The main methods of rational psychotherapy are: Rational Emotive Therapy

At one time, more than 15 years ago, B.D. Karvarsarsky, who was then the chief psychotherapist of Russia, asked me to write an article on rational psychotherapy for the Psychotherapeutic Encyclopedia. It seemed interesting to me then to compare rational therapy with Ellis’s rational-emotive therapy and Beck’s cognitive therapy, tracing the origins of the latter. Probably, due to the peculiarities of my thinking, I have always been impressed by rational therapy, and I consider Paul Dubois’s monograph one of the best books on psychotherapy, so I remember that with great pleasure I wrote my article for the Psychotherapeutic Encyclopedia. Even today it seems to me that not only every psychotherapist or psychiatrist, but also a doctor of any specialty should know the history and foundations of rational therapy, since truly “the word heals.”

The founder of rational therapy is the Swiss neurologist Paul Charles Dubois. In his book “Psychoneuroses and Their Treatment,” translated into Russian in 1912 by a simple doctor from the outback of Russia, he revealed the essence and showed the advantage of this method of treatment compared to hypnosis and suggestion. Having emerged as an alternative to suggestion, rational therapy, first of all, relied on the patient’s reason (Latin ratio - mind, reason) and was aimed at nurturing his will. Du Bois wrote; “in the art of medicine, spiritual influence plays a predominant role. Every doctor, even if he believes with unshakable naivety in the healing powers of his drugs, uses psychotherapy every day.” Rational therapy, developed by a medical practitioner during a period of general interest in dialectical logic, essentially absorbed the achievements of medicine and philosophy of the late 19th century.

A feature of the first period of development of rational therapy was the description of thinking disorders in various mental illnesses. Du Bois assumed that as a particular disease develops, various types of thinking disorders are formed, quite specific to a particular pathology. Currently, rational therapy is usually practiced by domestic “old” psychotherapists, defending its independence from cognitive behavioral therapy.

Rational therapy based on explanation and logical argumentation, proof of the incorrectness of the patient’s ideas and judgments. Using the laws of formal and dialectical logic, she forms in the patient an adequate assessment of his own personality and the problematic situation in which he finds himself. Ultimately, rational therapy involves changing the patient's beliefs. It is necessary to distinguish between rational and explanatory therapy (Pankov D.V., 1985). The latter was, in particular, proposed by V.M. Bekhterev for the treatment of alcoholism (Bekhterev V.M., 1909).

Thinking disorders in various mental disorders, from Du Bois’s point of view, are errors of formal logic or "illogisms"(“after this, because of this” - confusion of cause and effect, insufficient basis, etc.), which are a consequence of neglecting the categories and laws of dialectics and lead to a distortion of the “internal picture of the disease.” Basic the goal of rational therapy is the formation in the patient of adequate concepts and ideas about his disease. The psychotherapist demonstrates to the patient his logical errors, convincing him of the medical concept that, from the doctor’s point of view, needs to be defended.

In my opinion, the following stages can be distinguished in modern rational therapy:

1. Formation of a healing alliance. At this stage, the psychotherapist establishes contact with the patient, often using his authority and professional knowledge. Complete trust in the doctor is an attribute of rational therapy, therefore the surrounding medical personnel and the atmosphere of the medical institution should promote and confirm high medical professionalism. During the first meeting with a patient, it is necessary to be extremely attentive to his complaints, carefully examine the patient, and approach his story about previous treatment and its failures with understanding, without making hasty conclusions and without judging your colleagues.

2. Identification of the “internal picture of the disease.” This stage of rational therapy involves a conversation with the patient aimed at identifying the “internal picture of the disease.” The patient expresses to the doctor his idea of ​​the disease, expressing judgments about its potential causes, development mechanisms and signs, from his point of view, of the disease state. At this stage of therapy, it is important to combat those secondary manifestations of the disease that have developed as a result of previous unsuccessful attempts at treatment, careless words of medical personnel, distorted information about the disease gleaned from popular science or specialized literature, misconceptions about the side effects of medications taken from various annotations. As a result of the above, it is desirable to avoid as much as possible psychological and especially medical terms, which in themselves frighten any person and force him to turn to various specialists for help.

3. Diagnostic examination. At this stage of rational therapy, the patient undergoes a comprehensive diagnostic examination, including instrumental and laboratory diagnostics, the purpose of which is to exclude serious organic damage to internal organs, as well as visually confirm to the patient the absence of a serious disease. During this examination, it is necessary to observe a certain sense of proportion, since it is impossible to endlessly subject the patient to diagnostic procedures and look for manifestations of the disease. However, a superficial clinical examination by a doctor or limited instrumental and laboratory diagnostics are also unacceptable. They clearly demonstrate to the patient a superficial approach to his suffering. It is important to correctly interpret the results obtained, separating functional and reversible disorders from persistent changes in various body systems. During a diagnostic conversation with a patient, it is necessary to recognize typical logical errors in his reasoning and identify incorrect judgments regarding the assessment of his condition.

4. Information stage. Here the doctor offers the patient a conceptual scheme of the origin of the disease state that is optimal from the point of view of the effectiveness of therapy, substantiates the forms of assistance, reassuring and encouraging the patient, instilling in him faith in a successful outcome of treatment. It is necessary that the patient recognizes his problem as a phenomenon that can be explained and understood and further controlled, so that he receives rational grounds for observing his own behavior, his emotional state, and can record the data of this observation in order to facilitate the analysis of the problem. At the information stage of treatment, the patient is “saturated” with the necessary information, an explanation is given and clarification of those points that are incomprehensible or disturbing him.

5. The correctional stage of rational therapy involves logical and reasoned persuasion of the patient, careful and consistent correction of his erroneous judgments, teaching him the principles and basic laws of formal and dialectical logic. The task of the last stage of therapy is to reorient the patient’s attitude towards his disease, to change his attitudes towards the manifestations of the disease.

From a modern point of view, in the process of rational therapy there is an impact on the cognitive, emotional components of the patient’s personality, and, consequently, on his behavior. Rational therapy is focused on treating a specific disease; in this regard, it is specific, since each disease, according to most doctors, has quite specific distortions of thinking. In addition, rational therapy is closer to causal therapy, which takes into account the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease.

The most commonly used techniques in rational therapy are: Socratic dialogue, the use of analogies, the sequence of acceptance of statements and explication.

Dialogue of Socrates(Dubois P., 1909), aimed at forming logical and generalizing conclusions in the patient, sets the ultimate goal of the patient understanding the causes and essence of his disease. As a rule, it is built on a consistent and pre-thought-out chain of questions. They are asked in such a way that the patient can objectively identify his statements, thoughts, images and assumptions, determine the essence of the problem, explore the meaning of certain events and evaluate the consequences of his behavior.

Sequence of approvals built on the basis of the provisions of formal logic and consists in enumerating a number of true statements with which the patient cannot but agree to prove the truth of the judgment that is healing for the patient. Typically, true statements are linked together by connecting conjunctions and end with the statement that the patient needs to accept.

Usage analogies and metaphors is based on the patient’s conviction with the help of various comparisons, as if illustrating this or that statement of the psychotherapist.

Explication is a clear, detailed and detailed explanation, implying a presentation and explanation of the probable cause of the disease, psychosomatic dependencies taking place and a focused conversation about the basic principles of mental hygiene.

Rational therapy uses didactic techniques and rhetorical techniques built on moral and ethical principles. In practice, rational therapy is based not only on logical argumentation, but also includes elements of suggestion, a certain emotional impact, and the use of thoughtful visual materials (tables, drawings, diagrams, graphs, slides, videos, etc.) for the purpose of illustration and clarity To test the validity of the patient's judgments in real life, practice in the external environment is used. Psychotherapists working within the framework of rational therapy are characterized by a negative attitude towards suggestion and psychoanalysis and reliance on the achievements of formal and dialectical logic. Rational therapy is most indicated for patients prone to logical thinking; it is successfully used for hypochondriacal neurosis and obsessive-compulsive neurosis, various phobias, and psychosomatic disorders. This therapy is mainly based on the mind and thinking of the patient, hence the study of the characteristics of thinking in various diseases becomes especially relevant, although it would be fair to assume that the specificity of thinking is characteristic of certain personality types or certain standard types of upbringing. There is no doubt that upbringing leaves its mark on the character of thinking of patients, regardless of the pathology from which they suffer. According to Dubois, the patient needs some kind of "moral orthopedics"- eliminating the consequences of the disease through proper education and returning the patient to an active real life.

Typically, in the process of rational therapy, the psychotherapist convinces the patient of the validity of his point of view. In view of the above, it seems reasonable to say a few words about belief and its characteristics. Belief is the process by which the patient's views are subjected to the reasoned and persistent verbal influence of the psychotherapist. In the process of persuasion, one can distinguish the actual verbal communication (reason or stimulus) and the associated change in the patient’s attitude towards his problems (effect or response). During persuasion, the patient first pays attention to the therapist's presented message, including the initial premise and the arguments supporting it. For further persuasion to be successful, it is necessary that the patient accept or agree with the therapist's original position and, except in cases of passing interest, maintain the newfound opinion for a sufficiently long time, while performing those actions that are consistent with this point of view. If the persuasion process is successful, the patient's behavior comes into line with his newly formed views. The patient's response to a belief depends partly on the content of the latter and to a large extent on the state in which and how it is perceived and interpreted. The process of persuasion and constant persuasion in psychotherapy is referred to as persuasia(Konecny ​​R., Bouchal M., 1972). A doctor working within the framework of rational therapy must pay attention not only to the form of irrational judgments, but also classify them in the same way as inferences in logic are classified, distinguished from value judgments (without deducing the conclusion of value judgments from other irrational errors of thinking).

Rational psychotherapy has contributed to the field of medicine. Her achievements include dialectical psychotherapeutic techniques that clarify medical concepts (“functional” - reversible, transient and “organic” - persistent, “dynamics of recovery”, etc.). From the point of view of dialectical logic, in the process of rational therapy one can use the basic principles of clinical semiotics, ascending in the process of therapy from symptom to syndrome, and from the latter to the nosological form (inductive method). In the future, having put forward this or that thesis or hypothesis about the presence of a certain pathology in the patient, diagnose and eliminate various disorders in the reverse order (deductive method). Finally, by rejecting certain disorders and diseases, putting forward the thesis about their absence in a given patient (putting forward an antithesis), it is possible to identify certain mental disorders that are not outwardly noticeable to the psychotherapist. It seems promising to us to further search for specific thinking disorders in various mental and psychosomatic diseases, to develop those methods and techniques of rational therapy that are aimed at correcting thinking in each specific disease.

* Rational emotive therapy (RET)

RET is based on a number of assumptions about human nature and the origins of human unhappiness, or emotional disturbances. Here are some of these assumptions:

1. People combine the rational and the irrational. When they think and act rationally, they are more likely to be effective, happy, and competent.

2. Thoughts and emotions are inseparable. Emotions accompany thinking, and thinking is usually biased, subjective and irrational. Emotional or psychological disturbance is the result of irrational and illogical thinking.

3. People, by their biological nature, are predisposed to irrational thinking, and build their surrounding conditions and experiences in accordance with this.

4. Human thinking usually occurs using symbols or language. Individuals with severe emotional disturbances are characterized by the fact that they maintain their disturbances and maintain illogical behavior through internal verbalization of their irrational ideas and thoughts. Ellis argues that the phrases and sentences that people repeat to themselves often become their thoughts and emotions. According to him, constant stimulation causes the persistence of behavioral and emotional disorders, and simply understanding the roots of the disorder in the process of psychoanalysis is not a sufficient condition for eliminating the disorder.

5. The duration of states of emotional disturbances that result from internal verbalization is thus determined not by external events or circumstances, but by the perceptions and attitudes towards these events that are included in internalized statements about them. Ellis finds the origins of this concept in Epictetus and quotes him as saying: “People are upset not so much by things as by the way they look at them.” He also quotes a similar phrase from Hamlet: “There is neither good nor bad, everything is made one way or another by our mind.”

6. Negative and self-harming thoughts and emotions can be eliminated by restructuring perception and thinking so that thinking becomes logical and rational, ceasing to be illogical and irrational.

Albert Ellis highlighted two types of cognitions: descriptive and evaluative.

Descriptive cognitions contain information about reality, about what a person has perceived in the world; this is “pure” information about reality.

Evaluative cognitions reflect a person’s attitude towards this reality.

Descriptive cognitions are necessarily connected with evaluative connections of varying degrees of rigidity.

The source of psychological disorders, according to Ellis, is a system of individual irrational ideas about the world, learned, as a rule, in childhood from significant adults. A. Ellis called these violations irrational attitudes. From the point of view of A. Ellis, these are strict connections between descriptive and evaluative cognitions such as instructions, demands, mandatory orders that have no exceptions. Therefore, irrational attitudes do not correspond to reality both in strength and in quality of this prescription. If irrational attitudes are not realized, they lead to long-lasting emotions that are inadequate to the situation and complicate the individual’s activities. The core of emotional disorders, according to Ellis, is self-blame.

A normally functioning person has a rational system of evaluative cognitions, which is a system of flexible connections between descriptive and evaluative cognitions. It rather expresses a wish, a preference for a certain development of events, and therefore leads to moderate emotions, although sometimes they can be intense, but do not capture the individual for a long time and therefore do not block his activities or interfere with the achievement of goals.

The first and most important principle of the rational-emotive theory is that thoughts are the main factor determining the emotional state.

The second main principle of the rational-emotive theory states that the pathology of emotions and many psychopathological conditions are based on disturbances in thought processes. These include: exaggeration, simplification, overgeneralization, illogical assumptions, erroneous conclusions, absolutization. Ellis uses the term "irrational judgment" to describe these cognitive errors.

Thus, pathological emotional reactions are most often based on irrational beliefs.

Albert Ellis in 1958 identified 12 Basic Irrational Ideas.

1. For an adult, it is absolutely necessary that every step he takes is attractive to others.

2. There are vicious and nasty actions. And those responsible should be severely punished.

3. It's a disaster when everything doesn't go as we would like.

4. All troubles are imposed on us from the outside - by people or circumstances.

5. If something scares or causes concern, be constantly on alert.

6. It is easier to avoid responsibility and difficulties than to overcome them.

7. Everyone needs something stronger and more significant than what he feels in himself.

8. You must be competent, adequate, reasonable and successful in all respects. (You need to know everything, be able to do everything, understand everything and achieve success in everything).

9. What greatly influenced your life once will always influence it.

10. Our well-being is influenced by the actions of other people, so we must do everything to ensure that these people change in the direction we desire.

11. Going with the flow and doing nothing is the path to happiness.

12. We have no control over our emotions and cannot help but experience them.

Continuing to develop RET, he came to the conclusion that all irrational beliefs can be reduced to three main ones. All the rest are, as it were, their sub-items.

Ellis formulated these three beliefs in the following way:

1. “I have to succeed and get the approval of significant others, and if I don’t do what I should and should, then there’s something wrong with me. It’s terrible, and I’m worthless.” This irrational belief leads to depression, anxiety, despair, and self-doubt. This is the demand of the Ego. “I must succeed, otherwise I am a “nonentity.”

2. The second irrational belief is: “You - the people with whom I communicate, my parents, my family, my relatives and employees - must, must treat me well and be fair! It’s just terrible that you don’t do this!” Hence the bitterness, rage, murder, genocide.

3. Third irrational belief: “The conditions in which I live - the environment, social relations, political situation - should be arranged so that I can easily, without making much effort, get everything I need. Isn’t it a nightmare, that these conditions are difficult and cause me grief? I can’t stand it! I can’t be happy; I’ll either remain unhappy forever or I’ll kill myself!” Hence the low resistance to frustration.

Ellis is convinced that these false ideas, accepted and reinforced by constant self-hypnosis, can lead to emotional disturbances or neurosis, since they cannot be implemented.

These core irrational beliefs, which are actually various combinations of twelve ideas boiled down to three, reflect another key point of RET: the use of expressions like “should,” “should,” and “should” in our thinking. Bold statements of this type reflect irrationality and may cause or worsen emotional disturbance. All of these “shoulds” are hallmarks of irrational or illogical beliefs in the RET system.

Analysis of the words used by the client helps identify irrational attitudes. Usually, irrational attitudes are associated with words that reflect the extreme degree of emotional involvement of the client (nightmarish, terrible, amazing, unbearable, etc.), having the nature of a mandatory prescription (necessary, must, must, obliged, etc.), as well as global assessments of a person or object or events.

A. Ellis identified the four most common groups of irrational attitudes that create problems:

1. Catastrophic installations.

2. Installations of mandatory obligation.

3. Installations for the mandatory fulfillment of one’s needs.

4. Global assessment settings.

List of the most common irrational (dysfunctional) attitudes.

To facilitate the process of identifying, recording and checking them, it is recommended to use so-called marker words. These words, both voiced and discovered during introspection as thoughts, ideas and images, in most cases indicate the presence of an irrational attitude of the corresponding type. The more of them are revealed during analysis in verbalized thoughts and statements, the greater the severity (intensity of manifestation) and rigidity of the irrational attitude.

1. Establishing an obligation.

The central idea of ​​the installation is the idea of ​​duty. The word “should” itself is in most cases a linguistic trap. The meaning of the word “should” is only one way and no other way. Therefore, the words “shall”, “should”, “must” and the like denote a situation where there is no alternative. But this designation of the situation is valid only in very rare cases, almost in exceptional cases. For example, the statement “a person must breathe air” would be adequate, since there is physically no alternative.

A statement like “you must appear at the appointed place at 9:00” is inadequate, since in fact it hides other designations and explanations (or simply words). For example: “I want you to come by 9:00”, “If you want to get something you need, you should come by 9:00.” The work of the should attitude inevitably leads to stress, acute or chronic.

The attitude manifests itself in three areas.

The first area is the establishment of an obligation in relation to oneself - what I owe to others. Having the belief that you owe something to someone will serve as a source of stress in the following case: when something reminds you of this debt and something at the same time prevents you from fulfilling it. Situations often do not work out in our favor, so fulfilling this “duty” under certain unfavorable circumstances becomes problematic. Therefore, a person falls into a trap constructed by himself: there is no possibility of “repaying the debt,” but there is also no possibility of “not repaying it.”

The second area of ​​obligation is the obligation in relation to others - what others owe me. That is, how other people should behave with me, how to speak in my presence, what to do. And this is one of the most powerful sources of stress, because never in anyone’s life in the entire history of mankind has there been such an environment that it always and in everything met our expectations. Even among respected citizens, even among supreme rulers and priests, even among the most obsessed tyrants, people appeared in their field of vision who acted “not as they should.” And it is natural that when we encounter a person who acts “in relation to me not as he should,” the level of psycho-emotional arousal rapidly increases. Hence the stress.

The third area of ​​the statement of obligation is the requirements imposed on the surrounding world - what nature, weather, government, etc. “owe” us.

To transform this irrational attitude, you should change your internal attitude towards many phenomena in your life from “should” to “would like”, and this is guaranteed to save the person from destructive and fruitless experiences. One should choose a wish, a preference, instead of an absolute requirement.

Marker words: “must” (“must”, “must”, “must not”, “must not”, “must not”, etc.), “necessarily”, “by all means”, "nose bleed"

2. Installation of catastrophizing.

This attitude is characterized by a sharp exaggeration of the negative nature of a phenomenon or situation and reflects the irrational belief that there are catastrophic events in the world that lie outside any assessment system. The attitude manifests itself in statements that are extremely negative.

When we are under the influence of a catastrophizing attitude, we evaluate some event that is unpleasant for us as something inevitable and monstrous. Like something that will destroy our lives once and for all. We assess the event as a “catastrophe of universal proportions”, which we cannot influence in any way.

Marker words: “catastrophe”, “nightmare”, “horror”, “end of the world”.

To transform this irrational attitude, you should consciously replace in your beliefs an extremely negative assessment of the situation, which is not based on real facts, and develop an objective view of the situation.

3. Setting the prediction of a negative future.

This attitude is the tendency to believe that expectations of negative developments will be realized, regardless of whether these expectations were expressed or existed in the form of mental images.

“By becoming prophets, or rather pseudo-prophets, we predict failures, then, unnoticed by ourselves, we do everything to make them come true, and in the end we get them. But does such forecasting look reasonable and rational? It is clear that it is not. Because our opinion about the future is not the future itself. This is just a hypothesis, which, like any theoretical assumption, must be tested for truth. And perhaps this is in some cases only empirically (by trial and error). In other cases, when we have experience. similar situations, we should still adhere to a more realistic assessment of the probability of the occurrence of certain options. In this world, everything is possible, but with different chances of occurrence, we sometimes artificially reduce the possibility of the occurrence of some events, as a result of which we take unnecessary risks, and, on the contrary, the probability of other events. (having negligible chances) and their consequences we sharply exaggerate, as a result of which we experience unnecessary experiences and bodily discomfort."

Marker words: “what if”, “what if”, “but maybe”, etc.

4. Installation of maximalism.

This attitude is characterized by the choice for oneself and/or other persons of the highest hypothetically possible standards, even unattainable ones, and their subsequent use as a standard for determining the value of an action, phenomenon or person. Thinking is characterized by an “all or nothing!” attitude. An extreme form of the maximalist attitude is the perfectionist attitude (Latin: perfectio - ideal, perfect).

Marker words: “to the maximum”, “only excellent”, “a five”, “100%” (“one hundred percent”).

5. Installation of dichotomous thinking.

Dichotomous thinking is the tendency to place life experiences into one of two mutually exclusive categories, such as perfect or imperfect, blameless or despicable, saint or sinner.

Thinking influenced by such an attitude can be described as “black and white,” characterized by a tendency to think in extremes. Concepts that are actually located on a continuum are assessed as antagonists, as mutually exclusive options.

Marker words: “either - or” (“either yes or no”, “either pan - or gone”), “either - or” (“either alive or dead”).

6. Setting up personalization.

This attitude manifests itself as a tendency to associate events with one’s personality when there is no basis for such a conclusion, to interpret events in terms of personal meanings: “They are probably whispering about me” or “Everyone is looking at me.”

Marker words: pronouns “I”, “me”, “by me”, “to me”, etc.

7. Installation of overgeneralization.

Overgeneralization means deriving a general rule or arriving at a general conclusion based on one or more isolated episodes. The influence of this attitude leads to a categorical judgment based on a single attribute (criterion, episode) about the entire population. The result is that unwarranted generalizations are made based on selective information. For example:

“If it doesn’t work out right away, it will never work out.” A principle is formed - if something is true in one case, it is true in all other more or less similar cases.

Marker words: “all”, “nobody”, “nothing”, “everywhere”, “nowhere”, “never”, “always”, “forever”, “constantly”.

To transform this irrational attitude from maladaptive to adaptive, you should consciously replace categoricalness in your judgments, unifying objects, situations and phenomena.

8. Mind reading setup.

This attitude creates a tendency to attribute unspoken judgments, opinions and specific thoughts to other people. A boss's gloomy look can be interpreted by an anxious subordinate as a thought or even a ripe decision to fire him. This interpretation may be followed by a sleepless night of painful thoughts and the decision: “I will not give him the pleasure of firing me - I will quit of my own free will.” And the next morning, at the very beginning of the working day, the boss, who yesterday was tormented by stomach pains (which was the reason for his “stern” look), is trying to understand why his not the best employee suddenly decided to quit.

Marker words: “he (she/they) think(s).”

9. Evaluation installation.

This attitude manifests itself in the case of assessing a person’s personality as a whole, and not his individual traits, qualities, actions, etc. Assessment is irrational in nature when a separate aspect of a person is identified with the entire personality.

Marker words: “bad”, “good”, “worthless”, “stupid”, etc.2

10. Installation of anthropomorphism.

Marker words: “wants”, “thinks”, “considers”, “fairly”, “honestly”, etc. statements not addressed to a person.

ABC theory of personality (ABC model)

ABCModel:

A (activating event) – a situation, an event that triggers certain feelings in us;

B (beliefs) – our beliefs, life principles and attitudes, ideas about a particular situation;

C (consequences) – consequences: feelings and behavior.

Ellis has an ABC theory of personality (ABC model), to which he added D and E to cover change and the desired outcome of change.

Additionally, the letter G may be placed first to provide context for human ABC patterns.

Ts (G - Goals) Goals, fundamental and primary.

A (A - Activating) Activating events in a person’s life.

B (B - Beliefs) Beliefs, beliefs, rational and irrational.

P (C - Consequences) Consequences, emotional and behavioral.

D (D - Disputing) Discussion of irrational beliefs.

E (E - Effective) Effective new philosophy of life.

By thinking rationally about activating events (A) that either help or confirm, or block or sabotage their goals (C), people engage in preferential thinking. Preferential thinking, as opposed to rigidly demanding thinking, involves either explicitly and/or tacitly responding through belief systems (B) in realistic ways and experiencing corresponding emotional and practice-derived goal-oriented behavioral consequences (P). Below are ABC diagrams for activating events that strengthen and block goals.

ABC schemes for activating events that strengthen and block goals:

A - An activating event perceived as helping or confirming goals.

B - A belief system that involves a preferred mindset: "This is good! I like this activating event."

P - Consequences: emotional - pleasure or happiness; behavioral - approaching and trying to repeat this activating event.

A - Activating event perceived as blocking or sabotage of goals.

B - A belief system that involves a preferred mindset: "This is bad! I don't like this activating event."

P - Consequences: emotional - frustration or unhappiness; behavioral - avoiding or trying to eliminate this activating event.

Encyclopedic YouTube

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✪ example of REBT from founder Albert Ellis (Russian subtitles)

✪ Amazing conversation with Andrey Zolotov. About the essence of rational-emotive therapy (RET) and much more

✪ Nikolai Linde “Working with emotional dependence in EoT”

✪ [a little science #19] How our thoughts make us unhappy

✪ Philosophy of Stoicism? Massimo Pigliucci #TED-Ed | TED Ed in Russian

Subtitles

AE: Hello, Gloria! I'm Dr. Ellis... come in... sit down. G: Glad to see you, Dr. Ellis! AE: So...did you want to tell me about your father or something else? G: Yes...I would like to talk to you...more...about my loneliness...about...how to meet a man...I have one thought...maybe I will refute your book ...but I'm a little depressed after... reading "The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Dating and Mating, Albert Ellis, Jun 1960) I tried to follow the directions in your book))) reading your book was very interesting... although I don't read much... but I believed that it works. My problem with men is that... I want to get close to a certain type of man... to please him.. . but... I can't... be around a man of this type... I'm too shy... I can't... I don't feel an inner click... when I go to meet a man.. . I don’t think I’ll get... ... enough pleasure and interest from the meeting. And... I don’t understand... is the problem with me or what? I... really... want to date men like this? like. AE: Let's talk about your shyness. Let's say you want... to enjoy meetings more and... worry less. Let's look at how... shyness is formed... what exactly creates it. Do you feel shy with men of this particular type? G: Yes...but I try not to show it...I close myself...and watch how he reacts to me...I don’t seem particularly smart at this moment...I look like a typical dumb blonde.. .I just... don't know how to behave with a man... I have no ideas. AE: Well... as you already know from the book... I believe that people have such negative feelings... like shyness, embarrassment, shame... because... they tell themselves something... that puts them in this state. Let's see what you tell yourself before you... fall into a state of shyness. G: I don’t know for sure... but... I think... ...this is not related to the sexual issue... I’m not closed to sex... and vice versa... I want it. I'm scared... that this type of man might not like me... as a person. AE: To begin with, let us note... that your guesses may be correct... because... a man, indeed, can treat you negatively... ...but... this is not necessary... should Frustrating you... You may say to yourself... “A man can treat me differently. .. and that’s normal” and secondly... “I will accept this attitude, even... if it is absolutely terrible!” G: I agree... but this is a little extreme... ... I’ll tell myself... “I missed my chance again!” After all... when meeting a man... I want to show my best side... I think... that I am confident enough in myself... and I have something to offer. But... when fear arises... I show all my worst sides... I'm terrible... I... I go on the defensive because... again I couldn't show my best qualities... I missed out again an opportunity to get closer to this person. AE: Okay...but even if everything is as you say...and I think it is... ...You have to tell yourself something a little different...You just have to tell yourself... "Crap! I missed my chance again... Okay!...next time I will use what... I learned this time and... I will perform much better!” This is exactly what you should tell yourself... when... you feel fear... shame... shyness... and something else very unpleasant... about another lost chance. G: I don’t know... does this have anything to do with... what you said... ... I have a fear that I am one of those women who... ... always attracts the wrong men? There's something wrong with me... I've never met the man I wanted... I've always clashed... with others. AE: Okay...now you're closer to what I'm talking about... You say... “If I'm this type of woman... who can't attract the man I want... then... that's terrible.. .I won’t be able to get what I want... and this...really...will be just like that!” G: Of course! I don't want to think of myself that way! I believe that my level is much higher... I don’t like to think that I...maybe...are only worthy of average men. AE: Let's accept that this is so... You are an absolutely average woman who deserves average men... Is that so terrible? It would be unpleasant... inconvenient? But... feelings... like shyness... embarrassment... shame... could they be caused by the feeling that you are worthy only of average men? G: I don’t know... AE: I know that they can, because... you continue to believe in your low level and that is... sad. It will be very bad...it will be terrible...if you are not good enough... G: Then...I will never get what I want!!! I will never accept that I am worthy only of average men... then I will not get what I want!!! I don't want to spend the rest of my life with a boring man! AE: I'll add...your chances are also reduced by the fact that...some boring girls date interesting men. G: Yes, exactly! AE: The main thing is that you said... “It may be like this... I’m going through a difficult time right now,” but then you jump to another opinion... “I will never get what I want” And thus you create catastrophe. G: Yes...but this is what I feel at the moment...it seems to me that failure will continue forever. AE: Absolutely right! But it is precisely this belief that instills uncertainty in you. You become completely unsure of yourself. G: Yes... yes. AE: Insecurity arises because...You are talking about...that you want to be with a certain man...you want to be an interesting woman for him and you want... ...for him to be interesting for you. G: Yes! AE: But... “If I don't get it now, then... that means I'm not good enough and will never get what I want.” Don't you think this is overly rigid thinking? G: Yes! AE: This is what I call a disaster... there is part of the undeniable truth in what you said... ...if...You don't get the man you want, then...it...really will be...extreme unpleasant and disappointing. You say that... you will never get what you want... and you add that... because of this, you will never be a happy person. Are you talking about this? G: Yes! AE: Okay...let's assume the worst...as Bertrand Russell advised us...let's say you never get the man you want...are there...any...other possibilities for being happy? G: I just want... to own the process... I don't like what... I feel. Okay!.. let's say that this is not even a disaster. AE: Yes! If I don’t even look at it as a disaster...I don’t care...how I live now!!! For example...if I meet someone...whom I'm interested in...whom I see potential...I get nervous and can't relax around him...I don't feel good around him...though , I should be more friendly and caring. If I remain closed, then I can't be who I want to be. I want to be myself...but I lack confidence...I worry too much... AE: You don't just worry...You worry a lot! You have anxiety! Because...if you just had anxiety...You might say to yourself... “It's great if I'm anxious... and if I'm not anxious... then... just fine!!! Now I have what I have!” But...when you worry again, you tell yourself... “If I don’t have what I want now, then...I’ll never get it!!! That's just terrible!!! I have to get it now or never!!!” Is it this kind of thinking that makes you worry? G: Yes, if I'm unhappy with myself. If I don't have what I want now, then I feel like I'm... on... the wrong path. AE: I hear that you want guarantees. I advise you to say... “I would like... to be guaranteed to be on the right path” G: No, Dr. Ellis, I mean something a little different... actually... I want... to take a step towards the right ways. AE: Who is stopping you? G: I don’t know... I don’t understand... what’s happening to me. I don’t know... why I can’t attract a man... why I start to defend myself... why fear arises. Can you help me... understand... why... I'm so afraid? AE: In my opinion... the reason for your fear is... not that you cannot find a common language with a suitable man... if we take... meeting a new man... You don’t yet know the right one or not... but there will already be fear... because you are afraid of not getting what you want... missing out on this man and everyone else... You are afraid of never getting what... you want.. .and...perceive it as something terrible. You are building a disaster in your head. G: You said it rudely, but...in general...it’s true. But... I... do this... for a reason... AE: Are you doing what? G: If I do something...I really like it...I'm really interested in it... ...AE: That's right! I would be more real... if I didn't want to bring this man closer so badly. I would enjoy life more... if I was real. And I give him the not most pleasant part of me. AE: Right! G: How can anyone respect me... if... then... who I am... is not true? AE: Let's look at this from the other side. Let's say... You demonstrate your... not the most pleasant part. A man is watching you... he doesn’t like your unpleasant part... it doesn’t make him happy... but... I think he doesn’t despise you as a person... as you yourself think. G: I make life difficult for myself by thinking this way. Why am I so worried... about whether he likes me... it's enough that I like him! AE: Right! As I said earlier... if people don't like you... then finding someone... who will love you is difficult... but... perhaps... You can meet like those who don't like you... and those...who like you. However... pay attention... how you lower yourself... in the eyes of other people. .. focusing not on... “how can I be myself”... but on... how to please. For example... imagine that a person has an injured arm... If he focuses on his problems with his arm... then... he forgets about himself as a whole... and cannot demonstrate his personality to others... he focuses on himself attention... on his weak side... and cannot do what he would like to do. G: Yes, that's exactly what I do! AE: Yes, exactly like that... if you think about a part of yourself... about your hand... ...you completely focus on thoughts about your problematic part... ...You do the same with yours... shyness... ...not accepting yourself as... who you are... when you communicate with men... You focus so much on your weaknesses... that you forget about the big picture... about who you really are The defective part that you think about does not allow you to relax and... think that you are doing everything well... You cannot accept yourself... because of this defective part of yourself. .. ...because you think about her. Once you understand this... the problem becomes quite simple... you just need to work on yourself and practice... ...a new attitude towards this destructive part. Let's get back to the essence of our conversation... How can you be yourself?.. Let's assume that you completely accept yourself and your shortcomings... G: Okay... AE: You know that you will meet a new man... you will again worry... but... You can say to yourself: “Okay... I understand what’s happening to me... I’m just learning... everything is not as good... as I would like... but. .. despite this... I will continue to behave stupidly... as usual... ... I understand that you need to make mistakes in order to learn something” Okay... then... when you you allow yourself to make mistakes... You stop being afraid to be yourself... Because... all you want to do on a date... is be yourself... You don't want to win a prize on a date... You don't want marry this man and... live with him for a long time... G: I want a long-term relationship... I'm thinking about living with this man for a long time... AE: Okay... long-term relationship ... but they cannot be implemented directly on a date... It is necessary to perform a certain set of actions... in order to create a strong relationship... Thus... You come to accept yourself... however... if you continue to worry ... ...about your shortcomings... You keep retreating into yourself... and it's worth asking yourself. .. “What do I really want to do with this man?.. Do I want to please him?.. ... and do I want him to please me?” After all, joy... is the basis of life... which cannot be lost. And you need effort... to take the risk... to be like that. Because... if you get what you want... that's great... but if you don't... then you get upset. If you can't make him happy. Or he doesn't make you happy. Because... don’t forget... if a man refuses you... then you think: “It’s my fault!!!” You know... it could be your cup of tea... or his... or maybe no one is to blame... this is reality... You are simply incompatible... G: Yes... I agree... AE : Thus... if you want to really accept yourself as... who you are... then you must make an effort... work on yourself... complete the tasks that I give you... and in this way. .. raise yourself to the level... at which you can express your opinion and... be yourself... at least for a while! Even... if it is dangerous... and can bring you pain... You found yourself... You started to be yourself... but... as soon as... You lose yourself... look at yourself from the outside... and you will understand... that it was impossible to remain calm in this situation... because... You can watch yourself... your feelings... but you cannot remain calm... G : It turns out... this is my habit... to worry... AE: After a while... after you take the risk... work on yourself... ...starting a conversation with the right man like... and realizing... that you may seem like a fool... ...he will not like you at all... and lose this man forever... only after that... You begin to swim with the flow... to be the person you want to be... and I guarantee... practice will help you become more resilient... to your... shyness... because you will stop focusing on that “Oh... My God... . .. how terrible it is what I’m doing”... and you’ll start focusing on who... who you’re dealing with... you’ll start thinking about... “how can I please this person?” focus on your relationship with a man... G: Wait... how can I please him... if I'm not satisfied with myself? AE: Because... as I already said... “if I can’t enjoy who I am... then I can’t accept myself... therefore... a man can’t please me... "G: Yes... I agree with you, doctor... ...in the future... in contacts with men... . ..I would like to feel great... accept myself... but now I am constantly in tension and... in a state of defense... ... I constantly watch what I say... a little Have I been drinking... ...I can’t just relax and enjoy life... AE: You are giving me the opportunity to demonstrate the principles of REBT... ...why other directions don’t work...because...if You really want... ... you want to understand yourself... using different tools... ... for example... if you seem to be playing a game and want to win it... You tell yourself ... "I must win today"... or.. "I must win tomorrow"... "I must win!!!" ... every time concentrating... on... how to be pleasing to your man... ... You will never be yourself... You will never accept yourself... ... however... if You will ask yourself... "what do I want to do with my life?" ... and this path must be approved by some person... and let's see... is there such a person... who approves of your path... AE: Do you understand? G: Yes! AE: Let's spend more time... ... searching for a constructive solution to the problem... ... let's think more specifically about what you can do... You asked me... where do you need to go to meet the right people people... ...I said... that I don’t know a specific place, but... in my opinion, you can meet people anywhere... ... if you... really... can do what you want... what we said... take the risk of being yourself... and focus on... what you yourself want to get from life... ... and... you need to understand... the restructuring will take time... this is exactly so... ... and it's not scary... and you know... why it's not scary to waste time on it... ... because... You can live openly... without embarrassment. .. with any new contacts... ... no matter... where the meeting takes place... on a bus... in a taxi... at a party... ... anywhere... You can talk with the people you want... ... ask your friends... if they have any pleasant acquaintances... but, most importantly... You must... a) like yourself, even if... You you're doing something wrong... and b)... stay calm... no matter how bad you feel... Now... like I said... if you were my patient... I would give you homework... ... intentionally... quite consciously... to involve yourself in problematic situations... ... find a man who is pleasant to you. .. and... force yourself to take risks... ... force yourself to be yourself... G: Are you saying... that... if I go to the doctor... I should start flirting with him.. .. just... because... I like him?.. AE: Right! G: Can I just start talking to him about personal topics? AE: Why not? If you like him? AE: For you it’s simple))) ... but to me it seems completely difficult))) ... AE: That’s what I’m talking about... what can you lose in this situation? The worst thing... ...that can happen... is that you will be rejected. But you won't perceive it as a refusal... ... if you perceive the refusal... as doing your homework. G: Oh yes! AE: Now... Can you try this? G: I think... I think... quite :) You made me look at it from the other side... You're right... all I can get is a refusal. AE: Right! And of course... You must take this action at the moment... at which you want... When you do your homework... I would be very interested to know... how it went... G: Ooh. .. I will be very glad to tell you:))) AE: Well... it was very nice to meet you, Gloria... G: Thank you, doctor:) ...translation and subtitles - Igor Nepovnykh...

ABC model

The core of REBT theory is the ABC Model (sometimes “A-B-C”, in an expanded version “ABCDE”) of the development of emotional disorders, which is sometimes also called the “therapeutic change model” and the “ABC theory of personality”, since it not only describes the process of the emergence of dysfunctional emotions and behavior, but is also used as a guide to eliminating the causes of these mental disorders.

People tend to solve their psychological problems by following their “naive” theories about the nature of these problems. They lack what is called in REBT insight No. 1: understanding that psychological disorders are often determined mainly by the absolutist views that people develop about negative life events (“B” determines “C”). People make incorrect assumptions about the causes of their problems and try to change “A” rather than “B.”

People can have insight #1, but it won't happen. insight No. 2: People remain upset by re-convincing themselves of their absolutist views present.

Even if a person has had both of these insights, he may still suffer from his problems due to the fact that he did not have insight No. 3: only if a person works hard and trains himself to think, feel and act contrary to his irrational views and beliefs, both in the present and in the future, will he be able to change and become significantly calmer. To discern the pathological cycle they are caught in, they need to intensely and continuously challenge their destructive ideas cognitively, emotionally and behaviorally.

Since REBT is a cognitive type of counseling and psychotherapy, a large place in it is given to working with the cognitive determinants of the problem, as well as with secondary and tertiary constructs - in thoughts, emotions and behavior that strengthen the client's problem (for example, anxiety about anxiety, guilt for your anger), which, because of this, it is advisable to work with first. This allows you to work with quite complex cases.

Therapeutic methods used

Basic REBT techniques is a range of cognitive, emotional and behavioral techniques:

• detection dysfunctional views.
• discrimination- helping the client to find clear differences between absolute (needs, demands, imperatives) and non-absolute (preferences, desires, dreams, plans) values, that is, between irrational, unhealthy views and beliefs and healthy rational beliefs.
• debating about (essentially deconstruction) an irrational idea, with the goal that the client abandon it.

• definition techniques, the purpose of which is to help the client use language in a less destructive way (For example, instead of “I can’t..”, “I haven’t learned yet...”).
• pros and cons techniques - in which clients are encouraged to list both the negative and positive about a particular concept to counter the habit of noticing only the positive (or negative) aspects of it, and ignoring its opposite aspects (for example, in the case of smoking).

• rational-emotional imagination. Imagining a social or real situation of failure in which the client typically has irrational thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, and then reframing the imagination to feel healthy (rather than irrational and pathological) feelings.
• time projection method (instead of directly challenging dysfunctional beliefs, the client is encouraged to imagine what will happen to him some time after the “horrible” event, thus helping to indirectly change the irrational belief, since the client can “see” what will happen after this “horrible” event , he will be able to recover from it, begin to move further towards his goals and create new goals).

• hypnosis;
• minor violations of social rules, in order to overcome shame (for example, “stupidity”, such as shouting the names of stops on the subway, singing songs in the streets at the top of your voice, talking to strangers on the streets and in public places, to maintain a conversation with them, trying to negotiate with a stranger about something, etc.). The main effect of this technique is associated with the gradual acquisition of experience - a large number of attempts with small advances is important, which will ultimately allow one to overcome shame;
• supportive, energetic self-hypnosis - repeating rational statements with feeling and force in order to begin to firmly feel them, to become convinced of their validity, and also to ensure that they are internalized;
• formulating rational statements;
• unconditional self-acceptance - teaches the client to fully accept himself in any conditions and evaluate only his individual traits or actions and never his totality, his essence, his self. Something may be bad, for example a person's behavior, but never the person himself;
• role-playing games, during which social skills are developed and various insufficiently realized feelings are reflected, as well as small appeals to oneself causing some negative feelings, with the aim of changing them.
• cognitive homework.

Accurate translation of terminology and names

The correct translation of the name of the therapy (English) Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) is precisely " rational-emotional But- behavioral"(two hyphens) and not "rational-emotional and I behavioral” (the last word is separate), since Ellis himself repeatedly emphasized the equivalence of the cognitive (rational), emotional and behavioral (behavioural) components. However, in the books of A. Ellis translated into Russian, the second option is often found - this is probably how it happened historically.

The term " irrational beliefs"correctly translated as " irrational beliefs", and not "beliefs", because, firstly, the verb " to believe"is translated as “to believe” and not as “to convince,” and secondly, the word conviction can be understood in two ways: as “an idea, a thought about something” and as “the process of persuasion.”

The term " m u sturbation" (not to be confused with " m a sturbation") as a neologism should be translated " duenanism“- in the literature you can find the translation “tyranny of obligation” - these terms should not be confused, since in Ellis’s books different words are used: “demandingness”, “musturbatory”, “musturbate”.

Psychotherapy is understood as treatment, where the main “drug” is the doctor’s word. Communicating with the patient, he inevitably influences him psychologically and, by helping to change his attitude towards himself and the world around him, promotes recovery. The main methods of such influence include rational psychotherapy. It can be combined with occupational therapy, etc.

Rational therapy in psychology

It aims to influence the patient with logically reasoned explanations. That is, the doctor explains to the patient something that is difficult for him to understand and accept. Having received clear and simple arguments, the patient abandons his false beliefs, overcomes pessimistic ideas and gradually moves towards recovery. Rational therapy uses a variety of techniques:

• indirect suggestion;
• emotional impact;
• didactic techniques.

Frequent practice involves a dialogue between the doctor and the patient, and much will depend on the personality of the specialist, his ability to persuade and listen, gain trust and be sincerely interested in the fate of the patient. This treatment has several directions, and some of its provisions and techniques are consistent with the method of neurolinguistic programming.

Rational-emotive psychotherapy

This direction was proposed by Albert Ellis in 1955. He believed that the causes of mental disorder are irrational - erroneous cognitive attitudes. The main types of psychological problems include:

1. Self-deprecation and self-disparagement.
2. Exaggeration of the negative components of the situation.

Rational psychotherapy techniques help patients accept themselves and increase their tolerance to frustration. In this case, the doctor acts according to the following scheme:

1. Explains and clarifies. Interprets the essence of the disease, which helps the patient get a clear and clear picture of the disease and more actively control it.
2. Convinces. It corrects not only the cognitive, but also the emotional aspect, and modifies the patient’s personal attitudes.
3. Refocuses. Changes in the patient's attitudes become stable, the system of values ​​regarding the disease changes, and he goes beyond it.
4. Educates. Creates positive prospects for the patient after overcoming the illness.

Rational cognitive psychotherapy

The previous direction is one of its main branches. Their theoretical positions and the techniques used are close, but the methods of rational psychotherapy, where the emphasis is on emotions, are more structured, and the work with the patient is consistent. Cognitive techniques include:

• Socratic dialogue;
• the art of “filling the void”;
• decatastrophization;
• method of similarity and similarity;
• reattribution;
• reformulation;
• decentralization.

At the same time, in his work, the doctor uses role-playing games, exposure treatment, distraction techniques and activity planning. All this helps the patient to recognize the erroneous nature of his thinking, take responsibility for his actions and get rid of mental problems. In this case, it is necessary that the doctor has an idea of ​​the achievements of logic and masters the modern theory of argumentation.

Rational-emotive psychotherapy

It is based on assumptions about human nature and the origins of people's unhappiness or emotional disturbances. All kinds of false ideas, such as the inability to control external circumstances or the desire to always be first in everything, are widespread in society. They are accepted and reinforced by self-hypnosis, which can provoke neurosis, because they cannot be implemented. But regardless of the influence of external factors, people can act independently, and the recognition of this ability formed the basis of the A-B-C theory of behavior and personality disorders.

Rational and explanatory psychotherapy proves that if you think sensibly and reasonably, then the consequences will be the same, and if the belief system is crazy and unrealistic, then the consequences will be destructive. By recognizing this relationship, it is possible to change such attitudes, actions and behaviors in response to external circumstances and situations.

Some cognitive psychotherapists, such as Paul DuBois and Alfred Adler, used almost exclusively intellectual techniques in their work, such as persuasion and training. Other cognitive scientists, such as George Kelly, worked primarily with emotive techniques, such as fixed role-play. Some cognitive-behavioral psychotherapists—Emmelkamp being one of them—have primarily used behavioral methods, such as in vivo desensitization. Cognitive-behavioral approach to psychotherapy and counseling: Reader / Comp. T.V. Vlasova. - Vladivostok: State Institute of Moscow State University, 2009. - P. 19

RET theory states, as mentioned above, that thoughts, emotions and feelings are inextricably linked. Therefore, from its very inception, RET has paid equal attention to all three modalities (cognitive, emotive and behavioral). It became the first truly multimodal psychotherapy school. Right there. - P. 20

RET freely borrows techniques from other therapeutic systems, but only those that do not contradict the basic theory of RET are accepted. When talking about techniques, Ellis emphasizes that REBT therapists are particularly concerned with the short-term and long-term effects of specific therapeutic techniques: they will rarely use techniques that have immediate positive results but negative long-term consequences. Ellis A., Dryden W. The practice of rational-emotional behavioral therapy. 2nd ed./Trans. from English T. Saushkina. - St. Petersburg: Publishing House "Rech", 2002. - P. 193

Currently, there are a huge number of cognitive, emotional and behavioral techniques, but according to Ellis, they are not “pure”. This means that each contains cognitive, emotional, and behavioral elements, but one of them is predominant. Ellis A., Humanistic psychotherapy: A rational-emotional approach / Trans. from English - St. Petersburg: Sova, 2002. - P. 211

Let's look at the basic RET techniques.

Cognitive techniques.

The most common technique is debating (challenging) irrational ideas. There are three subcategories of challenge: detection, debate, and discrimination.

Detection involves looking for dysfunctional attitudes that lead to self-destructive emotions and behaviors. Cognitive-irrational attitudes can be detected due to explicit or not directly expressed signs of the demands of “must”, “must”, “must”. In addition, Ellis pays attention to explicit and implicit phrases such as “This is terrible!” or “I can’t stand it,” which indicate derivatives of existing primary and secondary irrational beliefs.

Debating is a series of questions that the therapist asks the client to help him give up his irrational idea. The therapist requires his clients to use reason, logic, and facts in defending their beliefs. The purpose of this survey is to explain to clients why their irrational beliefs do not stand up to scrutiny. Nelson-Jones lists some discussion questions that therapists should ask clients and clients should ask themselves:

“What irrational belief do I want to discuss and what irrational belief do I want to abandon?”

“Can I rationally defend this belief?”

“What evidence is there for the truth of this belief?”

“What evidence is there that this belief is wrong?”

“Why is this terrible?”

“Why can’t I stand it?”

“How does this make me a disgusting (weak) person?”

“Why should I always do everything badly in the future?”

“What effective new belief (philosophy) can I replace my irrational belief?” Nelson-Jones R. Theory and practice of counseling - St. Petersburg: Peter Publishing House, 2000. - P. 121

According to Nelson-Jones, the desired cognitive outcome of discussing certain irrational beliefs and their derivatives is to produce an optimal set of preferred beliefs or effective new philosophies associated with each belief. Desired emotional and behavioral results must be obtained from effective new philosophies, and these results must interact with those philosophies. Right there. - P. 121

Discrimination refers to the therapist's assistance to the client in defining clear differences between nonabsolute values ​​and absolutist ones. The formal version of debating, which includes several main components, is known as DIV (Disputing Irrational Views). DIV is one example of cognitive homework that is often given to clients between sessions after they have been taught how to do it.

Clients may use audiotapes to facilitate the discussion process. They can listen to audio recordings of therapy sessions and record their own discussions about their irrational ideas.

There are three cognitive techniques that therapists often suggest to clients to help reinforce a new rational philosophy:

Listening to audio cassettes with recordings of RET lectures on various topics;

Doing RET with others, where the client uses RET to help their friends and family solve their problems.

Many semantic methods are also used. Definition techniques are sometimes used, the purpose of which is to help the client use language in a less self-defeating way. For example, instead of saying “I can’t...” Ellis suggests using the expression “I haven’t learned yet.” Ellis A., Dryden W. The practice of rational-emotional behavioral therapy. 2nd ed./Trans. from English T. Saushkina. - St. Petersburg: Rech Publishing House, 2002. - P. 207 Quite often they use pros and cons techniques. Here, clients are encouraged to list both negative and positive things about a specific concept, such as “smoking.”

RET therapists use a variety of imagery techniques. They often resort to rational-emotional imagination and the method of time projection.

Emotional techniques.

RET therapists offer their clients an emotional attitude towards unconditional acceptance, a variety of humorous methods, stories, fables, poems, aphorisms, mottos and witticisms.

REBT therapists believe that clients themselves are able to help themselves move from intellectual insight to an emotional method of vigorously challenging their irrational views. Strength and energy play a big role in the widespread shame attack RET exercises. Ellis describes these exercises as follows: Clients deliberately try to behave “indecently” in public in order to learn to accept themselves and tolerate the subsequent discomfort. Since clients are not harming themselves or others, a small violation of social rules often serves as an appropriate exercise in shame management. Ellis A., Dryden W. The practice of rational-emotional behavioral therapy. 2nd ed./Trans. from English T. Saushkina. - St. Petersburg: Publishing house "Rech", 2002. - P. 209

Risk taking exercise falls into the same category. Clients deliberately take calculated risks in areas where they want to make a difference. Along with such exercises, repetition of rational self-affirmations with feeling and force is often used.

Behavioral techniques.

RET has encouraged the use of behavioral techniques (especially homework) since its inception in 1955 because it recognizes that cognitive changes are often facilitated by behavioral changes.

Behavioral techniques used in RET include the “stay there” exercise, which provides the client with the opportunity to tolerate chronic discomfort by remaining in an unpleasant situation for an extended period of time; exercises in which the client is encouraged to force himself to start doing things right away, without putting them off until later, while at the same time undergoing the discomfort of fighting the habit of putting everything off until tomorrow; using rewards and punishments to encourage the client to undertake an unpleasant task in pursuit of delayed goals; From time to time, RET employs Kelly's style of therapy, where clients are encouraged to behave "as if" they were already thinking rationally, so that they can learn through experience that change is possible.

We have listed the main techniques used in RET. In addition, there are techniques that are avoided in RET. Below we give examples of such techniques named by A. Ellis and W. Dryden. These include:

Techniques that make clients more dependent (excessive warmth of the therapist as strong reinforcement, creation and analysis of replacement neurosis);

Techniques that make clients more gullible and suggestible (perceiving the world through rose-colored glasses);

Techniques are verbose and ineffective (psychoanalytic methods of free association);

Methods that help the client feel better in a short time, but do not guarantee stable improvement (empirical techniques, Gestalt therapy techniques);

Techniques that distract clients from working on their dysfunctional worldview (relaxation, yoga, etc.);

Techniques that may inadvertently reinforce a philosophy of low frustration tolerance (gradual desensitization);

Techniques in which ancient philosophy is present (suggestion healing and mysticism);

Techniques that attempt to change the activating event "A" before showing the client how to change their irrational beliefs "B" (family therapy techniques);

Techniques that do not have sufficient empirical support (neurolinguistic programming, non-directive therapy, rebirthing). Ellis A., Dryden W. The practice of rational-emotional behavioral therapy. 2nd ed./Trans. from English T. Saushkina. - St. Petersburg: Publishing house "Rech", 2002. - P. 212