Bloodbending: A Moral and Ethical Dilemma Regarding Control

[DISCLAIMER]

*Avatar: The Last Airbender spoilers contained herein.

Photo credit, property of Nickelodeon, fair use

ATLA – I ask that you keep an open mind

In no less than five posts within my blog, I’ve discussed the animated fantasy action television series Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA). Aside from it being my favorite animated series, I argue that ATLA contains theoretical, philosophical, and spiritual concepts worth considering.

Therefore, this is a series I’ve recommended to people in both my personal and professional life, as it contains lessons relevant to mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”). Summarizing the plot of ATLA, one source states:

The world is divided into four elemental nations: The Northern and Southern Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. The Avatar upholds the balance between the nations, but everything changed when the Fire Nation invaded. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, can stop them.

But when the world needs him most, he vanishes. A hundred years later Katara and Sokka discover the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. Together they must help Aang master the elements and save the world.

The ATLA mental health lesson herein regards morals and ethics. A “moral” is a person’s standard of behavior or belief concerning what is and isn’t acceptable for the individual and other people. Morals thus relate to what’s considered good, bad, right, wrong, etc.

An “ethic” is a set of moral principles, especially those relating to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct. Whereas morals relate to what is thought of as pleasing or displeasing behaviors and beliefs, ethics – based on morals – are the social rules by which we pledge to live.

For context, a principle is a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption that serves as a rule or code of conduct with habitual devotion to this subjective morally and ethically right standard. Thus, principles are a form of values (something intrinsically desirable).

Although I’m aware that some people dislike animated content, I ask that you keep an open mind (a willingness to listen to or accept different ideas or opinions) when reading this blogpost. Specifically, one source states of “The Puppetmaster”, the eighth episode of Book Three: Fire:

The gang visits a creepy village where many mysterious disappearances have occurred. They befriend an old innkeeper named Hama, who reveals that she is a waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe. She becomes Katara’s mentor and shares with her the tragic story of her life as a prisoner of the Fire Nation.

Katara discovers Hama is kidnapping civilians with a dark ability, bloodbending, to enact her revenge. The resulting battle forces Katara to use the technique against Hama to save her friends. Hama, being taken away in cuffs, is pleased because she feels she has passed on her dark legacy to the new generation.

In “The Puppermaster”, Katara is faced with a moral and ethical dilemma (a usually undesirable or unpleasant choice, and a situation involving such a choice) regarding bloodbending. For context, one source states of this supernatural technique:

Bloodbending is a specialized sub-skill and a rare variant of waterbending [the hydrokinetic ability to control water in all of its various forms] that allows an extremely advanced waterbender to take hold of and manipulate fluids within an organism’s body, allowing the bender to move the person’s muscles.

This technique is referred to as the highest level of waterbending, as well as the darkest, most powerful, and most feared of all bending techniques, and it is the only art known to endanger the user’s mental state.

The technique was discovered by a waterbender named Hama while she was detained in a prison designed by the Fire Nation specifically to hold waterbenders. During her detainment, she realized that all life contains water and proceeded to develop the knowledge and skills of the art by practicing on elephant rats, later employing the technique on her guards to escape.

If Katara considers it morally wrong to literally control the faculties (inherent capabilities, powers, or functions) of others while simultaneous maintaining that it’s ethically reprehensible to allow Hama to harm others with bloodbending, then Katara faces a destructive dilemma:

Form –

If p, then q; and if r, then s; but either not q, or not s; therefore, either not p, or not r.

If Katara compromises her moral and ethical principles, then she may conclude that she’s a bad person.

And if bloodbending is wrong, then people shouldn’t take over the physiological and psychological faculties of others.

But either she may not conclude that she’s a bad person, or people should take over the physiological and psychological faculties of others.

Therefore, either Katara won’t compromise her moral and ethical principles, or bloodbending isn’t wrong.

In “The Puppetmaster”, Hama states when beginning to train Katara, “You’ve got to keep an open mind.” I’m asking you to do this same regarding this blogpost. Presently, I want to relieve doubt that you grasp the importance of moral and ethical dilemmas.

For a moment, I’ll presume you aren’t familiar with ATLA. All this talk of waterbending and bloodbending is presumably foreign to you. In this case, allow me to describe Katara’s consideration of a destructive dilemma in a different way.

Imagine she discovers that if she drugs someone’s drink, Katara can non-consensually make another person (“Bill”) do as she wishes. After Bill repeatedly refuses to sign over the title to his car without having received compensation, Katara is then faced with a destructive dilemma:

Form –

If p, then q; and if r, then s; but either not q, or not s; therefore, either not p, or not r.

If Katara compromises her moral and ethical principles, then she may conclude that she’s a bad person.

And if drugging Bill is wrong, then Katara shouldn’t take over the physiological and psychological faculties of others.

But either she may not conclude that she’s a bad person, or people should take over the physiological and psychological faculties of others.

Therefore, either Katara won’t compromise her moral and ethical principles, or drugging Bill isn’t wrong.

Given this example, you may better understand Katara’s dilemma. Irrespective of the scenario, Katara doesn’t want to engage in bloodbending toward Hama or the drugging of Bill. Nevertheless, there is a personal benefit to engaging in either form of behavior.

The situation involving a choice that is a usually of an undesirable or unpleasant nature constitutes Katara’s dilemma in “The Puppetmaster”. Presuming you comprehend moral and ethical dilemmas such as this, then I invite you to consider my approach to rational living.

REBT

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 Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, not the occurrence itself, that causes an unpleasant Consequence. That negative outcome is disturbance.

In particular, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people often use to disturb themselves: global evaluations, low frustration tolerance, awfulizing, and demandingness. When contemplating these unproductive Beliefs, think of the acronym GLAD.

It’s worth noting that the two forms of should, must, and ought-type demands with which people most often self-disturb are associated with use of absolutistic and conditional should beliefs. Generally speaking, these serve as rigid commands used toward oneself, others, and life.

An absolute must narrative is, “You absolutely must do as I say!” A conditional should narrative is, “Either you should do as I say, or you should be punished!” Noteworthy, in REBT literature, demandingness of this sort is said to function as a primary appraisal mechanism of disturbance.

Global evaluations (i.e., self-downing, other-downing, and life-downing), low frustration tolerance (also known as frustration intolerance), and awfulizing (e.g., terrible, horrible, etc.) function as secondary appraisal mechanisms. Together, GLAD will make you sad or mad, etc.

While still serving as prescriptive rather than descriptive, flexible use of recommendatory, preferential, ideal, empirical, moral and ethical, and legal ought beliefs won’t inevitably cause disturbance, as they may align with distress. Rigidity versus flexibility makes a difference.

Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive philosophies of life in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Whereas rigid beliefs cause self-disturbance, flexible beliefs result in an un-disturbed condition.

Noteworthy, natural forms of distress are tolerable (i.e., mild anxiousness, sorrow, frustration, annoyance, disappointment, etc.). Even though unnatural forms of disturbance are also tolerable (e.g., enragement), my approach to REBT seeks the outcome which is more likely to be endured.

Noteworthy, there are finer points of understanding in regard to the ABC model. For instance, there are a number of flexible and inflexible terms related to demandingness which serve as derivatives to “should,” “must,” and “ought” types of self-disturbing philosophies regarding life.

For example, “In order to understand what I’m saying, you have to pay attention,” “You better not allow your mind to wander,” “You need to listen,” and, “If you want to stop self-disturbing, then you gotta practice REBT.” As well, there’s another REBT tool that addresses disturbance.

REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).

Whereas the ABC model is a scientific approach to wellness, UA serves as a philosophical method for un-disturbing yourself. I view the former as an abortive approach to disturbance and the latter as a preventative method. Of course, not all REBT practitioners use the same style as I.

With my approach to REBT, I incorporate author Stephen Covey’s concepts regarding the circles of control, influence, and concern, as well as an area of no concern. UA maps onto the circle of control (USA), circle of influence (UOA), and circle of concern and area of no concern (ULA).

The circle of control encompasses only oneself, the circle of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the circle of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.

Not unlike Hama, I was subject to incarceration while in pretrial detention status (i.e., I wasn’t yet found guilty of having committed a crime). Relatedly, regarding an important distinction between control and influence, I stated in a blogpost entitled Give Me Some Elbow Room:

Having twice been subjected to pretrial detention in a military brig, I comprehend how extreme measures may be taken in order to control one’s body. Moreover, I can attest to the fact that when my freedom of movement was hampered, only I was in control of my mind.

Given this context, only I could control my mind (USA). This is the case even when under extreme circumstances when other entities controlled my freedom of movement. Because I couldn’t influence my captors to let me go (UOA), I took control of the only thing I could.

In this impermanent and uncertain life (ULA), people can healthily take control of their reactions to undesirable circumstances in a similar manner (USA). Unhealthily, in “The Puppetmaster”, Hama discovered a supernatural method of rejecting this helpful UA concept.

Bloodbending – A moral and ethical dilemma regarding control

During the early stages of her training with Hama, Katara is taken to a field of fire lilies which Katara describes as “beautiful.” To that, Hama responds, “Like all plants and all living things, they’re filled with water.” Hama then displays an ability to extract water and use it as a weapon.

After Hama cuts through stone with ice, Katara states, “That was incredible! It’s a shame about the lilies though.” To this, Hama sinisterly replies, “They’re just flowers,” using a form of justification, “when you’re a waterbender in a strange land, you do what you must to survive.”

Here, Hama uses a conditional demand. Either a waterbender must be willing to compromise morals and ethics to survive, or one must perish. Arguably, depending on the individual, Hama’s proposition isn’t moral. Regarding this matter, I stated in a blogpost entitled Objective Morality:

From time to time, when working with clients, the topic of morality is addressed and creates a unique challenge to how I conduct practice of [REBT] […] in a blog entry entitled On Truth, I stated:

Morals are subjective and considered to be based on what is perceivably true. Subjectivity relates to that which is based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. Conversely, objectivity addresses that which is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in consideration of or representing facts.

Though some people have argued with me on this matter, I maintain that there is objective reality and truth. Humans may try to know these elements, mainly experienced through subjective interpretation of data, though I posit that no one entity may lay claim possession of reality or truth.

Still, others have taken issue with my assertion regarding morality. I conclude that morality is essentially subjective while others declare that there is a cosmological, spiritual, or ethereal code of morality that is objective in nature.

Personally, Hama’s conditional belief and consequential behavior isn’t based on an objectively moral standard. Thus, some people may subjectively consider it good to non-consensually control others through use of supernatural forces (e.g., possession) while others may disagree.

Further in “The Puppetmaster”, Katara’s friends discover many people who Hama imprisoned in a remote location. Describing Hama, one woman says, “She seems like a normal old woman, but she controls people like some dark puppet master.” (Bear in mind, this is fantasy.)

The scene then cuts to Hama telling Katara, “What I’m about to show you, I discovered in that wretched Fire Nation prison,” describing a “cruel” experience of having been incarcerated. She elaborates, “I passed years developing the skill that would lead to my escape: bloodbending.”

Hama learned that rats within the Fire Nation prison could be supernaturally controlled, because their bodies were comprised of water. With further development of this arguably immoral and unethical technique, Hama was then able to assume control over her Fire Nation captors.

“Controlling the water in another body, enforcing your own will over theirs,” Hama states, “once you perfect this technique, you can control anything or anyone.” Katara then responds, “But to reach inside someone and control them? I don’t know if I want that kind of power.”

Therein lies Katara’s moral and ethical dilemma. Reflecting upon the conclusion of her destructive dilemma, either Katara won’t compromise her moral and ethical principles, or bloodbending isn’t wrong. Her situation involves a choice that is undesirable or unpleasant.

Yet, Hama insists, “The choice is not yours! The power exists, and it’s your duty to use the gifts you’ve been given to win this war [against the Fire Nation],” and, “We have to fight these people whenever we can, wherever they are, with any means necessary!”

In this scene, Hama evokes the inflexible rhetoric of el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (also known as Malcolm X). For context, I thusly addressed the late human rights activist’s advocacy for an “any means necessary” approach to living in a blogpost entitled Malcolm in the Middle:

While I’ve heard many people who apparently know only of Malcolm’s “by any means necessary” quote grossly misapply it (e.g., I gotta’ get these news shoes by any means necessary), I wonder if they understand the inference.

By any means includes slaughtering the children of your opponent. It entails torture of your enemy. It relates to the utter annihilation of your opponent and without regard for human dignity. That’s an extreme proposition I doubt most people are willing to adopt.

Hama’s prospect of bloodbending provides Katara with a moral and ethical dilemma regarding control. Using an unproductive conditional belief, the inference is that one either must prevail by any means necessary, or one mustn’t attempt to overcome oppression at all.

Understanding the unhealthy dilemma, Katara then realizes that missing people from the village were imprisoned by Hama. When confronted, Hama responds, “They threw me in prison to rot along with my brothers and sisters. They deserve the same! You must carry on my work!”

At this point in the post, I invite you to consider scripts which are rational (in accordance with both logic and reason). 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.

I imagine that Katara considered Hama’s moral and ethical dilemma to be logical (e.g., modus ponens: if others harm me, then they deserve the same treatment) though not reasonable (i.e., that form of logic violates Katara’s subjective principles). Thus, Hama’s proposal is irrational.

For a moment, I’ll presume you don’t care about ATLA. All this talk of waterbending and bloodbending is presumably boring to you. In this case, allow me to describe this matter in a different way. I stated in a blogpost entitled Doing Right or Wrong, as They See It:

Personally, Israel’s actions since the October 7, 2023 attacks (“October 7th”) by Hamas have been wrong, bad, evil, immoral, and unethical. In particular, I oppose Israel’s apparent standard of collective punishment which one source defines thusly:

Collective punishment is a punishment or sanction imposed on a group or whole community for acts allegedly perpetrated by a member or some members of that group or area, which could be an ethnic or political group, or just the family, friends and neighbors of the perpetrator, as well as entire cities and communities where the perpetrator(s) allegedly committed the crime.

While Hamas has taken credit for October 7th, not all Palestinians or Gazans are responsible and accountable for that event. Nevertheless, Israel has all but decimated Gaza – not solely members of Hamas, to include men, women, and children who aren’t member of Hamas. […]

I consider myself a principled individual. Therefore, I maintain that Israeli behavior is wrong, bad, evil, immoral, unethical, and wicked for collectively punishing the people of Gaza for actions taken on October 7th. As such, I don’t hold all Israelis accountable in turn.

Given this real-world example, you may better understand how Hama’s subjective morals and ethics regarding collective punishment clash with Katara’s personal principles. Thus, Katara says, “I won’t use bloodbending and I won’t allow you to keep terrorizing this town!”

At that, Hama immediately possesses Katara’s body, as “she controls people like some dark puppet master,” per the woman who Hama imprisoned with her “any means necessary” approach to retribution (something exacted in recompense—a return for something done or suffered).

“You should have learned the technique before you turned against me,” Hama demands, “it’s impossible to fight your way out of my grip! I control every muscle, every vein in your body.” Remarkably, this supernatural fantasy example serves as a poignant lesson regarding UA.

Even if you could take full control of other people, rather than merely influencing them, to what lengths would your rigid grasp over them extend? Katara cries and begs Hama while suffering physiological and psychological pain when her body is contorted, “Stop, please.”

Is Hama’s “any means necessary” approach something you’re willing to adopt, knowing that your actions would be the direct cause of another person’s suffering? Undoubtedly, even if not admitted in polite company, I suspect some people would readily adopt this standard of power.

Favorably for Katara, Hama’s bloodbending skills are no match for the younger waterbender. However, when Aang and Sokka try to assist their teammate, Hama is able to bloodbend to a degree whereby the boys find themselves moments from uncontrollably killing one another.

That’s when a moral and ethical dilemma regarding control is resolved. When faced with the destructive dilemma of not compromising her moral and ethical principles, or the consideration relating to whether or not bloodbending is wrong, Katara makes an unpleasant decision.

She bloodbends Hama into a submissive position. When being led away in handcuffs, Hama states, “My work is done. Congratulations, Katara. You’re a bloodbender!” She then laughs while Katara cries. This is what an “any means necessary” result inevitably entails.

There are no actual winners when this sort of moral and ethical dilemma regarding control is at hand. Rather, there is merely distress (e.g., Katara’s belief-related sadness for having violated her principles) and disturbance (e.g., Hama’s belief-related anger about her future incarceration).

Conclusion

Presuming you understand the psychoeducational lessons outlined herein, I invite you to consider the potential consequences of your belief-related behavior. This is an especially important consideration regarding retribution and an “any means necessary” approach to life.

Granted, not everyone will appreciate a mental health example stemming from ATLA. Likewise, I suspect some people will self-disturb with unfavorable beliefs concerning my view of Israel’s actions. Nevertheless, I invite you to contemplate the REBT teachings expressed in this blogpost.

Ultimately, even if you could take control of your enemies, opponents, rivals, and so forth, at what cost to your physiological and psychological well-being would such behavior come? Instead of behaving tyrannically, I invite you to practice the ABC model and UA.

Forbid that you non-ideally should face a situation in which you conditionally must violate your moral and ethical principles. All the same, if faced with such a destructive dilemma, I hope you will do as Katara did by experiencing healthy distress rather than unhealthy disturbance.

After all, part of Katara’s destructive dilemma necessitated that she may not conclude that she’s a bad person for sacrificing her principles in order to save other people. Thus, Katara didn’t use a global evaluation of herself for having made an otherwise immoral and unethical decision.

Similarly, you don’t have to use GLAD scripts which cause self-disturbance. Unfortunately, people may be required to compromise their moral and ethical beliefs during extreme circumstances. Nonetheless, this is a matter of something over which you have control.

You determine whether or not you’ll put an end to an entity “terrorizing” a population, as Katara described the matter with Hama. Likewise, you determine whether or not you’ll self-disturb with GLAD beliefs if your behavioral consequences are performed at the expense of your principles.

This is the essence of UA. For example, I control my reaction to how the United States (U.S.) supports Israel (USA). As well, I admit that I have no influence over Israel and its antagonism in the Middle East (UOA). Thus, I place this matter into my circle of concern (ULA).

On one hand, my subjective morals and ethics are being violated through misuse of my U.S. tax dollars in this regard. On the other hand, I can’t actually control or influence members of the U.S. government to stop supporting Israel. Truly, I can’t bloodbend, nor would I if I could.

Ergo, when faced with a moral and ethical dilemma regarding control, I practice REBT in a poorly written blogpost. With hope, you will consider my example rather than self-disturbing with unproductive beliefs about matters over which you also have no actual control or influence.  

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try 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 trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

Avatar Wiki. (n.d.). Bloodbending. Fandom. Retrieved from https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Bloodbending

Avatar Wiki. (n.d.). Book Three: Fire. Fandom. Retrieved from https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Book_Three:_Fire

Avatar Wiki. (n.d.). The Puppetmaster. Fandom. Retrieved from https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/The_Puppetmaster

David, D. (2014, January). The empirical status of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) theory & practice. Albert Ellis Institute. Retrieved from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=26813393d7370232253cf964c38a4a03d98b0b97

Gaona, K. J. (n.d.). Avatar: The Last Airbender – Plot. IMDb. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417299/plotsummary/

Hollings, D. (2024, May 22). A philosophical approach to mental health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-philosophical-approach-to-mental-health

Hollings, D. (2025, August 26). A preventative approach to self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-preventative-approach-to-self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2024, August 23). A rational case against self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-rational-case-against-self-disturbance

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

Hollings, D. (2024, July 9). Absolutistic should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/absolutistic-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, September 13). Acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/acceptance

Hollings, D. (2025, October 19). Adhering to invisible scripts. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/adhering-to-invisible-scripts

Hollings, D. (2025, August 26). An abortive approach to self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/an-abortive-approach-to-self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2024, November 15). Assumptions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/assumptions

Hollings, D. (2024, November 24). Automatic thoughts and beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/automatic-thoughts-and-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, August 7). Awfulizing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/awfulizing

Hollings, D. (2023, July 2). Can’t go out sad. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/can-t-go-out-sad

Hollings, D. (2025, September 23). Changing behavior. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/changing-behavior

Hollings, D. (2022, May 17). Circle of concern. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/circle-of-concern

Hollings, D. (2024, July 11). Concern and no concern. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/concern-and-no-concern

Hollings, D. (2024, July 9). Conditional should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/conditional-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, March 19). Consequences. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/consequences

Hollings, D. (2023, April 22). Control. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/control

Hollings, D. (2025, October 3). Control and influence: A soft center and coated in a candy shell. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/control-and-influence-a-soft-center-and-coated-in-a-candy-shell

Hollings, D. (2024, October 27). Correlation does not imply causation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/correlation-does-not-imply-causation

Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness

Hollings, D. (2022, October 5). Description vs. prescription. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/description-vs-prescription

Hollings, D. (2024, October 21). Desire. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/desire

Hollings, D. (2025, March 16). Destructive dilemma. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/destructive-dilemma

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2025, May 4). Dilemmas and paradoxes. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/dilemmas-and-paradoxes

Hollings, D. (2025, March 12). Distress vs. disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/distress-vs-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2025, August 19). Doing right or wrong, as they see it. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/doing-right-or-wrong-as-they-see-it

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Empirical should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/empirical-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2025, September 7). Everybody’s gotta learn sometime. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/everybody-s-gotta-learn-sometime

Hollings, D. (2025, May 20). Evil. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/evil

Hollings, D. (2025, March 9). Factual and counterfactual beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/factual-and-counterfactual-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2025, March 5). Five major characteristics of four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/five-major-characteristics-of-four-major-irrational-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (2025, August 12). Give me some elbow room. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/give-me-some-elbow-room

Hollings, D. (2023, September 13). Global evaluations. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/global-evaluations

Hollings, D. (2024, August 27). Guilt and shame are choices. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/guilt-and-shame-are-choices

Hollings, D. (2025, September 7). Have to. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/have-to

Hollings, D. (2024, August 9). Healthy concern. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/healthy-concern

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Ideal should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/ideal-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, April 27). Ideal-world vs. real-world. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/ideal-world-vs-real-world

Hollings, D. (2024, October 21). Impermanence and uncertainty. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/impermanence-and-uncertainty

Hollings, D. (2024, May 10). Inferred meaning. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/inferred-meaning

Hollings, D. (2024, September 26). Interpreted reality. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/interpreted-reality

Hollings, D. (2025, June 13). It isn’t manly to be enraged. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/it-isn-t-manly-to-be-enraged

Hollings, D. (2025, March 4). Justification. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/justification

Hollings, D. (2025, October 13). Knowledge, wisdom, understanding. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/knowledge-wisdom-understanding

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Legal should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/legal-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2025, January 14). Level of functioning and quality of life. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/level-of-functioning-and-quality-of-life

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2025, August 8). Life is too short for habitual line-steppers. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-is-too-short-for-habitual-line-steppers

Hollings, D. (2025, January 8). Life-downing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-downing

Hollings, D. (2025, February 23). Listening to dissenting opinions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/listening-to-dissenting-opinions

Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason

Hollings, D. (2022, December 2). Low frustration tolerance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/low-frustration-tolerance

Hollings, D. (2023, May 9). Malcolm in the middle. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/malcolm-in-the-middle

Hollings, D. (2023, March 21). Matching bracelets. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/matching-bracelets

Hollings, D. (2024, March 4). Mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-emotional-and-behavioral-health

Hollings, D. (2025, November 16). Mental health, mental illness, and mental disorder. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-health-mental-illness-and-mental-disorder

Hollings, D. (2025, March 16). Modus ponens. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/modus-ponens

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Moral and ethical should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/moral-and-ethical-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics

Hollings, D. (2024, September 27). My attitude. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-attitude

Hollings, D. (2025, August 2). My philosophy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-philosophy

Hollings, D. (2025, September 8). Need to know. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/need-to-know

Hollings, D. (2024, November 3). Neurotic anxiety and fear. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/neurotic-anxiety-and-fear

Hollings, D. (2025, November 3). Normativity standard. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/normativity-standard

Hollings, D. (2024, March 13). Objective morality. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/objective-morality

Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings

Hollings, D. (2024, June 17). On free will. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-free-will

Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth

Hollings, D. (2024, November 18). Opinions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/opinions

Hollings, D. (2025, January 7). Other-downing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/other-downing

Hollings, D. (2025, April 9). Perception, action, and will. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/perception-action-and-will

Hollings, D. (2025, September 9). Personal responsibility and accountability. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/personal-responsibility-and-accountability

Hollings, D. (2025, October 27). Physiological and psychological fitness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/physiological-and-psychological-fitness

Hollings, D. (2025, September 19). Power. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/power

Hollings, D. (2025, May 3). Predictability of logic. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/predictability-of-logic

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Preferential should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/preferential-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, May 26). Principles. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/principles

Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation

Hollings, D. (2023, September 15). Psychotherapeutic modalities. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapeutic-modalities

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2024, May 15). Rational living. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-living

Hollings, D. (2025, August 13). Rational versus irrational thoughts and beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-versus-irrational-thoughts-and-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, July 18). REBT flexibility. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rebt-flexibility

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Recommendatory should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/recommendatory-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, February 17). Revisiting the circle of control. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/revisiting-the-circle-of-control

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

Hollings, D. (2025, January 6). Self-downing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-downing

Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought

Hollings, D. (2023, May 12). Stop shoulding everywhere. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stop-shoulding-everywhere

Hollings, D. (2023, September 6). The absence of suffering. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-absence-of-suffering

Hollings, D. (2024, January 8). The baseball rule of life. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-baseball-rule-of-life

Hollings, D. (2025, January 2). The distinction between law and justice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-distinction-between-law-and-justice

Hollings, D. (2024, February 6). This ride inevitably ends. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/this-ride-inevitably-ends

Hollings, D. (2023, February 16). Tna. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/__tna

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2025, April 18). Tolerable FAD. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/tolerable-fad

Hollings, D. (2025, January 9). Traditional ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/traditional-abc-model

Hollings, D. (2024, October 20). Unconditional acceptance redux. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance-redux

Hollings, D. (2023, March 11). Unconditional life-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-life-acceptance

Hollings, D. (2023, February 25). Unconditional other-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-other-acceptance

Hollings, D. (2023, March 1). Unconditional self-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-self-acceptance

Hollings, D. (2024, November 24). Values. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/values

Hollings, D. (2025, November 1). We must seize what flees. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/we-must-seize-what-flees

Hollings, D. (2024, September 29). Well, well, well. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/well-well-well

Hollings, D. (2025, April 12). What’s the big idea? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/what-s-the-big-idea

Hollings, D. (2025, November 2). White horse: You got to be a bitch. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/white-horse-you-got-to-be-a-bitch

Hollings, D. (2025, September 7). You better! Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/you-better

Hseferi. (2012, February 21). Malcolm X – By any means necessary [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/K9hPa0cvqks

Kamali, S. (2021, April 5). Malcolm X: Why el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz matters. The Revealer. Retrieved from https://therevealer.org/malcolm-x-why-el-hajj-malik-el-shabazz-matters/

Oakheart. (2020, December 26). Hama ATLA GIF [Image]. Tenor. Retrieved from https://tenor.com/view/hama-atla-bloodbending-gif-19720559

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_The_Last_Airbender

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Collective punishment. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_punishment

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Hamas. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Malcolm X. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X

Wikipedia. (n.d.). October 7 attacks. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_7_attacks

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Stephen Covey. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Covey