`This is an outstanding overview of the man and his work. The text is concise, organized and very readable. It would certainly serve well as an introduction to the theory and practice of REBT, as well as being a book that many practitioners will wish to own. This is a welcome addition to this excellent series and is highly recommended to all therapists' - Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
`[An] excellent exposition... Yankura and Dryden emphasise well the difference between the methods of REBT and other therapies... The development and changing emphases of Ellis' work are superbly illustrated' - Counselling, The Journal of the British Association for Counselling
`Yankura and Dryden provide the reader with useful insights into the charismatic guru of REBT, Albert Ellis... The book contains the major theoretical position, furnishing readers with a digestible definition of philosophical humanism and presents Ellis' position on therapeutic and untherapeutic interventions... a respectful testament' - Clinical Psychology Forum
`Yankura and the indefatigable Dryden do not only pay tribute to Albert Ellis with this book, but have also given an excellent review of his work and how this grew out of his personal development. It deals with major contributions to theory and practice, criticisms and rebuttals, and presents a no-nonsense overview of the overall influence of the grand old man, who is definitely one of the giants in our field... The text is written eloquently and comprehensively, providing the reader with a quick and compact insight into salient issues. I would recommend this book to novices as well as advanced psychotherapists of all persuasions' - Behaviour Research and Therapy
Product Description
Albert Ellis founded and has spent a lifetime practising and teaching rational emotive behaviour therapy. REBT (previously RET) is important not only in its own terms as an effective therapeutic approach to emotional disturbance, but also as the precursor of the cognitive-behavioural therapy movement which now exerts such an influence on the mental health field.
Joseph Yankura and Windy Dryden, leading proponents of the rational-emotive behavioural approach in the United States and Britain respectively, present a lucid overview of the life and major contributions of Albert Ellis. Using numerous excerpts from Ellis's own writings to enliven and clarify the discussion, they look in particular at the famous ABC analysis which enables people to understand and deal with their own problems, the key concepts of ego disturbance and discomfort disturbance, and Ellis's views on therapeutic efficiency.
Despite his voluminous writings, Ellis has often been misunderstood and misrepresented. He has attracted considerable criticism which he has diligently rebutted. This concise but comprehensive explanation of his theories and practice will help to confirm his place in the development of psychotherapy and to assess the significance of those debates. A highly accessible book, it will prove invaluable for all counsellors and psychotherapists.
