Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Rational-Emotive Therapy

After reading the assigned chapter 5 and assessing which modality of therapy would assist me in helping the chemically dependent, I have chosen to use the Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy (Heretofore referred to as REBT) for the purpose of this exercise. As a helper; in order to be effective in the helpee obtaining relief from addiction, which is my ethical responsibility; I must also follow take into consideration factors outside the therapeutic value. While some of the population of those in treatment may be self-paying or have better insurance coverage, the prevailing coverage has been reduced overall and a larger portion of people who are in treatment for chemical dependence have been mandated to go to treatment by the court system. Unfortunately, due to the changes that managed care has made and to truly be an effective helper all considerations must be made. As a conscientious helper, I must take into account cost efficiency and short term goals being reached. After careful consideration, as rudimentary as my knowledge is at the present time, I find that REBT is not the most common model of helping in regards to the treatment of the chemically dependent; it can, nonetheless, be effective as it is a "short-term and measurable" form of therapy. (Gladding. 2005. p. 147)

There are many other reasons why REBT can be an effective form of therapy for the treatment of the chemically dependant. One of these reasons is due to the changes in insurance coverage for the addictive persons. Managed care has reduced much of the coverage for the treatment for chemical dependency. The bottom line is that, as far as theories of therapy go, REBT is short-term in its treatment; which can last from "10 to 50 sessions." (Gladding. 2005. p. 147) Another benefit from the helper perspective is that is can be utilized with other forms of therapy to assist the helpee to learn and obtain practical knowledge and skills that REBT employs.

One of the major tenants of REBT is the fact that people have rational and irrational beliefs and irrational thoughts and behaviors are based on beliefs, whether they are rational or irrational. What the helper disputes and challenges is the irrational belief system, which in turn will change the thoughts and behaviors of the helpee. The helper's role in this is, in great part, excellent listening skills. A helper must identify irrational beliefs from a helpee's illogical statements through careful listening. The illogical or irrational beliefs are based on irrational thoughts behind those beliefs. By changing the belief system through what is called the ABC's of REBT the helpee learns through the assistance and direction of the helper how to change their irrational thoughts, which, in turn changes the behaviors.

REBT utilizes the A-B-C's although Albert Ellis, who developed REBT, eventually added the D and E of this system to this simple exercise that a helper uses to assist in seeing the relationship that runs parallel between behaviors, emotions and thoughts.(Okun &