marlier.proREBT: Description and example of the A-B-C model,
basic process and mechanisms for brief psychotherapy
and in marriage and family therapy.
September 23, 2003
REBT: Description and example of the A-B-C model, basic process and mechanisms for brief psychotherapy and in marriage and family therapy.
“REBT: Become Happier and Feel Relief in Months, Not Years” (Albert Ellis Institute, 2003).
A-B-C model
The theory of personality first developed by Albert Ellis in the 30's is based on a three stages model. A significant event, an adversity (A) occurs and causes the individual to think about it (B). These thoughts may be rational and then the individual feels normal frustration, grief, anger about A. But these thoughts may be irrational beliefs about A, and then the individual develops the adverse emotional consequences of B (cf. Adler's theory of basic mistakes and discouragement).
When I started to get disillusioned with psychoanalysis I reread philosophy and was reminded of the constructivist notion that Epictetus had proposed 2,000 years ago: “People are disturbed not by events that happen to them, but by their view of them.” (Epstein, 2001)
In addition, considering that human beings have the ability to thing about their own thoughts, the individual may enter an endless loop between B and C. Then, when a sound individual thinks “it would be better if...”, the neurotic patient thinks “it must absolutely...”, or “it is absolutely terrible that...”. Here, it is not the society who put to much demand on the individual, but the individual who puts to much demand on him/herself and on his/her environment, often because he cares too much about what others think of him. This is what Ellis names musturbation.
The A-B-C theory of personality.
A good example of this scheme is the case of a young man I know who has been experiencing PA for several years. Although the origin of the first PA (A) was unknown, he experienced the usual somatic symptoms of neurovegetative hyperactivity (tachychardia, cold sweat, paresthesia, headache, diarrhea) as well as psychologic symptoms (a feeling of “unreal”, of imminent death) ; this young man began to fear these very symptoms (B) and because he wrongly believed that the symptoms were the illness, this fear became the triggering agent of new PAs and he eventually stopped going out of his home or even meeting people (C).
Brief Psychotherapy – Marriage and Family Therapy
REBT is designed for brief therapy. Ellis says that REBT can teach people in 1 to 10 session, the ABC method of understanding emotional problems, and make them learn how to change fundamental disturbance-creating attitudes (Ellis, 1996). REBT as a therapy is different from Adler's in that the individual is not unique, pathologies being reproducible from one individual to the other, so can therapies. REBT uses very directive techniques to reach its goal which is to replace irrational thoughts with rational ones and disarm the A-B-C-A1-B1... loop.
The therapist can use two levels of “recipes” to reach this goal: The first level is low-level, inelegant, palliative, but can help at the beginning of therapy. This can be satisfying demands from the patient, or using magic and mysticism if he thinks that his patient is receptive to them, or using distractive techniques to turn his patient's thoughts away from his troubles. The highest order mechanism is the minimization of musturbation. The patient learns by various techniques, including homework assignments, how to modify his dysfunctional beliefs and thus make significant behavioral changes.
This can very helpful in family counseling. Partners (family members or a couple) are usually seen together. The therapist listens to their complaints. The point is showing people that even if their complaints are justified, they should individually learn not to be overly upset by them. They should become more easygoing as themselves contribute to their upsetness.
Conclusion
REBT is a fast and efficient method to achieve personality change and help people resist their natural tendency to irrational thinking and self-destruction and favor their predispositions for self-preservation, creativeness, sensuousness, interest in other people and more generally maximizing and actually making use of their potential for growth.
References
Albert Ellis Institute. (2003). Albert Ellis Institute, Short Term Therapy - Long Term Results. Retrieved September 21, 2003, from http://www.rebt.org/professionals/research.asp.
Ellis, A. (1996). Better, deeper, and more enduring brief therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Epstein, Robert (2001, January). The prince of reason. Psychology Today, 34(1), 66.
basic process and mechanisms for brief psychotherapy
and in marriage and family therapy.
September 23, 2003
REBT: Description and example of the A-B-C model, basic process and mechanisms for brief psychotherapy and in marriage and family therapy.
“REBT: Become Happier and Feel Relief in Months, Not Years” (Albert Ellis Institute, 2003).
A-B-C model
The theory of personality first developed by Albert Ellis in the 30's is based on a three stages model. A significant event, an adversity (A) occurs and causes the individual to think about it (B). These thoughts may be rational and then the individual feels normal frustration, grief, anger about A. But these thoughts may be irrational beliefs about A, and then the individual develops the adverse emotional consequences of B (cf. Adler's theory of basic mistakes and discouragement).
When I started to get disillusioned with psychoanalysis I reread philosophy and was reminded of the constructivist notion that Epictetus had proposed 2,000 years ago: “People are disturbed not by events that happen to them, but by their view of them.” (Epstein, 2001)
In addition, considering that human beings have the ability to thing about their own thoughts, the individual may enter an endless loop between B and C. Then, when a sound individual thinks “it would be better if...”, the neurotic patient thinks “it must absolutely...”, or “it is absolutely terrible that...”. Here, it is not the society who put to much demand on the individual, but the individual who puts to much demand on him/herself and on his/her environment, often because he cares too much about what others think of him. This is what Ellis names musturbation.
The A-B-C theory of personality.
A good example of this scheme is the case of a young man I know who has been experiencing PA for several years. Although the origin of the first PA (A) was unknown, he experienced the usual somatic symptoms of neurovegetative hyperactivity (tachychardia, cold sweat, paresthesia, headache, diarrhea) as well as psychologic symptoms (a feeling of “unreal”, of imminent death) ; this young man began to fear these very symptoms (B) and because he wrongly believed that the symptoms were the illness, this fear became the triggering agent of new PAs and he eventually stopped going out of his home or even meeting people (C).
Brief Psychotherapy – Marriage and Family Therapy
REBT is designed for brief therapy. Ellis says that REBT can teach people in 1 to 10 session, the ABC method of understanding emotional problems, and make them learn how to change fundamental disturbance-creating attitudes (Ellis, 1996). REBT as a therapy is different from Adler's in that the individual is not unique, pathologies being reproducible from one individual to the other, so can therapies. REBT uses very directive techniques to reach its goal which is to replace irrational thoughts with rational ones and disarm the A-B-C-A1-B1... loop.
The therapist can use two levels of “recipes” to reach this goal: The first level is low-level, inelegant, palliative, but can help at the beginning of therapy. This can be satisfying demands from the patient, or using magic and mysticism if he thinks that his patient is receptive to them, or using distractive techniques to turn his patient's thoughts away from his troubles. The highest order mechanism is the minimization of musturbation. The patient learns by various techniques, including homework assignments, how to modify his dysfunctional beliefs and thus make significant behavioral changes.
This can very helpful in family counseling. Partners (family members or a couple) are usually seen together. The therapist listens to their complaints. The point is showing people that even if their complaints are justified, they should individually learn not to be overly upset by them. They should become more easygoing as themselves contribute to their upsetness.
Conclusion
REBT is a fast and efficient method to achieve personality change and help people resist their natural tendency to irrational thinking and self-destruction and favor their predispositions for self-preservation, creativeness, sensuousness, interest in other people and more generally maximizing and actually making use of their potential for growth.
References
Albert Ellis Institute. (2003). Albert Ellis Institute, Short Term Therapy - Long Term Results. Retrieved September 21, 2003, from http://www.rebt.org/professionals/research.asp.
Ellis, A. (1996). Better, deeper, and more enduring brief therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Epstein, Robert (2001, January). The prince of reason. Psychology Today, 34(1), 66.
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