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Writer's pictureDeric Hollings
May 245 min read

Imagery

Updated: Jun 2

 

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is a psychotherapeutic modality that utilizes two main techniques to reduce self-disturbance – the ABC model and unconditional acceptance. These aren’t particularly difficult tools to understand, though they take a significant amount of practice in order to work.

 

Also, incorporated into REBT are the tenets of existentialism, philosophy – particularly Stoicism, humanism, and practice of the scientific method. Each of these crucial components helps facilitate the reduction of suffering which is achieved with frequent practice of the modality.

 

A form of cognitive behavior therapy, REBT utilizes homework to better assist people with challenging practice aimed at strengthening one’s skills, improving use of the method, and positively reinforcing further use of techniques. In fact, homework is arguably the most significant component of effective REBT usage.

 

Although some REBT practitioners refer to negotiated homework items as “assignments,” I prefer the terms “elements,” “activities,” or “exercises,” because an assignment implies that which is directed. As homework activities are negotiated rather than advised, I use a minor tweak in how I refer to these exercises.

 

This is mainly because homework elements function according to a collaborative process and not one stemming from my role as a figure of authority that prescribes what should, must, or ought to be done. While there are various forms of homework activities, the current blogpost addresses a particular kind: imagery.

 

According to page 179 of The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion, REBT practitioners are encouraged to use a range of cognitive, emotive, behavioral, and imagery activities. The first three types could include anything from shame attacking exercises to practice of tolerating and accepting events one finds displeasing.

 

Discussing imagery activities, one source states (British grammatical errors corrected):

 

Rational-emotive imagery (REI) is an imagery method designed to help a client practice changing their rigid/extreme attitude to its healthy equivalent while they imagine a specific situation in which they felt disturbed, focusing on what they are most disturbed about. In this way they get imagery-based experience in deepening their conviction in their flexible/non­extreme attitude.

 

As an example, if client X reports anxiousness when driving on the highway I can use REI in a session to demonstrate how to reduce self-disturbance. I would have client X close his eyes and imagine a situation about which he’s most disturbed. (It doesn’t take much imagination for those familiar with I-35 traffic in Austin, Texas.)

 

When client X fully experiences his unhealthy negative emotion as I describe likely aggravating factors associated with driving in traffic, I would then ask him to replace anxiousness with a healthy negative emotion like annoyance. As I further describe traffic-related conditions, client X would be encouraged to hold on to annoyance.

 

Only the emotion, and not the intensity, is what client X would change. After around five minutes of holding in place annoyance versus anxiousness – returning back to the health negative emotion if his mind slipped back into the unhealthy negative emotion – I’d stop the exercise and ask how client X was able to accomplish changing his emotion.

 

Preferably, client X learned to change an inflexible narrative about driving in traffic, which would in turn alter the consequence of what he told himself. However, if client X merely substituted one emotive state for another, then we could redo the activity while practicing the alteration of rigid beliefs which created unpleasant outcomes.

 

Once client X is able to achieve success in the session, we could then negotiate homework so that he could practice outside of session. Client X could conduct an imagery exercise for two consistent days and then try an in vivo (in-life; real-world) exercise by driving in highway traffic.

 

Imagery homework elements provide a more robust experience than I can offer through facilitation of teletherapy services, because clients are afforded opportunities to build confidence in their own abilities and then practice in vivo. Over time, challenging practice of this sort may serve the interests and goals a client brings to session.

 

Throughout the current post, I’ve emphasized the importance of routine and uncomfortable practice. This is because REBT aims to help people get better, not merely to feel better. If you’d like to know more, I look forward to hearing from you.

 

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. (2023, October). Fundamentals of rational emotive behaviour therapy: A training handbook, 3rd edition. Wiley. Retrieved from https://dokumen.pub/fundamentals-of-rational-emotive-behaviour-therapy-a-training-handbook-3nbsped-1394198515-9781394198511.html

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 23). A humanistic approach to mental health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-humanistic-approach-to-mental-health

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. (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, May 19). Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/cognitive-behavior-therapy-cbt

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

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

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Existentialism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/existentialism

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

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

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

Hollings, D. (2024, April 18). Homework. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/homework

Hollings, D. (2024, January 2). Interests and goals. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/interests-and-goals

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

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

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

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, 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. (2022, September 8). Shame attacking. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/shame-attacking

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. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2022, June 20). Teletherapy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/teletherapy

Hollings, D. (2022, November 9). The ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-abc-model

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

Hollings, D. (2022, July 11). Unconditional acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance

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. (2024, March 18). Unhealthy vs. healthy negative emotions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unhealthy-vs-healthy-negative-emotions

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