Rational Beliefs | Hollings Therapy

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DISCLAIMER

Falsifiability and Unfalsifiability: God Is a DJ

[DISCLAIMER] When practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), using the ABC model to dispute various irrational beliefs, I often encounter the matter of falsifiability and unfalsifiability. For context, the American Psychological Association (APA) thusly defines falsifiability: [T]he condition of admitting falsification: the logical possibility that an assertion, hypothesis, or theory can be shown to be false [not genuine] by an observation or experiment. The m

EDM and REBT

Deric Hollings

2 days ago6 min read

You Actually Should Be Very Wary About Trusting Just Your Intuition

[DISCLAIMER] The Words We Use Matter: On Feelings When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I encourage people to consider that the words we use matter. Now, I invite you to contemplate the rationale underlying this conclusion. Regarding my approach to care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I invite people to consider scripts which are rational (in accordance with both logic and reaso

Deric Hollings

Aug 1624 min read

Semantics: Procedural Rationality vs. Substantive Rationality

Deric Hollings

Jul 1914 min read

Nonconscious: Just Because You Can’t Detect the Belief Doesn’t Mean That It Isn’t Present

[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to the clients with whom I work, I often find that some people require additional information about the conscious, preconscious, unconscious, and nonconscious conceptual functions of the mind. For clarity, I practice REBT in my personal and professional life. Thus, I subscribe to many propositions put forth in REBT theory, which was initially developed by the late psychologis

Deric Hollings

Jul 910 min read

It’s Not an Opinion, It’s a Fact: Am I Taking Crazy Pills?

[DISCLAIMER] When providing care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I’m sometimes reminded of an Internet mere regarding the antiquated term crazy (not mentally sound: marked by thought or action that lacks reason). Specifically, one source states: Zoolander is a 2001 comedy film [written and directed by,] and starring Ben Stiller. In it[,] he plays Derek Zoolander, an American male model brainwashed to kill the Prime Minister of

Deric Hollings

Jul 612 min read

What If

[DISCLAIMER] Blog Entries Dating Back Several Years Have Vindicated My Views The photo above was taken in June 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although I was highly skeptical of claims regarding the United States (U.S.) government’s response to COVID-19, masking procedures were required within my place of employment. I complied with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and Anthony Fa

The Daily Stoic

Deric Hollings

Jun 2914 min read

If We Could Be Love, Then We Must Be Love

[DISCLAIMER] I view many events through the proverbial lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Herein, I’ll provide a psychoeducational lesson that involves thinking and believing which is rational (in accordance with both logic and reason), or not (i.e., irrational), as it regards REBT. Here, “logic” is the interrelation or sequence of facts or events when seen as inevitable or predictable, and “reason” is a statement offered in explanation or justification. Fo

EDM and REBT

Deric Hollings

Jun 99 min read

Backrooms: Irrational Beliefs and Falsifiability

[DISCLAIMER] *Backrooms (2026) spoilers contained herein. Photo credit, property of North Road Films, A24, et al., fair use Backrooms Previously unfamiliar with the Backrooms, a fictional location invented in a 2019 thread on the imageboard website 4chan, or corresponding science fiction horror web series, Backrooms, I recently watched the film Backrooms (2026). Summarizing the plot, one source states: Backrooms, directed and co-written by 20-year-old YouTuber-turned-

Deric Hollings

Jun 822 min read

Dumb Knowledge: Why Would You Choose to Simp?

[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, “Hecato says, ‘I can teach you a love potion made without any drugs, herbs, or special spell—if you would be loved, love’” (page 311)

The Daily Stoic

Deric Hollings

Jun 38 min read

Objective Rationality: What Is Rational to You May Not Be Rational to Others

[ DISCLAIMER ] I recently attended a session with client X, who apparently contemplated that I’d validate this individual’s beliefs regarding a matter of disagreement with another individual, as I thought of a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) at the time. Before going further, it may be useful to define terms. When referring to thoughts or beliefs which are “ rational ,” I’m referencing those cognitive elements which remain in acco

Deric Hollings

Apr 212 min read

Tragedy of the Commons

[ DISCLAIMER ] Within my blog, I provide many psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Often, this method of teaching involves the matter of thinking or believing which is rational (in accordance with both logic and reason ), or not (i.e., irrational ). Here, “logic” is the interrelation or sequence of facts or events when seen as inevitable or predictable , and “reason” is a statement offered in explanation or justification . For insta

Deric Hollings

Mar 2110 min read

I Must Do Well, or Else I Will Be Worthless

[ DISCLAIMER ] The late psychologist Albert Ellis , who developed Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), formerly called Rational Emotive Therapy (RET), addressed the matter of self-downing (how people upset themselves with unhelpful beliefs about themselves) through use of a technique. 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 assumption , not the o

Deric Hollings

Mar 95 min read

Blowback and Knock-On Effects: Subjectivity of Beliefs

[ DISCLAIMER ] My primary job in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps was military police , as my secondary billet was as a Marine Security Guard (MSG). Regarding the latter (above photo), I was ignorant about how my diplomatic mission supported the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Nevertheless, when guarding the U.S. embassy in Lima, Peru , I became disillusioned when realizing that my military service supported CIA activities and wasn’t an honorable matter. That’s

Deric Hollings

Mar 312 min read

When Are Beliefs Rational or Healthy?

[ DISCLAIMER ] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I invite people to consider beliefs which are rational (in accordance with both logic and reason ) and healthy (subjectively beneficial to one’s own physical, mental, or emotional state). 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 assumptio

Deric Hollings

Feb 126 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