I’m a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) practitioner and one thing I appreciate about this psychotherapeutic modality, which falls under the umbrella of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), is that people who practice the model approach it from their own unique perspectives.
As long as the core tenets of REBT theory are incorporated to one’s approach, a person can modify the application of REBT techniques. In general, CBT focuses on patterns of thinking and believing which influence how people further think or believe, feel (emotions or bodily sensations), and behave.
Specifically, REBT theory uses the ABC model to illustrate how when Activating events (“Actions”) occur and people maintain irrational Beliefs about the events, these unhelpful assumptions – and not the actual occurrences – are what create unpleasant cognitive, emotive, bodily sensation, and behavioral Consequences.
In particular, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people use: demandingness, awfulizing, low frustration tolerance, and global evaluations. Addressing these, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unhelpful assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs.
From a psychological standpoint, people disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.
As an example, if a cat scratches you with its claws (Action), you may bleed (Consequence). Still, if you unhelpfully Believe, “That shouldn’t have happened to me,” then you’ll likely disturb yourself into an angry disposition (Consequence).
Thus, I help people to stop upsetting themselves through use of B-C connections, though I can’t fully resolve their A-C connections. If there were a mathematical formula for the ABC model, it would be something like: Action + Belief = Consequence ÷ Disputation = Effective new belief.
Noteworthy, the aforementioned formula isn’t something featured in REBT literature. I came up with it on my own. Perhaps another REBT practitioner may reject my formulaic concept altogether. If so, that’s fine. Other practitioners are welcome to their opinions.
When using psychoeducation to teach people about my approach to REBT, I value use of the adapted formula. As well, other individuals have expressed appreciation for how I conceptualize use of the ABCDE extended formula which stems from the original ABC model.
In any case, I don’t agree with everything other REBT practitioners and researchers propose in regard to the model. For instance, consider the following graphic obtained from one source:
I appreciate that the source accurately identifies that the A-C connection is a popular misconception concerning self-disturbance. As well, I value how the source identifies behavioral and emotional consequences of a B-C connection.
Nevertheless, I find it redundant to use an ‘F’ when representing “new feelings,” as the source’s use of ‘E’ adequately illustrates “new effects” which already encompass feelings. There’s simply no reason to include a standalone ‘F’ in the ABC model.
Of course, I’m not rigidly demanding that people mustn’t use redundancy in their approach to REBT. After all, anyone familiar with the content of my blog likely understands that I rely heavily upon repetition when facilitating psychoeducation.
Therefore, my purpose of posting the current blog entry is to highlight how REBT practitioners may adapt techniques of the modality as long as such modifications comport with REBT theory. To provide a final demonstration of how this process of alteration occurs, consider what one of the leading REBT theorists has stated:
I prefer the term ‘attitudes’ to the term ‘beliefs’. I also prefer the term ‘examine’ to the term ‘dispute’, which suggests a harsher and more adversarial activity. To preserve the letter D in the ABCDE extended framework, I formally use the term ‘dialectical examination of attitudes’, but throughout the book I will use forms of the word ‘examine’. A ‘dialectical examination’ is a method of examining and discussing opposing ideas in order to find the truth. As rigid/extreme attitudes and flexible/non-extreme attitudes are opposing ideas, ‘dialectical examination’ is a very apt term here.
Personally, modification of the ABC model to incorporate “dialectical examination of attitudes” is a bit too verbose for pragmatic practice. This I state as someone whose entire blog is rife with overly verbose and clunky explanations of REBT.
Nonetheless, the point I’m making herein is that REBT practitioners are free to approach the modality using unique perspectives. This is unlike some manualized psychotherapeutic modalities which have evidence-based efficacy only in regard to practice which is rigorously and even rigidly focused on manual interventions.
Although I don’t prefer an ‘ABCDEF’ or “dialectical examination of attitudes” approach to REBT, I’m grateful for the ability of practitioners to develop their own unique styles. If you’d like to know more about my approach to REBT, I’m here to help.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Dryden, W. (2023, October). Fundamentals of rational emotive behaviour therapy: A training handbook, 3rd edition. Wiley. Retrieved from https://dokumen.pub/fundamentals-of-rational-emotive-behaviour-therapy-a-training-handbook-3nbsped-1394198515-9781394198511.html
Hollings, D. (2024, May 19). Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/cognitive-behavior-therapy-cbt
Hollings, D. (2024, March 19). Consequences. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/consequences
Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (2023, September 13). Global evaluations. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/global-evaluations
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, May 18). Irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2022, December 2). Low frustration tolerance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/low-frustration-tolerance
Hollings, D. (2024, April 2). Four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/four-major-irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2023, April 24). On truth. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-truth
Hollings, D. (2024, January 1). Psychoeducation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychoeducation
Hollings, D. (2023, September 15). Psychotherapeutic modalities. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapeutic-modalities
Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt
Hollings, D. (2024, January 4). Rigid vs. rigorous. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rigid-vs-rigorous
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Sensation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sensation
Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought
Hollings, D. (2024, January 8). Suspicion vs. belief. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/suspicion-vs-belief
Hollings, D. (2022, November 9). The ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-abc-model
Hollings, D. (2022, December 23). The A-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-a-c-connection
Hollings, D. (2022, December 25). The B-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-b-c-connection
Hollings, D. (2022, November 2). The formula. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-formula
Hollings, D. (2022, November 15). To don a hat. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-don-a-hat
Mahfar, M., Noah, S. M., and Senin, A. A. (2019, May). Development of rational emotive education module for stress intervention of Malaysian boarding school students [Image]. ResearchGate. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/figure/ABCDEF-model-based-on-the-REBT-approach-Source-Adapted-from-Ellis-and-Bernard-1983_fig1_333168958
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