Chapter 30 - Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy

This chapter outlines the technique rational-emotive behavior therapy. During this technique, the counselor’s goal is to help clients to understand that their feelings are not caused by events, other people, or the past, but by the thoughts the person has developed surrounding a given situation. There are three goals of this technique: to help clients gain insight into their self-talk, to help clients assess their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to train clients in the principals of this technique so that they can function without the aid of the counselor. The core concept behind this technique is the ABCDE model in which the counselor can fully outline and understand the client’s thought process and help them to reach a more positive approach to a solution for their problem. The book describes the use of this technique in dealing with a female teacher and mother who had struggled with perfectionism since childhood. The counselor helped her to identify the activating event (A) and how the events effect her (C). The counselor then helped her identify her underlying belief (B), which is what is actually causing her feelings (C). Then the counselor disputes the beliefs and feelings (D) and helps the client to move to the evaluation (E) phase by exploring how the process worked. I believe that this technique is incredibly helpful to clients because it give them a technique that they can use without the aid of the counselor. By having the client practice and evaluate this technique, the client becomes empowered and takes responsibility and ownership for their thoughts and feelings.