Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy

Pioneered by Albert Ellis, Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT) was a forerunner of today's popular Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

REBT helps people to understand how their thinking can influence their feelings and behaviour, and is a great way to learn how to manage feelings such as stress, anxiety, anger, depression and guilt.

Is REBT the right choice for you?

Any counselling approach suits some people better than others. It is important to find the best choice for you. Your first session will give you the opportunity to ask all the questions that you want to ask, for us to decide if we can work together, and to decide if you wish to continue with this approach or to explore other options available. 

What will happen in REBT Counselling Sessions?

There are no secrets in REBT.  Initially I will explain the basic theory and help you to understand how it may relate to, and help with, the difficulties you are experiencing.  Whilst REBT Counselling will acknowledge that your past may have influenced the way you feel, the focus remains on the “here and now” and the problems you are currently experiencing.  There is no “in-depth” exploration of your past events or traumas.

Between counselling sessions you may have worksheets to complete.  These are the “tools” to help you to start to put REBT into practice and to feel the benefits.  Worksheets are there simply to help you understand and make changes, but it is not a “paperwork exercise” and we will aim to dispense with paperwork at the earliest opportunity and as you begin to apply the techniques to help yourself.

There may be other problems that have arisen for you whilst experiencing intense unpleasant emotions and unhelpful behaviours, (for example: You may have consumed excess alcohol as a result of feeling very anxious), and in our sessions I can help you with other techniques and life skills that will compliment your REBT.

How long does it take?

It is difficult to say just how many sessions you would need, but most people have at least six.

Sessions vary as we will tailor them to your individual needs but as an overview we would cover the following:

Getting to know you
Confidentiality, boundaries and practical issues
Your goals and reasons for Counselling
The basics of REBT
The ABC process
A simple worksheet
“Golden Rule” type thinking
The B-C connection
How to dispute unhelpful thoughts
C becoming A
“Awfulising” type thinking
The D and E
Secondary Emotions
Thinking about thinking
A complete ABCDE
“People-rating” and its effect
How to stop people-rating
Keeping track of progress
Adding further skills
Review of REBT
Plans and goals for the future
Further options for counselling
“Feel Better More of the Time”

REBT Worksheet Example
Click image for PDF

If you would like to try REBT

or if you would like more information

Contact Me