2. Structure of the Presentation
A-B-C Process &
How RET helps
Introduction to RET
Difference between RET
& Classical Psychoanalysis
Albert Ellis
3. Albert Ellis (1913-2007)
• Didn’t have a happy childhood - divorce of
parents, illness- introversion, shyness
• Refused to be depressed, worked hard,
made a determined effort to understand
and get on with other people
• Original training - family & marriage
counseling
• In 1955, introduced Rational Emotive
Psychotherapy - first of the modern
cognitive behavioral approaches
4. Introduction to RET
• People are not inherently
good or evil
• All emotional problems
are caused by our own-
1. Irrational belief systems
(faulty thinking)
2. Exaggerated reactions
(anxiety, etc)
to events
5. Introduction to RET (Contd..)
• People cling tenaciously to
outdated feelings of depression,
anger, guilt and hostility-not
applicable to present situation
• Through language, people
continue to reinforce their
outdated thinking – perpetuate
their own suffering
• Human Beings are prone to self-
doubt and negative self-talk
• eg. Rejection, I am worthless, I
am good-for-nothing, I am such a
fool
6. Introduction to RET (Contd..)
• A person is not ‘stupid’
but actions might be
• Actions are separate
from the person
• Don’t evaluate yourself,
evaluate your actions in
reference to your goals
and/or intentions
7. RET’s Approach
• If disturbance-creating ideas are vigorously disputed
by logical/empirical thinking, they can be eliminated
or minimized and will ultimately cease to reoccur
• Unconditional Self Acceptance (USA): Individuals
have worth. They should accept that they make
mistakes and that some of their assets and qualities
are stronger than others. Individuals’ acts or
performances should be criticized, not their personal
worth
8. RET vs. Classical Psychoanalysis
o Does not delve into counselee’s childhood to find
reasons for his/ her current problems
o Psychoanalysis keeps the counselee dependent on
their analysts, they are forced neither to take
responsibility for their lives nor challenge their
irrational beliefs
o In RET, there is less stress on empathy. The
counsellor’s ability to remain detached, though
understanding is preferable.
9. An Example…
E.g. A counselee complains that she is non-
assertive and pleases others without pleasing
herself
10. Psychoanalyst RET Practitioner
• Will trace the problem back • Uses the technique of direct
to her childhood when she confrontation
tried too hard to please an • Helps client realize that her
irrational, violent, alcoholic non-assertive behavior is
parent irrational
• The behavior, although
• Believes that by identifying unnecessary and
the “cause” of her problem, unpleasant, is not
she can alleviate the inherently good or bad
behavioral pattern and • Rational course of action:
become more assertive Change the irrational belief
11. RET as A-B-C process
A- Activating Event Occurrence due to
which the person becomes upset
E.g. Man asks a woman out for a date, she turns him
down
B- Belief System
Rational Beliefs
e.g. “Its unfortunate that she said no”
Irrational Beliefs
e.g. “I’m so stupid for asking her out anyway, I’ll
never be able to get anyone go out with me”
12. RET as A-B-C process (Contd.)
o Reactions become irrational only when they
are generalized, and reinforce overall feelings
of self-doubt or inadequacy
o “Should”, “must”, “always”, “never” represent
irrational thinking
Nobody has the power to make another person
angry, sad, or guilty…We upset ourselves by
responding in an irrational manner
13. RET as A-B-C process (Contd.)
Seven most common irrational beliefs:
1. One must win love or at least approval from all
others who play a significant role in one’s life
2. One continually must be a competent achiever in
order to be valuable and worthwhile
3. Some people are inherently bad or evil and should
be punished accordingly
14. RET as A-B-C process (Contd.)
4. Life is terrible when it is not just as one would like it
to be
5. Other people or circumstances are the cause of
one’s unhappiness , & one has no control over one’s
unhappiness
6. Life is easier if one avoids one’s responsibilities &
problems rather than facing them
7. One’s past determines one’s future. Events that
happened in the past will continue to have an effect
throughout one’s life
15. RET as A-B-C process (Contd.)
C- Consequences
Rational
E.g. Feels unfortunate to have his invitation
rejected, analyzes why it was rejected and plans
to alter his approach
Irrational
E.g. Disabled by irrational beliefs, suffers from
uncontrollable anger, depression, dejection
16. The A-B-C Process
The emotional and behavioral consequences do not stem
primarily from the activating events (A) of our lives, but from
our belief systems (B)
A C
A C
B
17. The A-B-C Process
Unpleasant A
Irrational Beliefs (B)
Difficult Emotional & Behavioral Consequences (C)
18. How RET helps?
“People can choose how they will respond to
activating agents, but only when they have identified
the self-destructive beliefs which are the cause of
emotional disturbance and unhappiness”
RET practitioners help identify these irrational beliefs
and changing these by means of vigorous persuasion.
19. Must Read Literature on RET
• The Road to Tolerance: The Philosophy of
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy- By Albert
Ellis
• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy: It Works
for Me - It Can Work for You - By Albert Ellis
20. Must See Videos on RET
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJlnf36OS8Y
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCQSnuDpERA&fe
ature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vYkwbHvTng
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y7bkQAQWZ0&fe
ature=related - Audio recording of Albert Ellis
participating in a live audio conference
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9tj8p5TfgI&featur
e=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh-
wTzoQZ_s&feature=related – Ellis’ Original Video (1/4)
