Recently, when discussing psychotherapy with an individual I concluded that a blogpost could be derived from the conversation. In specific, I expressed that there are two recurring complaints I often receive from people when promoting use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).
The first is something like, “It makes sense intellectually, but it doesn’t feel as though it will work for me.” As feelings relate to emotions (e.g., sorrow) or bodily sensations (e.g., tightness in the chest), this complaint makes little sense to me.
Still, I understand that in common parlance feelings-based language is popular and constitutes misrepresentation of the term. Generally, when saying something doesn’t “feel” one way or another a person is describing a thought, belief, hunch, or suspicion.
For instance, “REBT makes sense intellectually, but I don’t believe it will work for me” is what an individual likely means when using the fist complaint. I value this distinction between cognitive and emotive elements, because of how the ABC model in REBT theory is used.
The ABC model illustrates how when Activating events (“Actions”) occur and people maintain irrational Beliefs about the events, these unhelpful assumptions – and not the actual occurrences – are what create unpleasant cognitive, emotive, bodily sensation, and behavioral Consequences.
In particular, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people use: demandingness, awfulizing, low frustration tolerance, and global evaluations. Addressing these, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unhelpful assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs.
Rational thinking refers to cognitive processes which are in accordance with logic and reason. Within the ABC model, people are invited to rationally challenge their unproductive beliefs, though they aren’t encouraged to dispute activating events or consequences.
This means that irrationally-based emotions (“feelings”) aren’t subject to disputation. Instead, the irrational beliefs which cause unpleasant consequence are carefully evaluated as a means of reducing self-disturbance—the process of upsetting oneself with unhelpful beliefs.
Stating that REBT “makes sense intellectually, but it doesn’t feel as though it will work for me” infers that one’s feelings cannot be invalidated through disputation, according to REBT theory. However, use of proper language by shifting “feel” to “believe” allows for disputation.
Therefore, a rational case against self-disturbance concerning the first complaint is that challenge to one’s unproductive beliefs about REBT is allowable in accordance with logic and reason. Now, I move to the second recurring complaint I most often hear.
The second is something like, “Practice of REBT is hard.” My simple argument to this complaint is, “And why shouldn’t it be?” Self-disturbance isn’t particularly difficult to achieve. One can sit alone in a room and become upset with little more than thinking about a matter. That’s easy.
However, the process of taking personal responsibility and accountability for one’s own role in the self-disturbance chain of events can be hard. It requires an individual to face truth and reality by admitting that actions don’t cause self-disturbed consequences from a psychological outlook.
Thus, it can be quite difficult to take ownership for your own reaction to undesirable circumstances. And why should it be an easy process to un-disturb yourself? Simply because a task is hard doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
A rational case against self-disturbance in relation to the second complaint is that there’s no logical reason for mental, emotional, and behavioral health to be anything other than what it is – an often challenging process of un-learning maladaptive beliefs and adopting more helpful narratives.
Aside from the aforementioned arguments against complaints I tend to hear about REBT, it may be of some use to conclude this post with a syllogism that represents the logic and reason of my stance. When thinking of a rational case against self-disturbance, consider the following:
Form (constructive dilemma) –
Either A or B.
If A, then C.
If B, then D.
Therefore, either C or D.
Example –
I will either use logic and reason with problems or use emotion to resolve issues.
If I use logic and reason with problems, then rational thinking may reduce self-disturbance.
If I use emotion to resolve issues, then I may upset myself even more without use of rationality.
Therefore, I will either use rational thinking which may reduce self-disturbance or I may upset myself even more without use of rationality.
You have a choice as to whether or not you will use rational thinking or upset yourself with use of irrationality. Personally, REBT has served me well in my personal life and continues to serve the clients with whom I work in my professional life – at least for those who frequently practice rationality.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
Photo credit (edited), fair use
References:
Hollings, D. (2024, August 7). Awfulizing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/awfulizing
Hollings, D. (2024, April 2). Chain link. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/chain-link
Hollings, D. (2024, March 19). Consequences. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/consequences
Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness
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Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Sensation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sensation
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Hollings, D. (2023, October 17). Syllogism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/syllogism
Hollings, D. (2022, November 9). The ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-abc-model
Hollings, D. (2022, December 14). The is-ought problem. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-is-ought-problem
Hollings, D. (2023, November 23). Validation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/validation
Hollings, D. (2024, August 20).We all make our choices. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/we-all-make-our-choices
Wayhomestudio. (n.d.). Young European woman in glasses with natural red hair stands in thoughtful pose tries to choose something or thinks about future concentrated above [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/young-european-woman-glasses-with-natural-red-hair-stands-thoughtful-pose-tries-choose-something-thinks-about-future-concentrated_14267362.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=26&uuid=cb42c9a6-9895-4aa9-8116-64fddf41c4bb
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