Ellis Rational Emotive Therapy. Albert Ellis test. A technique for diagnosing irrational attitudes. Rational Emotive Therapy (RET)

REBT (rational emotive behavior therapy) psychological help was introduced into psychotherapeutic practice by Albert Ellis in the last century. To this day, the techniques of this psychotherapy are very popular among psychologists-psychotherapists of our time, including online consultations (via the Internet).

Rational-emotional therapy is, in fact, not a treatment, but training and teaching rational sociality and changing emotions and human behavior.

Today on site website you, dear visitors, will find out how and to whom rational psychotherapy online will help.

Rational Emotive Therapy - Solved Problems

REBT is teaching rationally meaningful experience (coping strategies) of coping with various life problems and difficulties.
Rational emotive therapy is aimed at developing the skills of objective (not biased) thinking, adequate feeling and reasonable behavior in a particular stressful or critical situation.

And, probably, it would be more appropriate to call a specialist in this helping area not a psychotherapist, but a “social trainer” or “social consultant” ...

Life psychological and emotional problems that you will solve with REBT:

  • Problems in interpersonal relationships
  • Irrational fears and phobias
  • depression
  • Stress and distress
  • Inferiority complexes
  • obsessive thoughts
  • Negative emotions (resentment, guilt, shame, jealousy, envy…)
  • Aggression, conflict, irritability…
  • Indecisiveness, timidity, shyness…
  • Chronic bad luck in life

The main problem of people is subconscious beliefs.

Often people in similar stressful situations behave in almost the same way, as if according to a program determined by a learned algorithm (see life scenario).

Such programmed behavior is based on the internal beliefs of a person (i.e. his deep installations, beliefs, stereotypical thinking…).
Rational-emotional-behavioral therapy by Ellis will help you to recognize and change your inner beliefs, and therefore change your emotions and behavior.


Three basic principles belief work:
  1. People don't get in trouble because stressful situations or critical events, but as a result of perceiving them through the prism of their beliefs.
  2. It doesn't matter when a belief is acquired, but a person still adheres to it (principle of present tense priority).
  3. There is no other way to change your beliefs than to learn and practice new habits of thinking, feeling and behaving.

ABC Model - The Core of Rational Therapy

  • (A) - (activating event) - these are any current events or own thoughts, feelings, behavior associated with this event. And perhaps memories, ideas, thoughts about past experiences.
  • (B) - (unconscious belief) - internal often unconscious false beliefs, attitudes and stereotypical thoughts ...
  • (C) - (consequences) - emotional, behavioral and physiological reaction of a person

Three key human beliefs:

  1. I have to do everything well
  2. Everyone should communicate well with me
  3. The world should be easy for me

In rational-emotional therapy, we do not touch upon a person's beliefs that are specific: ideological, political, religious, etc. - this remains a personal matter for both the client and the psychotherapist.

5 Steps for REBT to Change "Harmful" Beliefs

  1. Analytical Diagnosis of Beliefs
  2. Swinging and softening inner convictions (for example, the method of critical discussion) ...
  3. Replacing installations with more flexible and rational ones
  4. Implantation of a new skill: regular exercises in stopping relapses of negative thinking and applying new reasonable thoughts and an adequate strategy of behavior (usually given at home, between therapy sessions)
  5. Teaching a person to use REBT techniques independently (so that in the future they do not depend on a psychotherapist)

Rational emotive therapy ends when the client feels that he can deal with the remaining problems on his own, not when he has solved all his problems.

Rational Emotive Therapy Techniques

Ellis's REBT methods use a variety of techniques (see psychotherapy techniques): rational, irrational, emotional, behavioral, linguistic, logical, experimental (in practice), etc., depending on the specific problem of a person and his personality.

Methods that are not used in REBT

  1. I do not use methods that make a person dependent (for example, excessive warmth, the creation and analysis of a reinforcement neurosis ...)
  2. techniques that can make a person gullible and suggestible
  3. Rarely use psychoanalytic techniques in their pure form
  4. Quick methods that help the client in a short time, but the result is not fixed and there may be a relapse
  5. Use relaxation techniques with caution
  6. Do not use methods that can reinforce low tolerance (tolerance) for frustration (“waiting bummer”)
  7. No pseudoscientific techniques are used
  8. Some REBT techniques are not used in family and relationship therapy
  9. And also, some techniques, although popular due to marketing, do not have sufficient empirical support ...
Who is Rational Therapy Not For?

This type of psychotherapy has its limitations. Rational therapy is well suited for rational and responsible people, as well as for suggestible people who are not particularly stuck in their old beliefs.

This method will not suit too "experienced" women and stubborn fanatics, as well as people with limited intelligence.

Psychotherapy is understood as treatment, where the main “drug” is the word of the doctor. Communicating with the patient, he inevitably affects him psychologically and, helping to change his attitude towards himself and the world around him, contributes to recovery. The main methods of such influence include rational psychotherapy. It can be combined with occupational therapy, etc.

Rational therapy in psychology

It aims to influence the patient with logically reasoned explanations. That is, the doctor explains to the patient what is difficult for him to understand and accept. Having received clear and simple arguments, the patient renounces his false beliefs, overcomes pessimistic ideas and gradually moves towards recovery. Rational therapy uses a variety of techniques:

  • indirect suggestion;
  • emotional impact;
  • didactic methods.

Frequent practice implies a dialogue between the doctor and the patient, while much will depend on the personality of the specialist, his ability to convince and listen, gain confidence and be sincerely interested in the fate of the patient. Such treatment has several directions, and some of its provisions and techniques are consistent with the method of neurolinguistic programming.

Rational-emotional psychotherapy

This direction was proposed in 1955 by Albert Ellis. He believed that the reasons mental disorder are irrational - erroneous cognitive attitudes. The main types of psychological problems include:

  1. Self-abasement and self-treatment.
  2. Exaggeration of the negative components of the situation.

Rational psychotherapy techniques help patients to accept themselves and increase their tolerance for frustration. In this case, the doctor acts according to the following scheme:

  1. Explains and explains. Interprets the essence of the disease, which helps the patient to get a clear and clear picture of the disease and more actively control it.
  2. Convinces. It corrects not only the cognitive, but also the emotional aspect, modifies the patient's personal attitudes.
  3. Reorients. Changes in the patient's attitudes become stable, the value system in relation to the disease changes, and he goes beyond it.
  4. Educates. Creates positive prospects for the patient after overcoming the disease.

Rational Cognitive Psychotherapy

The previous direction is one of its main branches. Their theoretical positions and techniques used are close, but the methods of rational psychotherapy, where the emphasis is on emotions, are more structured, and work with the patient is consistent. Cognitive techniques include:

  • Socratic dialogue;
  • the art of "filling the void";
  • decatastrophization;
  • method of similarities and similarities;
  • reattribution;
  • reformulation;
  • decentralization.

At the same time, in his work, the doctor uses role-playing games, exposure treatment, the technique of diverting attention and planning activities. All this helps the patient to recognize the erroneous nature of his thinking, take responsibility for his actions and get rid of mental problems. At the same time, it is necessary that the doctor had an idea of ​​the achievements of logic and owned the modern theory of argumentation.


Rational-emotive psychotherapy

It is based on assumptions about human nature and the origin of people's misfortunes or emotional disturbances. All kinds of false ideas, such as the inability to control external circumstances or the desire to always and in everything be the first, are common in society. They are accepted and reinforced by self-hypnosis, which can provoke neurosis, because they cannot be implemented. But regardless of the influence of external factors, people can act independently and the recognition of this ability formed the basis of the theory of behavior and personality disorders A-B-C.

Rational and explanatory psychotherapy proves that if you think rationally and rationally, then the consequences will be the same, and if the belief system is insane and unrealistic, then the consequences will be destructive. By recognizing this relationship, one can change such attitudes, actions and behaviors in response to external circumstances and situations.

Encyclopedic YouTube

    1 / 5

    ✪ REBT example from founder Albert Ellis (Russian subtitles)

    ✪ Amazing conversation with Andrey Zolotov. About the essence of rational-emotive therapy (RET) and much more

    ✪ Nikolai Linde "Working with emotional addiction in EoT"

    ✪ [Science #19] How Our Thoughts Make Us Unhappy

    ✪ Philosophy of Stoicism? Massimo Pigliucci #TED-Ed | TED Ed in Russian

    Subtitles

    AE: Hello Gloria! I'm Dr. Ellis...come...sit down. G: Good to see you, Dr. Ellis! AE: So...did you want to tell me about your father or something else? G: Yes... I would like to talk to you... more... about my loneliness... about... how to meet a man... I have one thought... maybe I will refute your book ... but I'm a little depressed after ... reading "Intelligent Woman's Guide to Dating and Mating, Albert Ellis, Jun 1960) I tried to follow the directions in your book))) reading your book was very exciting...although I read a little...but I believe it works.My problem with men is that...I want to get close to a certain type of man...like him.. ... but... I can't... be around this type of man... I'm too shy... I can't... I don't feel an inner click... when I go to meet a man.. I don't think I'm going to get... ...enough enjoyment and interest from the meeting.And...I don't understand...is it me or what is the problem?I...really...want to date men like that type A E: Let's talk about your shyness. Let's say you want to... enjoy your meetings more and... worry less. Let's take a look at how... shyness is formed... what exactly creates it. Do you feel shy around men of this type? G: Yes... but I try not to show it... I close myself... and watch how he reacts to me... I don't seem very smart at this moment... I look like a typical stupid blonde.. .I just... don't know how to deal with a man... I'm out of ideas. AE: Well... as you already know from the book... I believe that people have negative feelings... like shyness, embarrassment, shame... because... they tell themselves something... that puts them in that state. Let's see what you say to yourself before... you get into a state of shyness. G: I don't know for sure... but... I think... ...it's not related to the sexual issue... I'm not closed in on sex... and vice versa... I want it. I'm scared... that I might not like you this type men... as a person. AE: To begin with, let's note... that your guesses may be correct... because... a man can really treat you negatively... ...but... it doesn't have to... upset you... You might say to yourself... "A man can treat me differently... and that's okay" and secondly... "I'll accept this attitude even... if it's absolutely terrible !" G: I agree... but, it's a bit extreme... ... I'll tell myself... "I missed my chance again!" After all... when I meet a man... I want to show my best side... I think... I'm confident enough in myself... and I have something to offer. But...when fear sets in...I show all my worst sides...I'm terrible...I...I go on the defensive because...again I failed to show my best qualities...again missed an opportunity to get close to that person. AE: Okay...but even if it's as you say...and I think it is... ...You should tell yourself a little differently... You should just tell yourself... "Crap! I missed my chance again... Good!.. next time I will use what I have learned this time and... I will show myself much better!” That's what you should tell yourself... when... you feel fear... shame... shyness... and something else very unpleasant... about another lost chance. G: I don't know...does it have anything to do with...what you said... ...I'm afraid that I'm the kind of woman who... ...always attracts the wrong men? There's something wrong with me... I've never met the man I wanted... I've always run into... others. AE: Okay... now you're closer to what I'm talking about... You're saying... "If I'm that type of woman... who can't attract the man I want... then... that's terrible.. .I won't be able to get what I want...and it...in fact...it will be just that! G: Of course! I don't want to think of myself that way! I think that my level is much higher... I don't like to think that I...maybe...are only worthy of average men. AE: Let's just assume that's the way it is... You are an absolutely average woman who deserves average men... Is it that terrible? That would be unpleasant... uncomfortable? But...feelings...like shyness...embarrassment...shame...could they be caused by the feeling that you are only worthy of average men? G: I don't know... AE: I know they can because... you keep believing in your low level and that. ..sad. It will be very bad...it will be terrible...if you are not good enough... G: Then...I will never get what I want!!! I will never accept that I am only worthy of average men... then I will not get what I want!!! I don't want to spend the rest of my life with a boring man! AE: I'll add... your chances are further reduced by the fact that... some boring girls date interesting men. G: Yes, exactly! AE: The main thing you said is... "That might be it... I'm having a hard time right now", but then you jump to another opinion... "I'll never get what I want" And so you create catastrophe. G: Yes... but that's how I feel at the moment... I feel like the failures will go on forever. AE: Absolutely right! But it is this belief that instills uncertainty in you. You become completely unsure of yourself. G: Yes... yes. AE: Uncertainty arises because... You talk about... that you want to be with a certain man... you want to be an interesting woman for him and you want... ... that he be interesting to you. G: Yes! AE: But... "If I don't get it now, then... then I'm not good enough and I'll never get what I want." Don't you think that's too hard thinking? G: Yes! AE: That's what I call a disaster... there is some undeniable truth in what you said... ...if...you don't get desired man, then ... it ... really will be ... extremely unpleasant and disappointing. You say that... you will never get what you want... and you add that... in connection with this, you will never happy man. Are you talking about this? G: Yes! AE: Well... let's assume the worst... as Bertrand Russell advised us... let's say you never get the man you want... are there... any... other ways to be happy? G: I just want to... own the process... I don't like... how I feel. Okay! .. let's say that this is not even a disaster. AE: Yes! If I don't even look at it as a catastrophe... I don't like it anyway... the way I live now!!! For example... if I meet someone... who I'm interested in... in whom I see potential... I get nervous and can't relax with him... I feel bad with him... although I should be more friendly and caring. If I stay closed, then I can't be...what I want to be. I want to be myself... but I lack confidence... I worry too much... AE: You're not just worried... You're very worried! You have anxiety! Because... if you just had anxiety... you could say to yourself... "It's great if I'm worried... and if I'm not worried... then... that's great!!! Now I have what I have!” But... when you worry again, you say to yourself... "If I don't have what I want now, then... I'll never get it!!! That's just terrible!!! I have to get it now or never!!!" Is it this kind of thinking that makes you worried? G: Yes, if I'm not happy with myself. If I don't have what I want right now, then I feel like I'm... on the... wrong track. AE: I hear you want guarantees. I advise you to say... "I would like to... be sure to be on the right track" G: No, Dr. Ellis, I mean a little different... actually... I want to... take a step towards the right way. AE: Who's stopping you? G: I don't know... I don't understand... what's happening to me. I don't know...why I can't attract a man...why I start to defend myself...why fear arises. Can you help me... to understand... why... am I so afraid? AE: In my opinion...the reason for your fear is...not something you can't find mutual language with the right man...if we take...a meeting with a new man...you don't know yet if he's the right man or not...but there will be fear...because you're afraid of not getting what you want. ..to miss this man and everyone else... You're afraid of never getting...what you want...and...perceive it as something terrible. You are building a disaster in your head. G: You said it rudely, but... in general... it is. But... I... do it... for a reason... AE: What are you doing? G: If I do something... I really like it... I'm really interested in it... ... AE: That's right! I would be more real... if I didn't want to bring this man closer. I would enjoy life more... if I was real. And I give him not the most pleasant part of me. AE: Right! G: How can anyone respect me... if... then... who I am... isn't true? AE: Let's look at it the other way. Let's say... you show your... not the most pleasant part. A man is watching you... he doesn't like your unpleasant part... it doesn't make him happy... but... I think he doesn't despise you as a person... as you yourself think. G: I make life difficult for myself by thinking this way. Why am I so worried... about whether he likes me... it's enough that I like him! AE: Right! As I said earlier... if people don't like you... then finding someone... who will love you is difficult... but... it's possible... You can meet as those who don't like... and those ... who like it. However... pay attention... how you lower yourself... in the eyes of other people... focusing not on... "how can I be myself"... but on... how to like. For example... let's imagine that a person has an injured hand... If he focuses on his problems with his hand... then... he forgets about himself as a whole... and cannot demonstrate his personality to others... he focuses attention... on his weak side... and cannot do what he would like to do. G: Yes, that's exactly what I do! AE: Yes, that's right... if you think about a part of yourself... about your hand... ...totally focus on thinking about your problematic part... ...you do the same with your... shyness... ...not accepting yourself for who you are... when you're around men... you focus so much on your weaknesses... that you forget about the big picture... what you really are The defective part that you think about does not allow you to relax and. .. to think that you are doing well... You cannot accept yourself... because of this defective part of yourself... ...because of what you think about it. When you understand this... the problem becomes quite simple... you just need to work on yourself and practice... ...a new attitude towards this destructive part. Let's get back to the point of our conversation... How can you be yourself? worry... but... You can say to yourself: “OK... I understand what is happening to me... I'm just learning... it's not as good... as I would like... but. .. despite this... I will continue to act stupid... as usual... ... I understand that you need to make mistakes in order to learn something. Okay... then... when you allow yourself to make mistakes... You stop being afraid to be yourself... Because... all you want to do on a date... is be yourself... You don't want to win a prize on a date... You don't want to marry this man and... live with him for a long time... G: I want a long-term relationship... I'm thinking about living with this man for a long time... AE: Okay... a long-term relationship ...but they can't be done right on a date... It is necessary to take a certain set of actions... in order to create a strong relationship... Thus... You come to accept yourself... however... if you continue to worry... ... about your shortcomings... You keep withdrawing into yourself ... and you should ask yourself ... "What do I really want to do with this man? .. Do I want to please him? .. ... and do I want him to please me?" After all, joy ... is the basis of life ... which cannot be lost. And you need the effort... to take the risk... to be like that. Because... if you get what you want... that's great... but if you don't... then you get upset. If you can't please him. Or he doesn't make you happy. Because... don't forget... if a man refused you... then you think: "It's my fault!!!" You know... it could be your cup of tea... or his... or maybe it's nobody's fault... it's reality... You're just incompatible... G: Yes... I agree... AE : So... if you want to really accept yourself as you are... then you have to make an effort... to work on yourself... to complete the tasks that I will give you... and in this way. .. raise yourself to that level. .. where you can express your opinion and... be yourself... at least for a while! Even... if it's dangerous... and can hurt you... you found yourself... you started to be yourself... but... as soon as... you lose yourself... look at yourself from the outside... and you will understand... that it was impossible to remain calm in this situation... because... You can watch yourself... your feelings... but you cannot remain calm... G : So... it's my habit... to worry... AE: After a while... after you take the risk... to work on yourself... ...starting a conversation with a man of the right like... and realizing... that you might seem like a fool... ...he won't like you at all... and lose this man forever... only after that... you start to go with the flow... be who you want to be... and I guarantee... practice will help you become more resilient... to your... shyness... because you will stop focusing on that "Oh... my God... . ..how terrible what I'm doing"... and start focusing on that... who you're dealing with... start thinking about... "how can I make this person happy?" focus on the relationship with the man... G: Wait... how can I make him happy... if I'm not satisfied with myself? AE: Because... as I said before... "if I can't enjoy who I am... then I can't accept myself... therefore... a man can't like me... » G: Yes... I agree with you doctor... ...in the future... in contacts with men... ...I would like to feel great...accept myself...now I'm constantly on edge and... defensive... ... I'm constantly watching what I'm saying... seeing if I've had a few drinks... ... I can't just relax and enjoy life. .. AE: You are giving me the opportunity to give a demonstration of the principles of REBT... ... why other directions do not work... because... if you really want to... ... want to understand yourself... using different instruments... ... for example... if you seem to be playing a game and want to win at it... you say to yourself... "I have to win today"... or.. "I have to win tomorrow"... "I have to WIN!!!" ... each time focusing... on... how to be nice to your man... ... you will never be yourself... you will never accept yourself... ... however... if You ask yourself... “What do I want to do with my life? "... and this path must be approved by some person... and let's see... if there is such a person... who approves exactly your path... AE: Do you understand? G: Yes! AE: Let's spend more time... ...finding a constructive solution to the problem... ...let's think more specifically about what you can do... You asked me...where do you need to go to meet the right people? people... ...I said... I don't know a specific place, but... I think you can make friends anywhere... ...if you...really...can do what oh what we said... take the risk of being yourself... and focus on... what you yourself want to get out of life... ... and... you have to understand... restructuring will take time... it's exactly like that... ...and it's not scary... and you know... why it's not scary to spend time on it... ...because... you can live openly... without embarrassment. .. with any new contacts... ... no matter... where the meeting is... on the bus... in a taxi... at a party... ... anywhere... you can talk with the people you want... ...ask your friends... if they have any nice acquaintances... but, the main thing... you have to... a) like yourself, even if... you do something wrong... and b)... keep calm... no matter how bad you feel... Now... as I said... if you were my patient... I would give you homework... ...intentionally... quite consciously... dragging yourself into troublesome situations... ...find a man who pleases you...and...force yourself to take risks... ...force yourself be me... G: Are you saying... that... if I go to the doctor... I should start flirting with him... ... just... because... I like him? .. AE: Right! G: Can I just start talking to him about personal matters? AE: Why not? If you like it? AE: It's easy for you))) ... but it seems quite difficult to me))) ... AE: That's what I'm talking about... what can you lose in this situation? The worst thing... ...that can happen... is that you will be rejected. But you won't take it as a rejection... ...if you take a rejection... as homework. G: Oh yes! AE: Now... can you try it? G: I think... I think... quite :) You made me look at it from the other side... You are right... all I can get is a rejection. AE: Right! And of course... You have to do this action at the moment... when you want... When you do your homework... I would be very interested to know... how it went... G: Oooh. .. I'll be very happy to tell you:))) AE: Well... it was very nice to meet you, Gloria... G: Thank you, doctor :) ...translation and subtitles - Igor Nepovny...

ABC model

The core of REBT theory is the ABC Model (sometimes "A-B-C", in the extended version - "ABCDE") of the development of emotional disorders, which is sometimes also called the "therapeutic change model" and "ABC-theory of personality", since it not only describes the process of developing dysfunctional emotions and behaviors, but is also used as a guide to address the causes of these mental disorders.

People tend to decide psychological problems, following his "naive" theories about the nature of these problems. They lack what REBT calls insight number 1: understanding that psychological disorders are often determined mainly by the absolutist views that people have about negative life events (“B” causes “C”). People make incorrect assumptions about the causes of their problems and try to change "A" rather than "B".

People can have insight number 1, but not happen insight number 2: People remain in their frustration by re-convincing themselves of their absolutist views in present.

Even if a person has had both of these insights, he may still suffer from his problems, due to the fact that he did not have insight number 3: only if a person works hard and trains to think, feel and act contrary to his irrational views and beliefs both in the present and in the future, he can change and become much calmer. In order to discern the pathological cycle they have fallen into, they need to vigorously and continuously challenge their destructive ideas in cognitive, emotional and behavioral terms.

Since REBT is a cognitive type of counseling and psychotherapy, it focuses on working with the cognitive determinants of the problem, as well as with secondary and tertiary constructs - in thoughts, emotions and behavior that reinforce the client's problem (for example, anxiety about anxiety, feeling guilty about your anger), which because of this, it is desirable to work with in the first place. This allows you to work with rather complex cases.

Used therapeutic methods

Basic REBT techniques is whole line cognitive, emotional and behavioral techniques:

  • detection dysfunctional outlook.
  • discrimination- helping the client to find clear differences between absolute (needs, requirements, imperatives) and non-absolute (preferences, desires, dreams, plans) values, that is, between irrational, unhealthy views and beliefs and healthy rational beliefs.
  • debate about (essentially - deconstruction) an irrational idea, with the goal of making the client abandon it.
  • definition techniques that aim to help the client use the language in a less disruptive way (For example, instead of "I can't..", "I haven't learned yet...").
  • "for" and "against" techniques - in which clients are encouraged to list both negative and positive about specific concepts in order to resist the habit of noticing only positive (or negative) aspects of it, and ignoring its opposite aspects (for example, in the case of smoking).
  • rational-emotional imagination. Imagining a social or real situation of failure, in which the client/client usually has irrational thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, and the subsequent restructuring of the imagination in such a way as to feel healthy (instead of irrational and pathological) feelings.
  • time projection method (instead of directly challenging dysfunctional beliefs, the client is encouraged to imagine what will happen to him some time after the "terrible" event, thus helping to indirectly change the irrational belief, since the client can "see" what will happen after this "terrible" event , he will be able to recover from it, start moving further towards his goals and create new goals).
  • hypnosis;
  • small violations of social rules to overcome shame (e.g., "stupidity" such as shouting the names of subway stops, singing songs on the streets at the top of your voice, talking to strangers on the streets and in public places, to keep up a conversation with them, trying to negotiate with a stranger about something, etc.). The main effect of this technique is associated with the gradual gaining of experience - a large number of attempts with small advances is important, which will eventually overcome shame;
  • supportive, vigorous self-suggestion - the repetition of rational statements with feeling and force in order to begin to feel them firmly, to be convinced of their validity, and also to ensure that they are internalized;
  • formulation of rational statements;
  • unconditional self-acceptance - teaches the client to fully accept himself in any conditions and evaluate only his individual features or actions and never - his totality, his essence, his self. Something can be bad, for example, the behavior of a person, but never the person himself;
  • role-playing games during which social skills are developed and various insufficiently conscious feelings are reflected, as well as small appeals to oneself / oneself causing some negative feelings in order to change them.
  • cognitive homework.

Accurate translation of terminology and names

The correct translation of the name of therapy (eng. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) is exactly " rational-emotional but- behavioral” (two hyphens) and not “rational-emotional and I behavioral ”(the last word is separate), since Ellis himself repeatedly emphasized the equivalence of the cognitive (rational), emotional and behavioral (behavioral) components. Nevertheless, in the books translated into Russian by A. Ellis, the second option is often found - probably, this happened historically.

The term " irrational beliefs" correctly translate exactly as " irrational beliefs", and not "beliefs", because, firstly, the verb " to believe” is translated as “believe”, and not as “persuade”, and secondly, the word persuasion can be understood in two ways: as an “idea, thought about something” and as a “process of persuasion”.

The term " m u sturbation" (not to be confused with " m a sturbation"") as a neologism should be translated " mustanism"- in the literature you can find the translation of" tyranny of duty "- these terms should not be confused, since Ellis's books use different words: "demandingness", "musturbatory", "musturbate".

Rational-emotional (rational-emotive) therapy (RET) was created by Albert Ellis in 1955. Its original version was called "rational therapy", but in 1961 it was renamed RET, since this term better reflects the essence of this direction. In 1993, Ellis began to use a new name for his method - rational-emotional-behavioral therapy (REBT). The term "behavioral" was introduced in order to show the great importance that this direction attaches to working with the actual behavior of the client.

According to rational-emotional therapy, people are happiest when they set important life goals and objectives and actively strive to achieve them. However, when setting and achieving these goals and objectives, a person should keep in mind the fact that he lives in society: while defending his own interests, it is necessary to take into account the interests of the people around him. This position is opposed to the philosophy of selfishness, when the wishes of others are not respected and are not taken into account. Since people tend to be goal-driven, rational in RET means that which helps people achieve their main goals and objectives, while irrational is that which hinders their implementation. Thus, rationality is not an absolute concept, it is relative in its very essence (Ellis A., Dryden W, 2002).

RET is rational and scientific, but uses rationality and science to help people live and be happy. It is hedonistic, but welcomes not momentary, but long-term hedonism, when people can enjoy the present moment and the future, and can come to this with a maximum of freedom and discipline. She suggests that nothing superhuman most likely exists, and believes that a devout belief in superhuman powers usually leads to addiction and an increase in emotional stability. She also argues that there are no people "lower class" or worthy of damnation, no matter how unacceptable and anti-social their behavior may be. It emphasizes will and choice in all human affairs, while accepting the possibility that some human actions are determined in part by biological, social, and other forces.

A. A. Alexandrov identifies categories of patients who can be shown rational-emotional therapy:

1) patients with poor adjustment, moderate anxiety, and also with marital problems;

2) patients with sexual disorders;

3) patients with neuroses;

4) individuals with character disorders;

5) school truants, child delinquents and adult delinquents;

6) patients with borderline personality disorder syndrome;

7) psychotic patients, including patients with hallucinations when they are in contact with reality;

8) individuals with mild forms of mental retardation;

9) patients with psychosomatic problems.

It is clear that RET does not have a direct effect on the patient's somatic or neurological symptoms, but it helps the patient to change his attitude and overcome neurotic reactions to the disease, strengthens his tendencies to fight the disease (Fedorov A.P., 2002). As B. D. Karvasarsky notes, rational-emotional therapy is indicated primarily for patients capable of introspection, analysis of their thoughts. It involves the active participation of the patient at all stages of psychotherapy, establishing relationships close to partnership with him, which is helped by a joint discussion of the possible goals of psychotherapy, problems that the patient would like to solve (usually these are symptoms of a somatic plan or chronic emotional discomfort).

Getting started involves informing the patient about the philosophy of rational-emotional therapy, which states that it is not the events themselves that cause emotional problems, but their evaluation.

Ellis puts forward a number of criteria for psychological health.

1. Compliance with one's own interests. Reasonable and emotionally healthy people usually put their own interests first and put them at least a little above the interests of other people. They sacrifice themselves to a certain extent for the sake of those they care about, but never completely go into it.

2. Social interest. Social interest is rational and, as a rule, is a personal interest, because most people, having chosen life and pastime in social groups or society, are forced to honor morality, respect the rights of others and promote social survival, otherwise they are unlikely to be able to create a world in which they themselves could live comfortably and happily.

3. Self-government. Healthy people usually tend to take responsibility for their lives and at the same time prefer to cooperate with others. They do not need any significant help and support and do not require it from others, although they may like IT.

4. High tolerance for frustration. Rational people give themselves and others the right to make mistakes. Even if they really don't like own behavior or the behavior of other people, they do not tend to directly condemn themselves and others, but judge only unacceptable and intolerant actions. People who don't suffer from debilitating emotional distress do what St. Francis and Reynold Niebuhr do: fix those undesirable conditions they can change, accept what they can't change, and have the wisdom to tell one from the other.

5. Flexibility. Healthy and mature people have flexible thinking, ready to change, not fanatical and pluralistic in their views on other people. They do not set rigid and unchanging rules for themselves or for others.

6. Acceptance of uncertainty. Healthy men and women tend to recognize and accept the idea that we live in a world of probability and chance, where absolute certainty does not exist and may never exist. These people are aware that life in such a probabilistic and uncertain world is fascinating and exciting, but it is certainly not terrible. They like order quite strongly, but they don't demand to know exactly what the future will bring and what will happen to them.

7. Devotion to creative pursuits. Most people feel healthier and happier when they are completely absorbed in something external to themselves and have at least one strong creative interest or activity that they consider so important that they organize a significant part of their life around it.

8. Scientific thinking. Less anxious individuals have more objective, realistic, and scientific thinking than more anxious individuals. They can deeply feel and act on feelings, but are able to regulate their emotions and actions, reflecting on them and evaluating their consequences depending on the extent to which they contribute to the achievement of short-term and long-term goals.

9. Self acceptance. Healthy people are usually glad that they are alive, and accept themselves only because they live and can enjoy it. They don't judge their inner worth by outer accomplishments or what others think of them. They sincerely choose unconditional self-acceptance and try not to evaluate themselves - neither their totality nor their being. They seek to enjoy, not to assert themselves.

10. Riskiness. Emotionally healthy people tend to take risks and try to do what they want, even if there is a high chance of failure. They are brave, but not reckless.

11. Delayed hedonism. Well-adjusted people usually seek both the pleasures of the present moment and those joys of life that the future promises; they rarely turn a blind eye to future losses for the sake of momentary gains. They are hedonistic, that is, they strive for happiness and avoid pain, but they admit that they still have some time to live and that therefore they need to think not only about today, but also about tomorrow and not allow momentary pleasures to take hold of them.

12. Dystopianism. Healthy people accept it as a fact that utopia is unattainable and that they will never be able to get everything they want or get rid of everything that hurts. They are not trying to fight for unrealistic total happiness, perfection and joy, or to completely get rid of anxiety, depression, self-reproach and cruelty.

13. Responsibility for your emotional disorders. Healthy individuals take much of the responsibility for their emotional problems on themselves rather than defensively blaming others or social conditions for their own self-destructive thoughts, feelings, and actions (Ellis A., Dryden W, 2002).

THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST WITH THE CLIENT

Rational-emotional therapy focuses on problem solving. As A.A. Alexandrov notes, patients take a dictatorial, dogmatic, absolutist position: they demand, they insist, they dictate. Emotional disorder appears when individuals have a strong belief that their desires must be satisfied. Their demands, their dictates, are that they must succeed; other people must approve of them. They insist that others treat them fairly. They dictate how the world should be and demand that it be more acceptable.

In the process of presenting complaints, the therapist invites the client to choose which problem needs to be solved first. RET is an active-directive therapy. The active-directive style is expressed in the fact that the therapist leads the client through clearly structured stages of therapy, vigorously suppresses sidetracking, offers methods and solutions, not being afraid to demonstrate the way of mastering individual methods and techniques. The client is initially directed towards the strategic goal - the adoption of a new, rational philosophy, the replacement of irrational attitudes with rational ones in the problem area.

At the very beginning of therapy, the client can be given, for example, the following instructions: “The therapy that we are starting is aimed at teaching you to manage your emotions and get rid of negative experiences. In the first stages of the work, you will be given the opportunity to understand the ways in which you yourself created your negative feelings. You can also change these ways and thereby experience other, positive emotions. All this will require you to be active in your work both here in the office and at home, since therapy involves doing homework, listening to audio recordings, reading special literature. I cannot be a magician and a magician who, with the wave of an eye, relieves you of illness and problems. I can be a guide that will help you get on the road to your desired goal ”(Fedorov A.P., 2002).

Rational-emotional therapy is impossible without the patient's self-disclosure, so the therapist must create conditions conducive to this process. He monitors and realizes what the difficulties of self-disclosure are connected with: with fears of publishing facts, with insufficient experience of self-disclosure, with a rigid stereotype of behavior, behind which an irrational attitude such as: "A man must solve his problems himself" can be hidden. In such cases, the psychotherapist should once again explain the essence of rational-emotional therapy, which requires sincerity, openness in the discussion of actual painful and avoided topics.

Without establishing a full contact between the doctor and the patient, the methods used may not give desired effect, then therapy will be directed to goals that are irrelevant to the patient. Accounting for the pace of progress, support and assistance to the client, provided both through verbal interventions and on non-verbal level, - all this can contribute to the self-disclosure of the client.

At the same time, rational-emotive therapy does not emphasize empathic support as much as, for example, Rogers' client-centered therapy does. According to the RET, one must, of course, accept patients, but at the same time one should criticize them, point out shortcomings in their behavior. Warmth and support often help patients live happier lives with unrealistic concepts. Ellis believes that an active-directive, cognitive-emotional-behavioral "attack" on self-defeating obligations and orders of patients is effective. The essence of effective psychotherapy, according to RET, is the combination of complete tolerance for the patient (unconditional acceptance of the client) with the struggle against his self-defeating ideas, traits and actions.

When starting to work on the patient's belief system, the therapist first of all seeks to identify his irrational attitudes. As we already know, the presence of irrational attitudes means the existence of a rigid connection between descriptive and evaluative cognition - a connection that implies a one-way development of events. Therefore, the use by patients of such words as “should”, “should”, “necessary” (“tyranny of must”) helps to identify rigid emotional-cognitive schemes. They are the object of "therapeutic attacks". Often the therapist "leads" the patient in a conversation to the use of these words, expresses hypothetical sentences containing them in order to force the patient to recognize their power over himself (Aleksandrov A.A., 1997).

After identifying irrational attitudes, the therapist proceeds to reconstruct the belief system; In this case, the impact is carried out at three levels: cognitive, emotional and behavioral.

Impact at the cognitive level. Rational-emotional therapy attempts to show patients that they are better off giving up perfectionism if they want to live a happier and less anxious life. She teaches them to be aware of their “must”, “should”, “should”; to separate rational beliefs from irrational (absolutist) ones; apply the logical-empirical method of science to oneself and one's problems; accept reality, no matter how cruel and harsh they may be. RET helps patients hone their cognitive processes. It is explanatory and didactic.

Rational-emotional therapy uses a Socratic type of dialogue between the patient and the therapist. Cognitive debate is used. This technique includes proving the validity of the patient's irrational attitude. The task of the psychotherapist is to clarify the meaning and demonstrate its logical inconsistency. In the process of such a dispute, a secondary gain can be revealed, which gives the preservation of the irrational attitude. RET encourages discussion, explanation and identification of the causes of inefficient thinking, teaches semantic accuracy. For example, if a patient is rejected, this does not mean that he will always be rejected; if the patient fails, this does not mean that he cannot succeed (Aleksandrov A. A., 1997).

Impact on an emotional level. The therapist uses various ways of dramatizing preferences and shoulds so that patients can clearly distinguish between these two phenomena - “it would be better” and “should”, for which there is a role-playing game that shows patients what false ideas guide them and how this affects their relationship with other people. The therapist may use simulations to show patients how to accept different ideas. Using humor, the therapist absurdizes irrational thoughts and, through unconditional acceptance, shows that patients accept them despite the presence of negative traits, which gives clients an impulse to accept themselves. The therapist uses emotionally charged dissuasion, leading patients to discard some absurd ideas and replace them with more reasonable concepts.

The therapist encourages risk-taking behavior:

a) invites patients of a psychotherapeutic group to tell frankly to one of its participants what they think of him. As a result, patients are convinced that it is actually not so risky;

b) encourages patients to self-disclosure by offering, for example, to talk about deviations in their sexual life. This experience convinces them that others can accept them despite their shortcomings;

c) invites patients to get in touch with their "shameful" feelings, such as hostility, which gives them the opportunity to reveal the thoughts that precede these feelings.

The therapist may also use sensory gratification techniques, such as cuddling with other group members. This is not done for momentary pleasure, but to show patients that they are able to perform pleasurable actions that they would never have dared to do before, for pure pleasure, without feeling guilty, even if others do not approve of them for this. (Aleksandrov A. A., 1997).

Impact at the behavioral level. Behavioral methods, notes A.A. Alexandrov, are used in rational-emotional therapy not only to eliminate symptoms, but also to change the cognitions of patients. Thus, the tendency of patients to perfectionism can be reduced by the following tasks of the therapist:

a) take risks, such as trying to date someone of the opposite sex;

b) intentionally fail in solving a problem, for example, deliberately speak badly in front of the public;

c) imagine yourself in situations of failure;

d) enthusiastically take up activities that the patient considers especially dangerous.

Giving up patients' demands that others treat them fairly and that goodness and justice rule the world can be achieved by offering them the following tasks:

a) to stay in bad circumstances for a while and learn to accept them;

b) perform difficult tasks (for example, entering a university or a prestigious job);

c) imagine yourself in a situation of deprivation of something and at the same time not feel upset;

d) indulge in some pleasant activity (go to the movies, meet friends) only after completing an unpleasant but necessary task (a French lesson or completing a report for your boss), etc.

RET often uses operant conditioning to get rid of bad habits (smoking, overeating) or changing irrational thinking (for example, condemning oneself for smoking or overeating) (Aleksandrov A.A., 1997).

Other behavioral techniques used in RET include:

1) the "Stay There" exercise, which provides the client with the opportunity to endure the chronic discomfort of being in an unpleasant situation for a long time;

2) exercises in which the client is encouraged to force himself to get down to business immediately, without putting it off until later, while at the same time suffering from the discomfort of fighting the habit of putting everything off until tomorrow;

3) the use of rewards and punishments to induce the client to take on an unpleasant task in pursuit of his delayed goals (severe punishments are especially helpful in the case of strongly resistant clients);

4) from time to time the client is encouraged to behave as if he already thinks rationally, so that he can understand from his own experience that change is possible (Ellis A., Dryden W, 2002).

In the very general view In order to achieve a mindset change, Ellis recommends the following to clients.

1. Recognize that they create their own psychological problems to a large extent and, although environmental conditions may play a significant role in their problems, they are usually taken into account in the process of change in the second place.

2. Fully recognize that they are able to thoroughly cope with their own difficulties.

3. Understand that emotional disorders are mainly due to irrational, absolutist and dogmatic views.

4. Define your irrational beliefs and distinguish between them and their rational alternative.

5. Challenge these irrational beliefs using realistic, logical, and heuristic methods, as well as by feeling and acting against them.

6. Work to internalize new, effective perspectives using a variety of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral change methods.

7. Continue the process of changing irrational beliefs and using multimodal methods throughout your life.

TECHNIQUES THAT ARE AVOIDED IN RATIONAL EMOTIONAL THERAPY

So, RET is a multimodal form of therapy that welcomes the use of cognitive, emotional and behavioral modality techniques. However, due to the fact that the choice of therapeutic techniques is based on theory, in practice some techniques are not used or are used extremely rarely. Among them, the following should be highlighted (Ellis A., Dryden W, 2002):

1. Techniques that make clients more dependent (for example, the therapist's excessive warmth as a strong reinforcer, the creation and analysis of a replacement neurosis).

2. Techniques that make people more gullible and suggestible (for example, seeing the world through rose-colored glasses).

3. Techniques that are verbose and ineffective (eg, psychoanalytic methods in general and free association in particular, which encourage the client to give lengthy descriptions of the activating experience, or "A").

4. Methods that help the client feel better in a short time, but do not guarantee stable improvement (for example, separate empirical techniques in which feelings are fully expressed in a dramatic, cathartic and abreactive manner are part of the methods and basic techniques of Gestalt therapy, dangerous in that they may encourage people to put into practice the philosophy behind emotions such as anger).

5. Techniques that distract clients from working on their dysfunctional worldview (eg, relaxation, yoga, and other cognitive distraction techniques). They can, however, be used together with cognitive challenge to give way to shifts in philosophy.

6. Techniques that may inadvertently reinforce a philosophy of low frustration tolerance (eg gradual desensitization).

7. Techniques in which there is an anti-scientific philosophy (for example, suggestion therapy and mysticism).

8. Techniques that attempt to change the activating event (A) before demonstrating to the client how to change their irrational beliefs (C) (eg, individual family therapy techniques).

9. Techniques without sufficient empirical support (eg, NLP, non-directive therapy, rebirthing).

Example. Using a boolean argument.

Here Ellis challenges the client's irrational belief that if he treats his friend very well and fairly, then the friend simply has to treat him the same way. Ellis uses mostly logical arguments.

Ellis. Suppose you accurately describe the situation with your friend - he treats you vilely and meanly after all the time you have done good towards him. Why does it follow from the fact that you behave well towards him that he should return kindness to you?

Client. Because it would be dishonorable of him if he acted differently!

Ellis. Yes, we agree with this. He is really dishonest, and you are decent. Can you jump around like this: “Since I am decent towards him, he must be decent towards me”?

Client. But he is wrong if he acts dishonestly, when I - decently.

(At this point, Ellis and his client have opposite goals. Ellis keeps asking the client why his friend should be decent to him, and the client keeps saying that his friend is wrong and dishonest, which Ellis doesn't ask.)

Ellis. I agree. But from the fact that you are honest and supposedly honest, and from the fact that he uses your decency, does it still follow that he must be honest and behave decently towards you?

Client. Logically follows.

Ellis. Truth? For me it looks like complete absurdity.

Client. Like this?

(It is typical for Ellis to change emphasis. He claims that the client's belief is illogical, and waits for the client to ask why before expanding on this topic, he wants to get the client to ask: "Why do you say that?")

Ellis. Well, it is logical and consistent that it would be preferable if he treated you decently when you do him good. But aren't you making the illogical - or "magic" - jump: "Since it would be preferable if he behaved decently towards me, then he is absolutely obliged to do so"? What universal "logical" law leads to yours, "He absolutely must do this"?

Client. Probably none.

Ellis. In logic, we get the necessary conclusions, for example: "If all men are people and John is a man, then he must be a man." Your "logic" says: "People who are treated fairly often act decently towards others; I act decently towards others; I act decently towards my friend, so it is absolutely essential that he behave in the same way towards me.”

Is this a logical conclusion?

(Here is another typical Ellis strategy. He starts by remarking in a didactic manner. As in this case, this remark illustrates a rational idea (here a logical idea). He then contrasts it with the client's irrational idea (here an illogical idea), but does not tells the client that his idea is illogical, but encourages him to think for himself by asking, "Is this a logical conclusion?" This passage is worth studying in detail because it is very typical of Ellis' effective discussion.)

Client. I think no.

Ellis. Moreover, you seem to be arguing that since your friend has treated you dishonorably when you have only done him good, his actions make him a mean person. Is this reasoning logical?

(Ellis extracts the belittlement of the other from his client's "shoulds" and "must"s.)

Client. Why not?

(As you will see, Ellis answers the client's question right away. You could encourage the client to try to answer his own question before going on a didactic note.)

Ellis. It's illogical because you're generalizing too much. You jump from his low deeds - or even from one of his traits - to an assessment of his essence, his totality as "low". Why does such an overgeneralization follow from several of his actions?

(Here Ellis states a logical fallacy the client is making by showing him how that fallacy is represented in his belief about a friend, and finally asking him about the logic of that belief.)

Client. Now I see that it shouldn't.

Ellis. So what conclusion can be drawn instead?

(Here Ellis encourages the client to be active in their reasoning.)

Client. Well, I might think that he is not his main actions. He is a man who often, but not always, behaves indecently.



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