Most people have experience a certain behavior or feeling or combination of both they desire to eliminate or change. There are many theories within psychotherapy that would focus on the behavior or the feeling specifically. While those theories are important and helpful, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) has a little different approach. It follows the basic belief that the way people think impacts the way they feel and behave.
If individuals work to change the way they think, it will help change and impact the way the feel and behave. When individuals are able to change or alter the negative ways in which they think, their thoughts become more positive which can result in healthier behaviors and emotions. The basic change occurs by identifying harmful thought patterns or beliefs and reducing them.
How Does It Work?
To understand how thought processes impact behavior and emotions and help individuals move toward altering harmful thought patterns, REBT utilizes the ABCDEF Model.
Imagine you find someone you are interested in dating. After thinking about it and stressing over it for some time, you finally work up the courage to ask the person out on a date. You think carefully through what you would like to do for the date, making sure that it fits with the person you are taking out. You go above and beyond to make sure the date is a great one. However, a week after your date, you ask to go out again and the person reveals they are not interested. Some people might think, “It’s because I’m lame and unlikeable.” Others might think, “They’re just a superficial jerk and went out with me for free food.”
Both types of thinking would be harmful for different reasons, but examples of thoughts that would affect feelings and behaviors. People with twisted thinking like this might feel unlovable or entitled. They might avoid connecting with people altogether or lash out at others. Using the ABCDEF Model, a person could work towards changing their thinking, ultimately impacting the way they feel and act.
The Activing event involves the trigger of the irrational belief. It would include being turned down after what you felt was a great date.
The Belief is the irrational belief that occurs as a result of the activating event. The beliefs that “I’m lame” or “they’re a superficial jerk” are examples of harmful beliefs that lead to negative thought patterns.
The Consequences involve the emotional and behavioral results of the irrational belief. If someone has the belief that they are “lame and unlikeable,” they might feel a lack of self-confidence and avoid dating.
Disputing the thought involves arguing against the irrational belief by finding evidence to the contrary. A person could remind themselves of their friendships and their friends’ desires to spend time with them. If they were really so “lame,” would they have friends who wanted to spend time with them?
The Effects are the positive consequences of working towards the new thought pattern. A person who works to move from thinking they are “lame” to thinking of themselves as an enjoyable person with many friends might begin to feel more confident and talk to people more openly to others once again.
Michelle is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working as a counselor for students, faculty, and staff at Abilene Christian University in Texas. She works with athletes, bridging the gap between athletics and mental health at ACU. Michelle ran her own private practice in Austin, Texas where she worked with a diverse population, including couples and families.