A quick guide for dummies in REBT.. ( part 1)

Hello once again...

Some of you may still be feeling quite confused after reading the notes on the website ( or perhaps you have gotten tired of reading too many words =x)... so here's a brief, 13-step process to using REBT with your prospective clients!

[disclaimer: While we provide this 'quick-referencing' for REBT, we encourage all students of social work to read widely and critically for elaborations on techniques used in this counselling theory to get a better understanding and feel of the theory.

Also, do be cautious in the usage of these techniques while dealing with clients. Weinrach (1990) has indicated that REBT has the capability of rubbing individuals the wrong way.Also, The kind of conceptual disputing favoured by REBT could easily meander off track into minutiae relatively far removed from the client's central concern ]

A quick-fix for the day. yAy! ;)

A 13-step process in approaching REBT

1) Ask for a Problem

- Pertinent to ask client for the problem he wishes to address, to show that worker is committed into the problem-solving orientation

- 2 strategies in acquiring Target Problem:

* A - enquire what the problem is

And if Client identify non-major problem?
* B – the follow up question is to ask the client what is really bothering him

If Client fail to identify Target Problem?
* Ask what the client aim to achieve from the therapy.


2) Define & Agree upon the Target Problem

- Need to distinguish between Emotional problem & Practical difficulties (e.g. unemployment)
à REBT focuses on creating change to the emotional aspect, after which the emotional change would result into positive outlook and strength to solve the practical difficulties.

- Vague problems by client should always be explained and clarified in order for the worker to understand the client better.

- Make clear to client that change is needed not to A, but to C

3) Assess C

*Help assess the consequences of the inappropriate negative emotion – what is her reaction when she is facing it? Self- defeatingly or constructively?

* Constantly point out the objective is to replace the inappropriate emotion with the appropriate ones.

* Help her to adapt to the situation if she is to experience appropriate emotion, because it would be her first time to experience that kind of emotion after so long.

4) Assess A

- Find a specific activating event A, which could lead to client’s irrational B – what really makes the client feels anxious, and assess his reaction at C

* Encourage client to always be clear while describing A

* Encourage client to discuss one A at time