Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is the pioneering cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) developed by psychologist Albert Ellis. REBT is an action-oriented approach that’s focused on helping people deal with irrational beliefs and learn how to manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in a healthier, more realistic way. When people hold irrational beliefs about themselves or the world, problems can result. The goal of REBT is to help people recognize and alter those beliefs and negative thinking patterns in order to overcome psychological problems and mental distress. According to REBT, our cognition, emotions, and behavior are connected.2 In order to understand the impact of events and situations that people encounter throughout life, it’s essential to look at the beliefs people hold about these experiences and the emotions that arise as a result of those beliefs.
REBT works to help the client challenge, dispute, and question negative emotions, behaviours, and thoughts. Once this is uncovered, the therapist will focus on helping you transform your more irrational beliefs into rational and self-constructive thoughts. Further there are some core benefits of REBT. To begin with, reduced feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, and distress. Additionally, improved health and quality of life and lastly, better school performance and social skills.
Dr Debbie Joffe Ellis was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. New York City has been her home base for the past two decades. She is a licensed psychologist (Australia), licensed mental health counselor (New York), presenter, writer and adjunct professor at Columbia University in New York City where she teaches Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Comparative Psychotherapies. For years she worked with her husband, the brilliant and renowned pioneer of modern cognitive therapies: Dr Albert Ellis, giving public presentations and professional trainings in his approach of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), as well as collaborating with him on writing and research projects until his death in 2007. Before his passing he stated and wrote that he entrusted her to continue his work. She is recognized as a world-renowned expert on REBT, and regularly presents, throughout the USA and in countries around the world, to students, academics, practitioners in the helping professions, and to members of the general public. She wrote the second edition of the book Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (published 2019) that she co-wrote with her husband in its first edition. She is also featured in a DVD produced by the American Psychological Association (APA) demonstrating and discussing the REBT approach. She has written chapters for various text books, articles, and has reviewed publications for APA’s PsycCritiques Journal. In 2014 she was named “Legend in Counseling” at the American Counseling Association annual conference, and has received various other awards and acknowledgments for her work. She joyfully and passionately continues her mission of informing as many people as possible - through her presentations, teaching, writing, and the ways she strives to ‘walk her talk’ - that each one of us has the power to create our emotional destinies despite and including challenging circumstances, and through teaching the ‘how-to’s’ of doing so!
The Advanced Certificate is the second level of training in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. During these intense four days, participants learn strategies to achieve cognitive change through a variety of styles of restructuring irrational beliefs. Having developed a strong foundation in the premise of REBT in the Primary Certificate Program, the applications of the theory to various clinical problems, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, anger, and adjustments issues are addressed. Participants will learn the various irrational beliefs and special considerations when working with each of these clinical problems, as well as various homework assignments to negotiate with clients. A lecture is devoted to teaching clients the concepts of Unconditional Self, Other, and Life Acceptance to address emotional and behavioral disturbance. Finally, as many clients in therapy bring up problems related to relationships, whether it is romantic, interpersonal, family, or work-related, participants will learn interventions to address the dysfunctional emotions and self-defeating relationship belief systems evidenced in clients.
Open to psychologists, counselors, social workers, physicians, nurses, and graduate students.
