Summary Of Albert Ellis Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Albert Ellis’s Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy introduces the idea that people are not disturbed by things, but rather the view the person takes as well as what they tell themselves. He believed that emotions, thoughts, and behavior were all integrated; that it did not matter which came first because they were interactive. This theory can teach me about myself. I have started to pay attention to what I truly believe in addition to what I am telling myself about certain situations. I have found that I am pessimistic in my thoughts; therefore my emotions and behaviors are also negative. For example, this semester I have been stressed with my three classes while working full time hours. I continue to believe that I have too much on my plate
and that I cannot complete it all well enough. Therefore, I end up feeling down on myself and do not end up performing to my best ability because I do not think it is possible. I tend to have irrational believes. I often feel that I must get good grades, perform well at work, and spend quality time with my boyfriend and his two children. These irrational beliefs lead to distress. Not only does this theory provide the ABC method of behavior that may help while working with a child in the school setting, but it also can be applied to my life. Personally, I can start to focus on this method of addressing the activating event (school work/busy schedule), evaluate what I believed about the event (I will have no time to complete anything, therefore I will fail), analyze the consequence of the event (I feel overwhelmed and dragged down, and rush to complete my homework), and then dispute my irrational thoughts (It may be a lot of work to complete, but I will have time to do the best that I can. I can accept less than perfection). Next, I would note if it had an effect. Applying this theory to school counseling may be difficult if the child is stubborn and does not want to believe his/her thoughts are irrational. Therefore, I may have to focus on what the students desired emotions or behaviors are in order to help him/her change what he/she thinks about a specific situation.
and that I cannot complete it all well enough. Therefore, I end up feeling down on myself and do not end up performing to my best ability because I do not think it is possible. I tend to have irrational believes. I often feel that I must get good grades, perform well at work, and spend quality time with my boyfriend and his two children. These irrational beliefs lead to distress. Not only does this theory provide the ABC method of behavior that may help while working with a child in the school setting, but it also can be applied to my life. Personally, I can start to focus on this method of addressing the activating event (school work/busy schedule), evaluate what I believed about the event (I will have no time to complete anything, therefore I will fail), analyze the consequence of the event (I feel overwhelmed and dragged down, and rush to complete my homework), and then dispute my irrational thoughts (It may be a lot of work to complete, but I will have time to do the best that I can. I can accept less than perfection). Next, I would note if it had an effect. Applying this theory to school counseling may be difficult if the child is stubborn and does not want to believe his/her thoughts are irrational. Therefore, I may have to focus on what the students desired emotions or behaviors are in order to help him/her change what he/she thinks about a specific situation.