Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), a form of cognitive behavior therapy, uses a scientific approach to psychotherapy. In particular, assessment and analysis of data from experimentation is used to modify behavior in accordance with one’s interests and goals.
For instance, suppose person X questions whether or not her reliance on horoscopes is in her best interest. Specifically, she self-disturbs when she, others, and life doesn’t function correspondingly with celestial patterns.
In our sessions, person X and I discuss the matter and with negotiated homework she researches various REBT sources related to unconditional acceptance (UA). Then, person X posits a hypothesis.
She questions, “If I stop rigidly demanding that I, others, and life must function in accordance with information form horoscopes, will I be able to stop upsetting myself by instead practicing tolerance and acceptance in regard to disappointing circumstances?”
Person X then tests the hypothesis through use of experimentation associated with negotiated homework. Her interest is to reduce self-disturbance and her goal is to determine whether or not dedicated practice of UA can actually effect change within four weeks of experimentation.
At the end of a month, person X and I analyze data. She then reports that the frequency of self-disturbing episodes has reduced, the intensity of emotion has lessened, and the duration of self-disturbance has diminished to tolerable levels.
Thus, person X has used a scientific approach to behavioral health care. Per page 193 of The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion (“Pocket Companion”), when clients report improvement, REBT practitioners are invited to assess the bases of these changes.
This may be accomplished by assessing whether or not people have changed their irrational beliefs. These sorts of assumptions have a dual meaning when considering how they apply to REBT theory.
First, that which is irrational doesn’t comport with logic and reason. As an example, it’s illogical and unreasonable to maintain that celestial bodies somehow control or predict patterns of behavior on the Earth. Thus, this irrational belief is a bit kooky, though it’s not necessarily of the self-disturbing variety.
Second, REBT theory maintains that there are four major irrational beliefs: demandingness, awfulizing, low frustration tolerance, and global evaluations. People self-disturb using these types of unhelpful assumptions.
For instance, if person X inflexibly believes, “Life must play out according to my daily horoscope,” what may be the result when her unhelpful demand isn’t met? Person X will likely experience an unpleasant consequence such as anger if her rigid demand doesn’t come to fruition.
Therefore, kooky beliefs aren’t necessarily unproductive though irrational demandingness has a causal impact on person X’s mood and behavior. Thus, I would assess the basis for person X’s improvement and invite her to consider changing beliefs which don’t serve her interests and goals.
Additionally, page 194 of the Pocket Companion invites REBT practitioners to help clients monitor improvement on three criteria: frequency, intensity, and duration. For context, consider the following:
Frequency – Does person X experience her problem less frequently than before the intervention strategy she used?
Intensity – Is person X’s problem less severe or instance than it was prior to the useful strategy?
Duration – Does person X’s problem last for a shorter period of time than prior to use of the strategy?
Assessing the bases of improvement through use of a scientifically-informed approach to behavioral health care is how I help people who pursue rational living as a lifestyle choice. Noteworthy, this doesn’t mean that person X must abandon her belief in horoscopes.
She’s welcome to maintain kooky assumptions about how life functions. Importantly, committed practice of REBT merely affords person X the possibility to change irrational beliefs which don’t serve her interests and goals.
Thus, person X can believe in absurd claims about celestial bodies and patterns of behavior while also remaining flexible regarding herself, others, and life when nonsensical predictions aren’t fulfilled. If you’d like to know more about how to stop upsetting yourself, as described herein, I’m here to help.
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
References:
Dryden, W. and Neenan, M. (2003). The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion. Albert Ellis Institute. ISBN 0-917476-26-3. Library of Congress Control Number: 20031044378
Hollings, D. (2024, May 24). A scientific approach to mental health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-scientific-approach-to-mental-health
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Hollings, D. (2024, January 4). Rigid vs. rigorous. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rigid-vs-rigorous
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
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Kroshka__nastya. (n.d.). Young woman in shirt and vest on purple background having fun with magnifying glass in hand [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/young-woman-shirt-vest-purple-background-having-fun-with-magnifying-glass-hand_21729258.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=26&uuid=cb1a353a-a334-4ab3-9d01-3b8076b2bea3
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