Merely identifying as a psychotherapist with graduate degrees and licensure in counseling and social work doesn’t a proficient behavioral health care provider make. Likewise, simply having been trained in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) doesn’t a skillful practitioner make.
Thus, I strive to broaden my knowledgebase through continued education and training so that I may better serve the clients with whom I work. Regarding this matter, The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion (“Pocket Companion”) suggests a number of helpful ideas.
For instance, page 213 of the Pocket Companion invites REBT practitioners to read transcripts and listen to sessions of other REBT therapists. Integration of their techniques and strategies into one’s own work, while also valuing a personal style, may be useful in this regard.
One trusted resource I utilize is the YouTube channel of Steve Johnson, Ph.D. Johnson offers many videos I find helpful, as he presents skill development content in a manner I find understandable and enjoyable.
As well, books such as Windy Dryden’s Fundamentals of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: A training handbook, 3rd edition provide brief written transcripts which I appreciate. Tools such as Johnson’s videos and Dryden’s books help me to hone my craft as an REBT practitioner.
Page 214 of the Pocket Companion suggests that when watching visual content or listening to audio material, one can stop the recording before other REBT practitioners provide a substantial response while attempting to formulate one’s own intervention. This allows one the ability to compare and contrast specific remedies.
As well, page 215 of the Pocket Companion proposes that in order to develop practitioner skills a psychotherapist may want to review audio recordings of one’s own sessions. However, my clients and I have a strict agreement not to record one another, so I don’t practice this method of skill development.
Page 216 of the Pocket Companion reminds REBT practitioners that “there is no single way of practicing.” This useful reminder guards against psychotherapeutic modality purism.
For instance, the late psychologist Albert Ellis, Ph.D. developed REBT in 1955. If one were to strictly practice in its purest form, Rational Emotive Therapy, as it was originally called, then crucial enhancements of the modality may be ignored as REBT has changed over time.
In this way, use of a no true Scotsman fallacy – maintaining that no real REBT practitioner would veer from the original method – would serve as a limiting factor for development of practitioner skills. Thus, how I practice REBT will differ from how other practitioners approach the method.
Page 217 of the Pocket Companion encourages REBT practitioners to read REBT literature though not to allow ideas of others to stifle one’s own creativity. In this way, I develop my own psychotherapeutic style rather than copying behavior of other practitioners, per page 218 of the Pocket Companion.
The one exception to this admission is that I, from time to time, like impersonating Ellis’ voice and demeanor in client sessions. I’m told that the people with whom I work find my impersonation amusing while also helpful at understanding REBT overall.
Page 219 of the Pocket Companion suggests approaching psychoeducation in different ways. Varying imaginative approaches and the medium by which one delivers teaching elements may be useful, as the message is the central component upon which one may focus.
Additionally, page 220 of the Pocket Companion encourages use of techniques from other modalities while doing so in a manner that’s consistent with REBT theory. Regarding this suggestion, I employ use of several cognitive behavior therapy models.
Ultimately, developing practitioner skills is a method of finding one’s own unique approach to delivering REBT that serves both clients and practitioners well. As I’ve been using this modality since 2011, I’ll continue meaningful development practices along the way.
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:
AEI. (n.d.). About Albert Ellis, Ph.D. Albert Ellis Institute. Retrieved from https://albertellis.org/about-albert-ellis-phd/
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
Dryden, W. (n.d.). Windy Dryden [Official website]. Retrieved from https://www.windydryden.com/
Dryden, W. and Neenan, M. (2003). The REBT Therapist’s Pocket Companion. Albert Ellis Institute. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-rebt-therapists-pocket-companion-d185164652.html
Halasz, G. (2004, December). In conversation with Dr Albert Ellis. Australian Psychiatry. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227984238_In_Conversation_with_Dr_Albert_Ellis
Hollings, D. (2024, May 30). Behavioral health care. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/behavioral-health-care
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. (2023, July 18). Denying the antecedent. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/denying-the-antecedent
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. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
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. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist
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
Johnson, S. (n.d.). Psychotherapy education and training [Official YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/c/rebteducationandtraining
Psychotherapy Network. (n.d.). Steve A Johnson, PhD, ScD. Retrieved from https://catalog.psychotherapynetworker.org/speaker/steve-johnson-590508/18
Vecstock. (n.d.). Smiling senior man in bow tie holds book confidently generated by artificial intelligence [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-ai-image/smiling-senior-man-bow-tie-holds-book-confidently-generated-by-artificial-intelligence_80843253.htm#fromView=search&page=3&position=26&uuid=b163ddf6-6f79-4694-9cd5-4f96ba96ae5a
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