Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)
Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) is a form of cognitive-behavioural therapy that focuses on identifying and changing irrational beliefs that lead to emotional and behavioural issues. Developed by Dr. Albert Ellis, REBT helps you understand how negative thoughts and beliefs impact your emotions and actions, empowering you to replace them with more rational, constructive ways of thinking. This approach is particularly effective for managing anxiety, depression, anger, and stress.
What is Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy?
At its core, REBT is based on the idea that it’s not the events themselves that cause emotional distress, but our beliefs about those events. Irrational beliefs, such as “I must be perfect” or “People must treat me fairly,” can lead to emotional suffering. REBT helps you challenge and dispute these irrational beliefs, replacing them with more rational thoughts that lead to healthier emotional responses and behaviours.
This approach is particularly useful for individuals who experience chronic negative thinking, self-criticism, or difficulty managing their emotions. REBT teaches practical skills for recognising and changing harmful thought patterns, helping you achieve greater emotional balance.
For more information about REBT, visit the Albert Ellis Institute.
How Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy Works
In REBT, we work together to identify the irrational beliefs that are causing emotional distress. The therapy follows the ABC model:
- A (Activating Event): A situation or event that triggers an emotional response.
- B (Beliefs): The irrational beliefs you hold about the event.
- C (Consequences): The emotional and behavioural consequences of holding those beliefs.
By disputing the irrational beliefs (B), REBT helps you develop healthier, rational beliefs that lead to more positive emotional and behavioural outcomes.
Key steps in REBT include:
- Identifying Irrational Beliefs: Recognising the thoughts and beliefs that are contributing to emotional distress.
- Disputing and Challenging: Actively challenging these irrational beliefs and replacing them with rational, healthier ones.
- Reframing Your Mindset: Adopting more constructive ways of thinking that lead to emotional resilience and better decision-making.
Benefits of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy
REBT is a highly effective approach for individuals who struggle with negative thought patterns, low self-esteem, or emotional dysregulation. By learning to challenge and change irrational beliefs, you can reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, and frustration. REBT empowers you to take control of your thoughts and emotions, fostering greater emotional well-being and personal growth.
This therapy is particularly helpful for those dealing with stress, relationship challenges, and mood disorders, as it provides practical tools to manage emotions and improve mental clarity.
Why Choose Restorative Counselling for Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy?
At Restorative Counselling, I offer Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) to help you overcome negative thinking patterns and build emotional resilience. My approach is focused on providing you with the tools and strategies to challenge irrational beliefs and create healthier, more balanced ways of thinking. With REBT, you can gain a better understanding of your emotions and behaviours, leading to lasting positive changes.
If you’re ready to explore how REBT can help you improve your emotional well-being, contact me today to schedule a consultation. Together, we can work towards a more rational, resilient, and fulfilling life.
FAQs
Counselling works best when you recognise that you’re struggling and can no longer continue as you are, and you want to make changes in your life but don’t know how. Sometimes, it may feel almost impossible to know what these changes should be. Often, the insights that arise are created during sessions through deep discussions and are developed between sessions.
Counselling can be challenging, as it may bring old memories, feelings, and past hurts to the surface. However, sharing these thoughts and feelings will give you a clearer understanding of why they still cause you pain, an ability to reduce that pain, and even help you find healing from those experiences.
I offer a Humanistic Integrative approach in a person-centred way. This means that we focus on you as an individual, working with your agenda, allowing you to explore those difficult memories and feelings. I use a combination of approaches to suit your individual needs because I believe one size does not fit all. We are all unique.
This is entirely up to you and something we can discuss during our initial consultation. Sometimes, starting with six sessions can be beneficial, and during these sessions, we can review whether you would like to continue or terminate them. Short-term counselling can be helpful during an immediate crisis to support you through it.
Long-term counselling allows for a deeper exploration of your problems, helping you understand how they affect you and where they stem from. We can start with weekly sessions and later move to fortnightly or every three weeks, depending on the situation and what would benefit you. Remember, this is your decision. At the end, we can have a final review and look at ways to help you move forward in your life, making the transition as safe and comfortable as possible.
Often, you will know when your counselling is nearing its end. You will feel more confident and at peace within yourself, and the memories will not cause you as much pain. You will be able to reflect on them in a way that no longer distresses you. We will discuss how you would like to conclude the counselling process.
We can have a final review a few weeks after counselling ends to see how you have been coping and how you’ve incorporated these changes into your daily life.
I currently charge £50 per session. I also offer concessions for those in need and will try to match your income, as I understand that affording regular counselling can be challenging.
For students studying for their Diploma or another qualification who need hours towards their personal counselling, I also offer a concession if needed.
Your first appointment may seem daunting, but it’s an opportunity for us to meet and get to know each other. We can then discuss how we can best work together and how I may be able to help you.
I also offer a free 20-minute phone call to briefly discuss the therapy and how we can begin.
