When I initially began posting content to my blog I understandably received criticism regarding the bland material I presented that didn’t adequately reflect my personal approach to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). After all, representations of me were missing from posts.
After receiving invaluable feedback from sources within my inner circle, I made an appropriate change and began using many personal anecdotes. Although I don’t post content in order to receive positive regard, I admittedly was receptive to expressed appreciation for this change.
Regarding this matter, the technique I learned in graduate school was called “use of self.” This is done when a psychotherapist draws upon personal experience for the benefit of other people. Expanding upon this topic, I stated in a blogpost entitled Use of Self:
Of course, I’m not oblivious to the notion that some people don’t necessarily want to know about me. As an example, you may’ve wanted to read stale content about use of self. Here I am, sharing information about my past, and for what reason?
I could write similarly boring posts as plastic therapists who present an artificial image to the public. Truly, it would require far less vulnerability to write industry standard, synthetic content. However, that wouldn’t be true to the self or a proper application regarding use of self.
If an individual desires bland content pertaining to REBT or mental, emotional, and behavioral health in general, there are ample resources available online and elsewhere for such material. My blog is not one such source, nor do I intend on transitioning back to that type of information.
Noteworthy, REBT incorporates philosophical practices into this helpful psychotherapeutic modality. One such theoretical framework relates to humanism. Regarding this practice, I stated in a blog entry entitled A Humanistic Approach to Mental Health:
Unlike other forms of CBT [cognitive behavior therapy], REBT places emphasis on qualities of humanism which one source describes as “a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential, and agency of human beings, whom it considers the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry.”
In a blogpost entitled Completing the Puzzle, I stated, “Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.” In essence, people have it within themselves to heal themselves and lead a good or healthy life.
Along with valuing personal empowerment, humanists are able to use themselves as anecdotal evidence for one’s ability to attain a subjective level of self-improvement. As such, I frequently talk about myself within my blog as a means of illustrating the self-help element of REBT.
When recently completing required continuing education units for my profession, I was reminded of how other therapeutic modalities also draw upon humanist wisdom. For instance, NetCE course material stated:
Self-disclosure can be considered another type of gift; however, it is best saved for a special occasion, shared deliberately, and always with the client’s welfare first and foremost in mind. Self-disclosure is useful when it benefits the client, not the counselor.
Although self-disclosure may cause no problems in therapy, it may intrude on the client’s psychic space or replace a client’s rich and clinically useful fantasy with dry fact, stripped of meaningful affect.
Humanistic theorists openly embrace counselor self-disclosure, asserting that such interventions demonstrate counselors’ genuineness and positive regard for clients. It is not surprising that professionals with behavioral and cognitive orientations view professional self-disclosures positively, especially when these interventions are intended to serve as a model for client self-disclosure.
When working individually with clients, I use self-disclosure sparingly. However, because my blog isn’t intended to serve as a counselor-client or social worker-client relationship, I employ the use of self technique generously.
While it’s a virtually uncomplicated affair to provide anonymized examples or hypothetical cases when addressing various topics (e.g., client X presented with problem Y), I talk about myself in my blog so that people can understand the real-life situations which I’ve experienced.
For many years, I knew nothing of REBT. Therefore, I self-disturbed quite a bit. Often, within my blog, I retrospectively assess what went wrong when using unfavorable beliefs which resulted in unpleasant outcomes.
This is done for the psychoeducational benefit of the reader. As well, a lot of the content that I post serves as shame attacking exercises in the interest of modeling behavior—demonstration of desired or preferable behavior. Ergo, this is why I talk so much about myself in my blog.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help 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 try 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 trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Hollings, D. (2024, May 23). A humanistic approach to mental health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-humanistic-approach-to-mental-health
Hollings, D. (2024, May 22). A philosophical approach to mental health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-philosophical-approach-to-mental-health
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, April 15). Completing the puzzle. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/completing-the-puzzle
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2024, December 30). Empowerment. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/empowerment
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. (2024, March 4). Mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-emotional-and-behavioral-health
Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Open, honest, and vulnerable communication. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/open-honest-and-vulnerable-communication
Hollings, D. (2024, February 24). Personal agency. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/personal-agency
Hollings, D. (2024, March 27). Plastic people. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/plastic-people
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
Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2024, June 5). Self-help. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-help
Hollings, D. (2022, September 8). Shame attacking. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/shame-attacking
Hollings, D. (2024, November 23). Use of self. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/use-of-self
Kuik, J. C. (n.d.). Humanism. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/humanism/v-1
NetCE. (2024, December 1). #77042: Setting ethical limits: For caring and competent
professionals.
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Humanism. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism
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