Psychotherapy Treatments

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) was founded in 1955 by Albert Ellis, a U.S. clinical psychologist.

REBT theory holds that human beings are capable of thinking rationally and irrationally. The ease with which we transform our strong desires into rigid demands, for example, suggests that the tendency toward irrational thinking is biologically based, but can be buffered or encouraged by environmental contexts (Ellis, 1976).

Rationality is a concept that is applied to a person’s beliefs. Rational beliefs, which are deemed to be at the core of psychological health in REBT, are flexible, consistent with reality, logical, and self- and relationship enhancing. Irrational beliefs, which are deemed to be at the core of psychological disturbance, are rigid, inconsistent with reality, illogical, and self- and relationship-defeating.

REBT therapists consider that the core facilitative conditions of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness are often desirable, but neither necessary nor sufficient for constructive therapeutic change. For such change to take place, REBT therapists need to help their clients to do the following:

• Realize that they largely create their own psychological problems and that while situations contribute to these problems, they are in general of lesser importance in the change process
• Fully recognize that they are able to address and overcome these problems
• Understand that their problems stem largely from irrational beliefs
• Detect their irrational beliefs and discriminate between them and their rational beliefs
• Question their irrational beliefs and their rational beliefs until they see clearly that their irrational beliefs are false, illogical, and unconstructive while their rational beliefs are true, sensible, and constructive

References

Dryden W. (2005) Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. In: Freeman A., Felgoise S.H., Nezu C.M., Nezu A.M., Reinecke M.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48581-8_90

Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. Secaucus, NJ: Lyle Stuart.

Ellis, A. (1976). The biological basis of human irrationality. Journal of Individual Psychology, 32, 145–168.

Ellis, A. (1994). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. Revised and updated edition. New York: Birch Lane Press.

Client-centered therapy, also called the person-centered approach is a form of psychoterhapy developed by Carl R. Rogers (1946) who worked with individuals experiencing all types of personal disturbances or problems in living.

Rogerian psychologists aim to create a therapeutic environment for their clients to change that is conformable, non-judgmental, and empathetic. Individuals grow psychologically, become more self-aware, and change their behavior via self-direction (Moon & Rice, 2012).

The most common applied techniques are:

• Genuineness and congruence
• Unconditional positive regard
• Empathetic understanding

Rogers deliberately used the term ‘client’ over ‘patient’ supporting that the term ‘patient’ implies that the individual is sick and seeks a cure from a therapist. With the term ‘client’, Rogers emphasized the importance of the individual in seeking assistance, controlling their destiny, and overcoming their difficulties. This self-direction plays a vital part in client-centered therapy (Moon & Rice, 2012).

The American Psychological Association (APA, 2020) definition to Rogerian therapy clearly states that:

‘According to Rogers, an orderly process of client self-discovery and actualization occurs in response to the therapist’s consistent empathic understanding of, acceptance of, and respect for the client’s frame.

The therapist sets the stage for personality growth by reflecting and clarifying the ideas of the client, who is able to see himself or herself more clearly and come into closer touch with his or her real self.

As therapy progresses, the client resolves conflicts, reorganizes values and approaches to life, and learns how to interpret his or her thoughts and feelings, consequently changing behavior that he or she considers problematic.

It was originally known as nondirective counseling or nondirective therapy, although this term is now used more broadly to denote any approach to psychotherapy in which the therapist establishes an encouraging atmosphere but avoids giving advice, offering interpretations, or engaging in other actions to actively direct the therapeutic process. Also called client-centered psychotherapy; person-centered therapy; Rogerian therapy.’

A world association, which can be contacted online, was founded in Lisbon in 1997 that reflects the growth and vitality of the approach entitled the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling (WAPCEPC, 2021).

References

American Psychological Association (2020). APA Dictionary of Psychology. apa.org. https://dictionary.apa.org/client-centered-therapy.

Moon, K. A, Rice, B. (2012). The nondirective attitude in client-centered practice: A few questions. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 11(4). 289-303. https://do.org/10.1080/14779757.2012.740322.

Rogers, C. R. (1946). Significant aspects of client-centered therapy. American Psychologist, 1(10), 415–422. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0060866.

Witty M.C. (2007) Client-Centered Therapy. In: Kazantzis N., LĽAbate L. (eds) Handbook of Homework Assignments in Psychotherapy. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-29681-4_3.

World Association for Person Centered & Experiential Psychotherapy & Counseling (2021). Welcome to the website for the World Association for Person Centered & Experiential Psychotherapy & Counseling. pce-world.org. https://www.pce-world.org/.