Daily Practice

[DISCLAIMER]

Photo credit (edited), fair use

Within my blog and when working with clients, I invite people to engage in daily practice of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Regarding this matter, I stated in a blogpost entitled Practice:

As a psychotherapeutic technique, REBT is fairly straightforward. Use of the ABC model and unconditional acceptance [UA] isn’t particularly burdensome to learn.

However, I find that when people neglect practice of REBT they tend to disturb themselves, only complicating matters further. In REBT, one’s unhelpful beliefs lead to the consequence of emotional disturbance and behavioral dysfunction.

When people disregard practice of the technique though irrationally conclude, “REBT doesn’t work,” I wonder what they expect of a tool they use less—rendering the tool useless. It truly is an unreasonable assumption to discount REBT altogether, due to one’s lack of practice regarding the technique.

I learned of REBT in 2011, when attending graduate school for counseling. Yet, I didn’t commit to daily practice of this helpful technique until 2021, when I received formal training from the Albert Ellis Institute. Noteworthy, I stated in a post entitled Understanding, Belief, and Practice:

When recently asked how many clients with whom I’ve worked have practiced REBT on a regular basis, I surmised that one-third of the people in my life have genuinely met this standard. This figure surprised me, as well as the person who asked the question.

I have no problem with accepting personal responsibility and accountability for the role I’ve played in the approximately two-thirds of people who’ve apparently disregarded REBT. I doubt it’s true that I’ve had no effect on why some people haven’t stuck with this modality.

Additionally, I suspect that a lack of understanding, failure to believe, and neglect of practice have played a key role in why some people have neglected or abandoned REBT altogether.

Whereas it took a decade for me to dedicate myself to daily practice of a tool in which I already believed and understood, I imagine that other people have similarly wasted valuable time in life by continuing to self-disturb rather than un-disturb themselves when learning of this technique.

Given that I surmised roughly two-thirds of clients with whom I’ve worked haven’t devoted themselves to daily practice of REBT, I began inviting individuals to negotiate more homework tasks to remedy this issue. Thus, I stated in a blogpost entitled Practice How You Perform:

When working with clients, I encourage people to choose realistic problems to address in our sessions. This is because clients sometimes tiptoe around issues and such behavior doesn’t best serve their interests and goals.

Likewise, when negotiating homework for practice outside of sessions, I invite clients to consider pragmatic areas of opportunity. Choosing to work on a nonexistent issue won’t necessarily result in the ability to attain resilience needed for real-world problems.

In sessions, I often address client-presented issues regarding relationships, politics, employment, and other common topics about which people self-disturb with unfavorable beliefs. Uniquely, homework tasks may be much more expansive than matters people bring to sessions.

For instance, I invite individuals to use streaming shows and films, songs, social media platforms, legacy media outlets, and other resources for daily practice. Personally, there’s usually something to be found on middle-market tabloid newspaper the Daily Mail.

As an example, one article from today reports that “Trump splits with one of his closest advisers as nasty MAGA civil war erupts over Iran.” Unlike the many people I observe in my occupational and social spheres that self-disturb about matters such as this, I’m un-disturbed.

My assertion isn’t meant to express that I don’t care. In my opinion, the United States needs to stop funding, arming, or otherwise supporting the nation of Israel. We have matters in our own country which need to be addressed first—you know, like taking an “America First” approach.

All the same, articles like that from today’s Daily Mail submission offer a useful opportunity for me to practice in regard to the ABC model and UA. When conducting myself in a similar manner on a daily basis I’m able to continue with my goal of rational living. How about you?

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help 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 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:

AEI. (n.d.). The international home, headquarters, and heart of rational emotive behavior therapy and the center of excellence for training and treatment. Albert Ellis Institute. Retrieved from https://albertellis.org/

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

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Blog – Categories: Tools. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/blog/categories/tools

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

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

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. (2024, April 13). Goals. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/goals

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

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, January 2). Interests and goals. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/interests-and-goals

Hollings, D. (2022, August 31). Iss-me vs. iss-you. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/iss-me-vs-iss-you

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

Hollings, D. (2024, November 6). Media. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/media

Hollings, D. (2024, June 2). Nonadaptive behavior. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/nonadaptive-behavior

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. (2022, November 7). Personal ownership. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/personal-ownership

Hollings, D. (2023, March 20). Practice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/practice

Hollings, D. (2024, March 28). Practice how you perform. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/practice-how-you-perform

Hollings, D. (2023, November 23). Problems. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/problems

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. (2024, May 19). Rationale for homework. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rationale-for-homework

Hollings, D. (2024, March 14). REBT and emotions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rebt-and-emotions

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

Hollings, D. (2024, May 8). Resilience. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/resilience

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2024, March 24). Smartphone and social media addiction. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/smartphone-and-social-media-addiction

Hollings, D. (2025, June 13). The Goomba fallacy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-goomba-fallacy

Hollings, D. (2025, January 16). The words we use matter. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-words-we-use-matter

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, 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. (2024, January 16). Understanding, belief, and practice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/understanding-belief-and-practice

Hollings, D. (2022, October 20). Useless tools. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/useless-tools

Hollings, D. (2025, February 9). Value. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/value

Spiering, C. (2025, June 17). Trump splits with one of his closest advisers as nasty MAGA civil war erupts over Iran. Daily Mail. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14820815/donald-trump-tulsi-gabbard-tucker-carlson-steve-bannon.html

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Daily Mail. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Mail

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Donald Trump. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump