Customer Reviews

Better, Deeper And More Enduring Brief Therapy: The Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Approach

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was written for therapists, and I am not a therapist, but I found it relatively easy reading. The author is the founder of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). He teaches that Activating Experiences (A) leads to rational Beliefs (rB) or irrational Beliefs (iB) which in turn have Consequences (C). The foundation of the theory is to teach clients to transform their irrational beliefs into rational beliefs and thereby change their negative behaviors and outcomes. The client accomplishes much of this through the use of "homework" and must work hard through a relatively brief therapeutic experience. The system is so simple as to almost be self-evident.

Much of what Ellis says has already reached the ears of the general population through his many popular books. It is probably the case that his popular books are less condescending to the public than this one is in reference to the client. He refers, for example, to the DC -- the Difficult Customer -- somebody who is hard to reach or who has a serious mental illness, for example. But again, this book is directed to therapists. On the other hand, I wouldn't discourage a bright "neurotic," "disturbed" person, or DC from reading it.