from: combating unhealthy emotional outbursts, solving chemical dependencies, and improving a person’s overall mental self-image.Foremost, one must understand Rational-Emotive-Behavior-Therapy in order to apply REBT to the above-mentioned modes of use. REBT is a therapy residing in a subdivision of psychological therapies known as Cognitive therapy, or an assumption based therapy relying on the premise that psychological problems are due to maladaptive patterns of thinking (Hockenbury and Hockenbury 523). Gerald Metalsky Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at Wisconsin’s Lawrence University, explains cognitive therapy to be the process of “Identifying deprossogenic thoughts, evaluating these thoughts, and challenging the cognition of these thoughts in order to reduce future depressions (Metalsky 23).” In other words, perception of life’s events dictates emotion; however, perception is not always reality, cognitive distortions within one’s mind are the actual culprit. Dr. Metalsky continues to explain with a model he uses to clarify the therapy to new patients. “We take the ABC approach, which “A” is the antecedent event, “B” Is the belief one has regarding what has just transpired, and “C” is the consequence of the belief (Metalsky 23).” This model shows the basic structure of all Cognitive therapies. For example, when a student fails an exam and the student concludes that he or she must be stupid. This is a classic example of an external event, interpreted incorrectly, creating a cognitive distortion in the mind of that individual.By understanding the outlining concept of Rational-Emotive-Behavior-Therapy, known as Cognitive Therapy, one is now ready to move on to the subject of REBT itself. What is REBT? Rational-Emotive-Behavior-Therapy, or commonly known as REBT, is a practical, action-oriented approach to coping with problems, and enhancing pe...
