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Rebt

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92 views2 pages

Rebt

Uploaded by

PrateekGandhi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)

Applying the assumptions of the approach Components of REBT


to REBT REBT can be summarised using the ABCDE model as proposed by Ellis (1957).
The cognitive approach suggests that normal behaviour is A – Activating event: this is the stimulus that has led to your negative thoughts and feelings.
based around your view of yourself and the world around you
B – Belief: this is your belief about the event and is often irrational.
(this links to the schemas assumption).
C – Consequence: this step involves what the individual now does due to the belief.
Therefore, psychological problems occur when these
perceptions are irrational. This may mean that you don’t have The ABC section of this therapy informs us of how irrational thoughts and beliefs occur and are maintained. These
a positive view of yourself or that you have irrational thoughts would be explored in the therapy and challenged.
about your relationships, e.g. you believe that your work D – Disputing: the irrational beliefs are objectively discussed and challenged. It is important that the client
colleagues dislike you. understands the difference between rational and irrational thoughts. Thoughts can be disputed in a manner of
different ways (see below).

The aim of REBT is to challenge and change these irrational E – Effects: this concerns the effects of disputing, e.g. replacing an irrational thought with a rational thought.
thoughts. By changing these thoughts, the idea is that
behaviour will also change.
Types of disputing
When engaging in REBT therapy, the irrational thoughts will be Logical disputing: getting the client to think about whether their though patterns ‘make sense’.
replaced by rational thoughts. A more realistic self-perception
Empirical disputing: asking the client if there is evidence to support their beliefs.
will be achieved. Once this occurs the client’s behaviour will be
less abnormal. Pragmatic disputing: getting the client to think whether their thought patterns are useful to them or not.
Evaluating rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)

Effectiveness Ethical considerations


Research evidence An ethical issue: patient blame
Engels et al. (1993) conducted a meta-analysis (a statistical method to analyse multiple REBT can be a difficult therapy to go through. Clients are often forcefully challenged
pieces of evidence) of 28 studies that investigated the effectiveness of REBT when and presented with the idea that it is their belief (the B part of the ABCDE model) that is
compared to other therapeutic interventions. REBT was found to be more effective causing irrational thoughts and their own mental health issues.
than a placebo or no treatment and as effective as other therapies such as systematic
desensitisation.

Limited in usefulness An ethical issue: what is rational?


REBT may not work for all individuals. REBT requires clients to play an active role in their The ‘sadder but wiser’ effect suggests that individuals with depression may be sadder
own therapy and some individuals find this tough. REBT also requires the client to be (depressed mood) but are wiser (more accurate at predicting outcomes). It could be said
honest and open about their thoughts and feelings. that non depressed individuals live their life with rose tinted glasses.

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