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Ask Aldo about Rational Living Therapy
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Ask me about Rational Living Therapy.
Each month, I'll select a question and answer to post on this page.
To submit your question,
click here. |
October, 2007 Question
Question: How is Rational Living Therapy different from Ellis'
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy?
-- Micah Perkins, L.P.C.
Answer: Thank you for this outstanding question. A case
certainly could be made that because Al's REBT approach is the original CBT
approach that all other CBT approaches are extensions of it. I agree.
Without the development of REBT, RLT might not have ever been developed. All of us who have practiced "cognitive-behavioral therapy" or found relief from
it owe a great deal to Dr. Albert Ellis.
With that said, there are some similarities and some differences.
The most important similarities include:
 | Therapy is based on the cognitive model (our thoughts cause our feelings
and behaviors as long as our body is healthy).
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| Assumption that irrational behavior and emotions are the result of
irrational thinking.
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| Belief that people can and do change their thoughts
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| Emphasis on aspects of stoic philosophy
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| Belief that self-esteem is a highly irrational concept
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| Belief that "shoulds," "musts," "have to's," and "had betters" are at
the root of many emotional / behavioral problems |
The most important differences include:
| Rational Living Therapy postulates that sometimes thoughts are acquired
through hypnosis, both intentional (as with a hypnotherapist) and
unintentional (as with sudden shock and trauma)
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| As a result, Rational Living Therapists (who are training in the
Rational Hypnotherapy technique) often will utilize this technique to help
their clients to change irrational thoughts to rational thoughts.
Rational Living Therapy has a strategic, theoretical reason for utilizing
Rational Hypnothearpy.
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| Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy encourages Unconditional
Self-Acceptance (USA). While Rational Living Therapy agrees that
USA is a more rational concept than self-esteem, we believe Unconditional
Self-Acceptance also creates an overgeneralization and is too vague to be
useful. For this reason, Rational Living Therapists emphasize their
replacement for self-esteem and self-confidence -- the "Four A's"
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| REBT's ABC's are the ABC's of unwanted emotions and behaviors, while
Rational Living Therapy's ABC's are the ABC's of all emotions and behaviors
that are not the result of a physical problem.
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| Rational Living Therapy emphasizes the concept of "Reflexive Thoughts"
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| Rational Living Therapy emphasizes the "Rational Questions" (a
modification of Maxie Maultsby's questions) to help the client determine for
himself or herself how rational a thought is.
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| Rational Living Therapy is a more systematic approach to psychotherapy
than is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
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| Rational Living Therapy disagrees with REBT's belief that people have a
genetic tendency to think / behave irrationally.
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| Ellis' REBT uses the concepts of Healthy / Unhealthy and Appropriate /
Inappropriate emotions and behaviors. Rational Living Therapy avoids
the constructs healthy / unhealthy, appropriate / inappropriate and favors,
instead "Rational vs. Irrational."
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| Rational Living Therapy emphasizes the importance of saying what you
mean and meaning what you say, and therefore, discourages the use of "swear
words," not for moral reasons, but for emotional reasons
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| Rational Living Therapy intentionally makes use of both direct
and indirect methods for disputing thoughts, suggesting success. |
Sincerely,
Aldo Pucci
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