Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is an exceptionally important tool in counseling since it helps a client accurately identify self-defeating thoughts, challenge their rationality, and successfully replace them with healthier feelings. REBT primarily focuses on the present as the main task of this approach is to recognize unhealthy patterns of behavior, which lead to emotional discomfort or impede a client’s success in achieving life goals. Thus, negative thoughts identified through REBT are later replaced with more positive and productive feelings and patterns of behavior. A traditional psychoanalytical approach, on the other hand, fails to secure positive changes for a client. Even if patients become aware of their underlying issues and senseless behavioral patterns, they rarely succeed in eliminating them (Cherry, 2020). Albert Ellis introduced REBT in the 1950s as a method of “changing irrational beliefs into rational beliefs, with the aim of changing dysfunctional emotions and maladaptive behaviors into functional and adaptive ones” (David et al., 2017, p. 305). The main difference between REBT and cognitive therapy is the fact that a rational emotive approach focuses on evaluative beliefs such as appraisals, rather than descriptive ones.
Rational emotive behavior therapy is centered around the notion that people want to be successful, productive, and happy. Therefore, the core objective of this approach is ensuring that irrational thoughts and behaviors do not get in the way of someone achieving their goals. REBT first helps a client to activate a specific event that triggers a negative response. Then, a counselor helps them to identify irrational thoughts and feelings that have contributed to such a reaction. The most common unfounded beliefs include thinking that one has to be perfect in order to succeed in life, feeling extremely upset over other people’s behavior and mistakes, as well as being convinced of one’s own inability to control their happiness (Cherry, 2020). The last step is the development of an efficient framework to replace unreasonable feelings with productive behavior. REBT uses various methods to achieve its tasks, including problem-solving, cognitive restructuring, and coping techniques. David et al. (2017) note that “REBT interventions (psychotherapy, educational, or counseling interventions) are efficacious/ effective for various conditions, regardless of clinical status, age of the sample, and delivery format, though, as expected” (p. 316). Thus, the rational-emotive approach is utilized in many domains, including counseling, organizational settings, and education.
As for the type of client that rational emotive therapy can benefit from, it is first important to discuss the conditions REBT can help to battle. According to Cherry (2020), this approach is most efficient in addressing psychological illnesses such as social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and various phobias. It is also effective in tackling depression, excessive approval-seeking, and lack of confidence (Cherry, 2020). Rational emotive therapy helps clients cope with feelings of regret and disappointment, as well as set realistic expectations. This counseling approach is one of the best for high-achieving individuals working in stressful environments. REBT can assist such people in simultaneously increasing their productivity and ensuring their mental health remains stable. Davis and Turner (2020) emphasize REBT’s role in positively affecting self-determined motivation and psychological well-being in triathletes. Ogbuanya et al. (2019) show that rational emotive therapy helps to address student learning burnout, anxiety, and depression in educational settings. Therefore, rational emotive therapy is the most beneficial approach for professional athletes, overachieving students, and accomplished businessmen. These groups of people usually face high expectations and need to demonstrate excellent performance in order to succeed.
References
Cherry, C. (2020). How rational emotive behavior therapy works. Verywell Mind. Web.
David, D., Cotet, C., Matu, S., Mogoase, C., & Stefan, S. (2017). 50 years of rational‐emotive and cognitive‐behavioral therapy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(3), 304-318. Web.
Davis, H., & Turner, M. J. (2020). The use of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) to increase the self-determined motivation and psychological well-being of triathletes. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 9(4), 489-505. Web.
Ogbuanya, T. C., Eseadi, C., Orji, C. T., Omeje, J. C., Anyanwu, J. I., Ugwoke, S. C., Edeh, N. C. (2019). Effect of rational-emotive behavior therapy program on the symptoms of burnout syndrome among undergraduate electronics work students in Nigeria. Psychological Reports, 122(1). Web.