When recently working with a client who’s a fan of hip hop I was reminded of a rap song and tool that helped this individual remember to practice the ABC model of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Perhaps you, too, will benefit from this reminder about disputation.
The ABC model illustrates that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption and not the occurrence itself that causes an unpleasant Consequence. This represents a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection.
Addressing how people self-disturb with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of these unproductive assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Also, Actions and Consequences aren’t Disputed, as only unproductive Beliefs are challenged.
When using psychoeducation to teach people about the B-C connection, I find it helpful to introduce humorous anecdotes, intriguing songs, and memorable examples which call to mind the utility of REBT tools. For instance, in a blogpost entitled Mental Defense Attorney, I stated:
For the purpose of psychotherapy, I equate the self-damning narratives we tell ourselves to the accusations of a prosecutor. We make claims about ourselves and often simply assume there is evidence to support these charges.
Consider that you are not your thoughts and you represent the defendant herein. We can think all sorts of things about ourselves that may or may not be true, rational, logical, helpful, or healthy.
A competent mental defense attorney is one that effectively disputes irrational beliefs. Aside from this memorable example, I recently evoked an intriguing song with which my client was familiar and that allows one an ability to remember use of disputation.
In 2007, rapper Rich Boy, along with producer Lil Jon, released the track “Throw Some D’s (Remix)” which featured lyricist André 3000 and rappers Jim Jones, Murphy Lee, Nelly, and the Game. As a side note, “D’s” in the song refers to Dayton Wire Wheels, not deez nuts (got ‘eem!)
In any event, the introduction of the song features a woman stating, “I used to think about immature things. You know, like, ‘Do you love me? Do you want me? Are you gon’ call me like you said you would? Is this really your real phone number?”
One can imagine that the distorted inference of her admission leads to an irrational belief using demandingness, low frustration tolerance, awfulizing, and global evaluation. Respectively, she likely maintains, “You shouldn’t reject me, because I couldn’t stand that, as it would be awful, and would mean that I’m worthless.”
When people use unhelpful beliefs such as this, unpleasant cognitive, emotive, sensational, and/or behavioral consequences will follow. Humorously (to me), after the woman featured in the intro of the song finishes speaking, Lil Jon then yells, “Wait a minute, motherfuckas!”
I prefer to think of the woman’s monologue as relating to self-disturbing beliefs and Lil Jon’s response as a dispute to these assumptions. As such, in Lil Jon fashion, I encouraged my client to remember to throw some D’s (disputation techniques) on one’s unfavorable beliefs.
Now I invite you to practice a similar method of un-disturbing yourself. Rather than enduring unpleasant consequences of your unproductive beliefs, maybe you can throw some D’s on ‘em. If you’d like to know more about how to reduce needless suffering, I’m here to try to help.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues 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 trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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