Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) has been in use for over 50 years and has empirical support for use with mood disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, sleep difficulty, and many others. It may also be applied with many different populations and cultures. Like all approaches to CBT, it is generally a short-term and goal-oriented treatment approach.

For this Discussion, you view a video of Dr. Albert Ellis demonstrating REBT techniques with a patient being treated for addiction and consider your first impressions of seeing this approach being applied. Keep in mind that each individual therapist brings his or her own style and personality to treatment, even within the same theoretical orientation and treatment approach. In your future work, you will hone your own philosophical approach and style.

To prepare:

• Review the Learning Resources for this week, considering the basic tenets of REBT. What are your initial impressions of this approach to therapy?
• Review the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy for Addictions video in this week’s Learning Resources. What is your impression of Albert Ellis?

With these thoughts in mind:

Write your impression of Albert Ellis and his REBT approach to therapy. What techniques did you notice? What are the characteristics of how he applies REBT?

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources. Use proper APA format and citation.

READINGS

• Ellis, A. (1980). Rational-emotive therapy and cognitive behavior therapy: Similarities and differences. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4(4), 325–340. doi:10.1007/BF01178210
  Are cognitive behavior therapy and rational therapy synonymous? by Ellis, A. in Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4(4). Copyright 1980 by Plenum Publishers. Reprinted by permission of Plenum Publishers via the Copyright Clearance Center.
• Ellis, A. (1993). Reflections on rational-emotive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61(2), 199–201. Retrieved from the EBSCO databases (Accession No. 8473572).
  Reflections on Rational-emotive Therapy by Ellis, A., in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 61/Issue 2. Copyright 1993 by American Psychological Association – Journals. Reprinted by permission of American Psychological Association – Journals via the Copyright Clearance Center.
  Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
• Beck, A. T. (1963). Thinking and depression I: Idiosyncratic content and cognitive distortions. Archives of General Psychiatry, 9(1), 324–333. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1963.01720160014002
  Thinking and Depression I: Theory and Therapy by Beck, A. T., in Archives of General Psychiatry, Vol. 61/Issue 2. Copyright 1964 by American Medical Association. Reprinted by permission of American Medical Association via the Copyright Clearance Center.

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