What is REBT?

REBT Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy A form of psychotherapy Created by Albert Ellis in the 1950s

You Feel the Way You Think It is not the events taking place in our lives that upset us. It is the beliefs that we hold that cause us to become depressed, anxious, enraged, etc. Epictetus: "Men are disturbed not by events, but by the views which they take of them."

The Goal of Happiness We want to be happy whether we are alone or with others; We want to get along with others; We want to be well informed and educated; We want a good job with good pay; We want to enjoy our leisure time.

The ABC Model Something happens. You have a belief about the situation. You have an emotional reaction to the belief.

The Three Basic Musts I must do well and win the approval of others for my performances or else I am no good. Other people must treat me considerately, fairly and kindly, and in exactly the way I want them to treat me. If they don't, they are no good and they deserve to be condemned and punished. I must get what I want, when I want it; and I must not get what I don't want. It's terrible if I don't get what I want, and I can't stand it.

Disputing "Why must you win everyone's approval?“ "Where is it written that other people must treat you fairly?“ "Just because you want something, why must you have it?"

Insight We don't merely get upset but mainly upset ourselves by holding inflexible beliefs.   No matter when and how we start upsetting ourselves, we continue to feel upset because we cling to our irrational beliefs.   The only way to get better is to work hard at changing our beliefs. It takes practice, practice, practice.

Unconditional Acceptance Unconditional self-acceptance Unconditional other-acceptance Unconditional life-acceptance.

Unconditional Self-Acceptance I am a fallible human being; I have my good points and my bad points. There is no reason why I must not have flaws. Despite my good points and my bad points, I am no more worthy and no less worthy than any other human being.

Unconditional Other-Acceptance Other people will treat me unfairly from time to time. There is no reason why they must treat me fairly. The people who treat me unfairly are no more worthy and no less worthy than any other human being.

Unconditional Life-Acceptance Life doesn't always work out the way that I'd like it to. There is no reason why life must go the way I want it to  Life is not necessarily pleasant but it is never awful and it is nearly always bearable.

REBT Today Effective and efficient at reducing emotional pain. Albert Ellis met with much resistance from others in the mental health field. Today it is one of the most widely-practiced therapies throughout the world