere strange. Lewis Carroll introduced the phrase as the titl
Deric Hollings
Feb 225 min read
Some People Have More Advantages Than Others
[ DISCLAIMER ] I attended my first graduate (“grad”) studies program, for counseling, from 2009 to 2011. I then experienced grad school for a second time, for social work, from 2012 to 2014. It was in the second program that I met student X. We shared some similarities and some differences. For a shared similarity, we’d both attended the same university than the one regarding our social work studies. Concerning a difference, student X was said to come from an affluent whi
Deric Hollings
Feb 229 min read
Accepting Unconditionally: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die
[ DISCLAIMER ] * Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (2025) spoilers contained herein Photo credit , property of Constantin Film, Blind Wink Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Briarcliff Entertainment, fair use Both personally and professionally, I practice Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) on a daily basis. Additionally, this helpful rehearsal sometimes continues into my sleeping hours. That’s when preparation regarding fantastical events can get pretty interesti
Deric Hollings
Feb 218 min read
The Preferences Versus Expectations Paradigm: Love Is Not Enough, Though Virtue Is
[ DISCLAIMER ] Of his body of work that I’ve consumed thus far, I most enjoy Trunk Muzik (2010) by rapper Yelawolf . On the anthology is the track “ Love Is Not Enough ”, produced by WLPWR , and containing a sample of “ Hollywood ” (1978) by the late entertainer Rick James . Yelawolf’s song tells the all-too-familiar tale of intimate partner relationships and the preferences versus expectations paradigm (i.e., flexible desires for a specific outcome versus rigid demand
Deric Hollings
Feb 217 min read
Conclusions in Search of Rationale
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I invite people to consider thinking which is rational (in accordance with both logic and reason ). This is an especially worthwhile consideration when practicing one of the main tools of REBT. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumpt
Deric Hollings
Feb 196 min read
What'chu Gon' Do When the Walls Come Crashin' Down?
[ 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
Feb 1910 min read
Personal Growth
[ DISCLAIMER ] There are many approaches to personal and professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “ mental health ”). Personally, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is the preferred method to rational living that has been most beneficial. With my approach to mental health in this regard, I focus on the individual. Understandably, this methodology may not be desirable for all cultures, communities, or character types. Alas, p
Deric Hollings
Feb 196 min read
The Assessment Is Ongoing
[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “ mental health ”), I maintain that it’s important to let clients know that the assessment is ongoing . “Okay, Deric,” you may reply, “what does that mean?” Allow me to explain. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines assessment as “in general, a judgment of the quality, worth, importance, or value of something or someone,” and in a “clinical contex
Deric Hollings
Feb 186 min read
The Cost and Expense of Doing Good
[ DISCLAIMER ] My primary billet when serving in the United States Marine Corps (USMC; 1996-2007) was military police (MP). Although the “protect and serve” motto adopted by many law enforcement entities isn’t legally or constitutionally binding, MPs were taught to uphold this standard. The slogan meshed well with a conservative principle up with which I was raised in regard to “providing and protecting” members of one’s own family, community, and so forth. However, it
Deric Hollings
Feb 1810 min read
A Zero-Sum Game: Ya Bet' Not Come Around, or Get Shot
[ 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
Feb 178 min read
Splitting
[ DISCLAIMER ] I’m fond of a number of artists who create music under the category of horrorcore (a subgenre of hip hop music based on horror-themed and often darkly transgressive lyrical content and imagery). For instance, I appreciate the content of horrorcore rapper Novatore . On his album Masters of Morbid Creations (2022), Novatore released the song “ Split ” which was produced by C-Lance . On the chorus, the rapper states: Hyde and Jekyll , I keep the beast up i
Deric Hollings
Feb 178 min read
Unexpected Strings: Escapism and Avoidance
[ DISCLAIMER ] Yesterday evening, when unwinding from a day of intense focus on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I listened to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Sara Collado . It was precisely the form of respite (an interval of rest or relief) I was seeking! During the set, Collado played the song “ Unexpected Strings ” (2025) by David Hasert and Moses Mehdi , featuring the elegant vocals of Lalena . The track reminded me of “ Venasque ” by Ian Pooley
Deric Hollings
Feb 175 min read
An Inscription on Your Gravestone
[ 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 . Lately, how much time have you devoted to contemplation of your inevitable death? How much time have you squandered when thinking about the lives of others who are also inescapably heading
Deric Hollings
Feb 175 min read
bottom of page