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Critical Analysis REBT

This document provides a critical analysis of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). It begins by explaining that REBT differs from other mainstream therapies in its emphasis on discussing and changing how clients think in order to influence their emotions and behavior. It then discusses the strengths of REBT, including that it is an effective psychotherapy, especially when combined with medication, and that it is a multi-functional therapy that can be used to treat disorders and problematic attitudes, emotions, and behaviors. The document also outlines some limitations and criticisms of REBT, such as that it has not fully clarified the mechanisms of mental disorders and could benefit from new techniques using technology like robotics and virtual reality. It concludes by addressing some common misconceptions about REBT.

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Mehar Khan
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287 views4 pages

Critical Analysis REBT

This document provides a critical analysis of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). It begins by explaining that REBT differs from other mainstream therapies in its emphasis on discussing and changing how clients think in order to influence their emotions and behavior. It then discusses the strengths of REBT, including that it is an effective psychotherapy, especially when combined with medication, and that it is a multi-functional therapy that can be used to treat disorders and problematic attitudes, emotions, and behaviors. The document also outlines some limitations and criticisms of REBT, such as that it has not fully clarified the mechanisms of mental disorders and could benefit from new techniques using technology like robotics and virtual reality. It concludes by addressing some common misconceptions about REBT.

Uploaded by

Mehar Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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REBT: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Submitted to

Dr. Memoona Ismail

Submitted By

Aqsa Mehar Khan

402-FSS/MSCP/F19

International Islamic University, Islamabad

June 13, 2020


REBT: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) differed from the other


mainstream therapies of its day, mainly in the importance it placed on discussing
and adapting how clients think (Jorn, 2016). Not only does REBT rest on the belief
that the way we think influences our emotions and behavior, it attempts to help
clients change the way they think to reduce negative symptoms and improve
their quality of life (Albert Ellis Institute, 2014).

REBT was originally called ‘Rational Therapy’, soon changed to ‘Rational-


Emotive Therapy’ and again in the early 1990’s to ‘Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy’. REBT is one of a number of ‘cognitive-behavioral’ therapies, which,
although developed separately, have many similarities – such as Cognitive Therapy
(CT), developed by Psychiatrist Aaron Beck in the 1960’s. REBT and CT together
form the basis of the family of psychotherapies known as ‘Cognitive-Behavior
Therapy’. Over the past half-century, REBT has developed significantly, and
continues to change. Nonetheless, it has both its limitations and strength which
researchers and psychologists have been analyzing for decades and contributing to
overall effectiveness and therapeutic efficacy of REBT.

Strengths

REBT can be seen to be an extremely effective form of psychotherapy,


particularly when combined with medication (Bennett, 2003), as REBT works with
the individual and allows them to have a strong involvement with the therapy
process. Due to REBT being a multi-functional therapy, it can be not only be used
for a number of psychological disorders (depression and anxiety) yet can also be
effective for additional factors such as attitudes, emotions and behaviors which
could lead to more severe psychological issues (Ellis 1994). In addition, REBT can
be seen as a psycho-educational model (Bennett, 2003) as not only does it assist
the individual with their problems in the presents and for short-term, it can educate
and encourage them to adapt their way of thinking long-term for a positive and
healthy emotion health.
Limitations/Criticism

First of all, REBT has all the limitations of a scientific approach to mental
health. Thus, up to this moment, REBT has not clarified the mechanisms involved
in various mental disorders. Future research is need here. Even when the
mechanisms are known, REBT does not have the techniques to changes these
mechanisms in all patients. Further research is needed here for new innovative
techniques (e.g., to control mental contamination) and for better technology
assimilation in the classical REBT (e.g., robotics and virtual reality techniques;
internet/computer-based REBT).

Second, REBT has been affected by severe misrepresentations in the


scientific literature and thus, a large part of its scientific potential is still underused.
Let us briefly present some of the main misconceptions:

REBT has sometimes been pictured as very active and directive (even
harsh). This is false! Depending on the client and his/her problems, in the context
of a sound therapeutic relationship, REBT can be very active and directive and/or
very metaphorical;

REBT is “too cognitive”, its main aim being the change of irrational beliefs
by cognitive techniques. This is false! The change of irrational beliefs is not an aim
in itself; it is a way to turn dysfunctional consequences (e.g., dysfunctional
feelings) into functional consequences (e.g., functional feelings), using a large
spectrum of cognitive (e.g., logical, empirical) and non-cognitive techniques (e.g.,
behavioral, metaphorical); REBT has often been confused with Albert Ellis’ style
who, occasionally, used acid jokes and strong words. While humor and irony
(including self-irony) are important cognitive restructuring techniques, they are
implemented depending on the client and his/her problem and based on a sound
empathic therapeutic relationship; REBT theory and techniques have often been
wrongly portrayed as simplistic, by arguing that a few rational and irrational
beliefs cannot explain the large variation of mental disorders; instead, we need
specific cognitive models for each disorder. This argument is false! General and
classic REBT recognize the specific cognitions model of various disorders, but
classic REBT argues that, unless these (more surface) specific cognitions – often
descriptions/inferences – are appraised by rational and/or irrational beliefs, they do
not have an impact on mental disorders. Moreover, REBT research is seeking for
new rational and irrational beliefs involved in various disorders. Therefore, the
REBT reduction of pathogenic and/or sanogenic mechanisms to a few core
cognitive processes is similar to the reduction operated in neurosciences, where
hundreds of mental disorders are related to just a few classes of neurotransmitters
and their relations.

References:

Bennett, P. (2003). Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. New York: Open


University Press.

Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy.


California: Thomson Brooks/Cole.

Ellis, A. (1994). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy (re. ed.). Secaucus, NJ:


Birch Lane.

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