Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)

❇️ REBT is a type of psychological intervention where the therapist helps the client identify irrational beliefs and thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress, such as anxiety and depression. It is based on the idea that our thoughts about events, rather than the events themselves, shape our emotional and behavioural responses.

❇️ REBT focuses on the present and how current thought patterns impact a client’s emotions and behaviours. It identifies the connections between thoughts, emotions, and actions, particularly how rigid or irrational beliefs create cycles of distress. Once these beliefs are identified, they can be challenged and replaced with more flexible, rational perspectives, leading to improved mental health and emotional resilience.

❇️ REBT is usually a structured and time-limited therapy, often lasting between 6-20 sessions, depending on the client’s needs. Clients are encouraged to complete exercises and apply techniques between sessions to strengthen their ability to manage thoughts and emotions effectively in daily life.

❇️ REBT is grounded in cognitive and behavioural principles but places a strong emphasis on philosophical change. It was developed by Albert Ellis in the 1950s and is considered one of the earliest forms of cognitive-behavioural therapy.

❇️ A key component of REBT is the ABC Model:

·   A (Activating Event): A situation or event that triggers an emotional response.

·   B (Beliefs): The client’s interpretation of the event, which can be rational or irrational.

·   C (Consequences): The emotional and behavioural outcomes of these beliefs.

• By identifying and challenging irrational beliefs, clients can change their emotional and behavioural responses.

❇️ REBT helps clients develop rational and self-accepting beliefs. It encourages disputing negative thought patterns and replacing them with constructive alternatives. Unlike traditional CBT, which may focus on modifying automatic thoughts, REBT goes deeper into core belief systems, challenging rigid ideas such as “I must be perfect” or “I must always be liked by others.”

❇️ REBT is effective in treating a range of conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), addiction, eating disorders, and personality disorders. It is also widely used for anger management, stress, relationship difficulties, and self-esteem issues.

❇️ The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) includes REBT as a form of CBT in its guidelines for treating mental health conditions. REBT is particularly beneficial for individuals who struggle with perfectionism, self-criticism, and rigid thinking patterns that contribute to emotional distress.

• ·   Depression in adults: treatment and management NICE guideline [NG222], Published: 29 June 2022
• ·   Obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder: treatment Clinical guideline [CG31], Published: 29 November 2005
• ·   Common mental health problems: identification and pathways to care Clinical guideline [CG123], Published: 25 May 2011
• ·   Social anxiety disorder: recognition, assessment and treatment Clinical guideline [CG159], Published: 22 May 2013
• ·   Eating disorders: recognition and treatment NICE guideline [NG69], Published: 23 May 2017, Last updated: 16 December 2020
• ·   Tinnitus: assessment and management NICE guideline [NG155], Published: 11 March 2020
• ·   Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management Clinical guideline [CG113], Published: 26 January 2011, Last updated: 15 June 2020