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.
Sanctum: A Focus on Irrationality
[ DISCLAIMER ] When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Aneya Rose , my face melted off as I heard her spin the track “ Sanctum ” (2024) by Belgian DJ and record producer Charlotte de Witte , featuring vocals by Marion di Napoli . No worries, my face molded back into shape. The song reminds me of nights when raving in South America. For me, it drips with nostalgia and allows me to experience sanctum (a place where one is free from intrusion) within the
Deric Hollings
Dec 31, 202510 min read
Hypotheses and Foregone Conclusions
[ DISCLAIMER ] When listening to an episode of the DarkHorse Podcast in which biologist Bret Weinstein interviewed attorney Aaron Siri , it occurred to me that some people with whom I’ve practiced Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) may benefit from the message, as Weinstein stated: What you’re describing is foregone conclusions. Right? They [pharmaceutical companies] make a product, it is presumed safe and effective, and then scientific work is done to justif
Deric Hollings
Dec 26, 202510 min read
Digital Veil
[ DISCLAIMER ] On lyricist Vinnie Paz ’s album Burn Everything That Bears Your Name (2021) is the track “ Digital Veil ” that features M.A.V. and a vocal sample of an origin unknown to me. The man on the snippet appears to be speaking to a group of people, as the introduction of the song states: Everything, as far as I’m concerned, everything is predestined . Everybody’s scared shitless of that word—predestined. It’s all predestined. Everything’s…this is predestined. We
Deric Hollings
Dec 17, 20256 min read
The Construct
[ DISCLAIMER ] To provide a psychoeducational lesson on my approach to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I find it useful to illustrate how the scripts which we tell ourselves are constructed (made or formed by combining or arranging parts or elements; set in logical order). First, it may be worthwhile to distinguish between thoughts and beliefs. A “thought” is an individual act or product of thinking . A “belief” is a state or habit of mind in which trust or
Deric Hollings
Oct 22, 20259 min read
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
Connected
[ DISCLAIMER ] From time to time, I re-watch movies. This is usually done for one of two reasons. First, I have traumatic brain injury ...
Deric Hollings
Aug 20, 20258 min read
Startercoat
[ DISCLAIMER ] When I was in high school, I had a Starter jacket that I appreciated so much I gave it a nickname. I wasn’t as creative...
Deric Hollings
Jul 11, 20257 min read
We Outside
[ DISCLAIMER ] On his 2023 album Ultimate Gangsta Shit , rapper Tha Chill (of hip hop collective Compton’s Most Wanted ) released a...
Deric Hollings
May 4, 202511 min read
Five Major Characteristics of Four Major Irrational Beliefs
[ DISCLAIMER ] In Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), there are four major irrational beliefs which are associated with the ABC...
Deric Hollings
Mar 5, 20256 min read
Under the Bridge
[ DISCLAIMER ] In childhood, I enjoyed the Norwegian fairytale “ Three Billy Goats Gruff .” It was about three goat brothers who...
Deric Hollings
Feb 27, 20255 min read
Knockin' Doorz Down
[ DISCLAIMER ] My primary military occupational specialty (MOS) in the United States Marine Corps was military police (MP). My...
Deric Hollings
Feb 18, 20258 min read
Wacky Beliefs
[DISCLAIMER] I enjoyed visiting arcades when I was a child. Although I wasn’t particularly skillful when playing electronic games (e.g.,...
Deric Hollings
Feb 23, 20244 min read
Dancing Through the Bullshit
[DISCLAIMER] To say that my time as a Marine Security Guard in Lima, Peru from August 2000 to March 2001 was challenging would be an...
Deric Hollings
Feb 18, 20245 min read
Seeing is Believing
[DISCLAIMER] Photo credit, fair use The proverb “seeing is believing” relates to the notion that one needs to visually observe something...
Deric Hollings
Feb 17, 20247 min read
Disturbing Over Gremlins
[DISCLAIMER] Photo credit, fair use As a child, I thoroughly enjoyed the film Gremlins (1984). In particular, I was amused by the...
Deric Hollings
Feb 16, 20247 min read
The Client's New Clothes
[DISCLAIMER] Photo credit, fair use As a child, I enjoyed Hans Christian Andersen’s tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Summarizing the...
Deric Hollings
Feb 5, 20244 min read
Meta Consequential
[DISCLAIMER] Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) uses the ABC model to demonstrate how when an Activating event happens and we...
Deric Hollings
Jan 25, 20244 min read
Delusion
[DISCLAIMER] In 2009, when beginning graduate studies for counseling, I learned of the differentiation between the colloquial use of the...
Deric Hollings
Jan 7, 20246 min read
When Others Don't Share Your Worldview
[DISCLAIMER] **Hollings Therapy, LLC disavows violence associated with the matters discussed herein. The is-ought problem Niccolò...
Deric Hollings
Oct 10, 20238 min read
You're Gonna Die Someday
[DISCLAIMER] In a blogpost entitled You Gon’ Die: The Existential Window, I stated: “In 2010, when attending a graduate-level counseling...
Deric Hollings
Sep 22, 20234 min read
bottom of page