Theory Series: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) was founded by Albert Ellis in the 1950s after becoming disenchanted with the psychoanalytic approach popularized by Freud. Ellis developed REBT by infusing philosophical ideas into his approach. His main influence was the Ancient Greek, stoic philosopher, Epictetus who preached that perception was a key component of happiness. Ellis took this to heart, making it the main ethos for REBT and claiming that “Too many people are unaware that it is not outer events or circumstances that will create happiness; rather, it is our perception of events and of ourselves that will create, or uncreate, positive emotions.”
Ellis also included several concepts that fit within his philosophy of perception and reality. This included Karen Horney’s famous Tyranny of Should idea, positing that suffering often evolves out of beliefs of what SHOULD be/happen. He considered the rational philosophy of life to be for individuals to increase their satisfaction of living - one of REBTs main goals - promoting positive cognitive habits such as acceptance of self and others. According to Ellis, thinking, feeling, and behaving are all interconnected. He believed that by improving one area, others would follow suit. Therapeutic processes in REBT are centered around the following 7 principles:
7 principles of REBT
We feel what we think - cognition is the most significant determinant of what we feel.
Dysfunctional thought processes cause emotional distress - exaggeration, oversimplification, assumptions, etc., or all examples of dysfunctional thought processes.
Change thinking, change emotions - positive thoughts beget positive emotions.
Biological and environmental basis for irrational thinking - irrationality is in our nature as humans and is further influenced by culture.
Two types of emotions - emotions fall into one of two categories, including healthy and unhealthy, depending on whether they are functional, healthy, and adaptive.
Focus on present influences - although our biology and environments help shape who we are, focusing on the here and now is the only path to improvement.
Irrational beliefs can be changed - despite the past, rational, thinking, can be implemented to improve quality of life.
Critics of REBT point to a lack of outcome research, and Ellis’s reputation for being abrasive. They also lump it in with other cognitive behavioral approaches like CBT, pointing to a mountain of supporting research by comparison. Furthermore, it is generally individualistic, causing cultures rooted in holistic group ideologies to struggle to adopt it. Because it is based in philosophy and utilizes some heady principles, it is likely not useful for those with intellectual disabilities. On the other hand, REBT was later labeled a feminist approach because it promotes equality and acknowledges how societal roles can negatively impact mental health. This acknowledgement also extends into race, and disability.
As a student who gravitates towards logic-driven approaches, I find REBT to be a happy medium thinking and feeling approach. The fact that it is oriented towards positive emotions and aims to improve life satisfaction is highly attractive. However, I also recognize that clients who are struggling or are perhaps grieving, may not want to be pushed towards more positive emotions. While I believe it is imperative to do so, this is a personal judgment that I hope to avoid pushing on my clients in the future.
For more on REBT, I recommend reading Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy: A Therapist's Guide by Albert Ellis, the founder of REBT. In this book, he clearly lays out the main principles of REBT for aspiring therapists, illustrating his points with client stories from his therapeutic practice. Happy reading!
