Dr. Albert Ellis, the originator of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), changed the psychotherapy paradigm. In 1956 at the American Psychological Association in Chicago, he gave a presentation where he argued the most efficient and thorough way of helping people in psychotherapy was to offer them a choice in how they think about things. This seminal address marks the beginning of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. He then published this presentation in 1958 in the Journal of General Psychology, thereby being the first to publish on cognitive-behavior therapy. This paper remains worth reading to this day as the ideas it outlines continue to shed light on how humans disturb themselves. Until Albert’s presentation, Freud’s approach, and variants of orthodox Freudian theory, dominated psychotherapy. Ellis used his genius to introduce a new paradigm that was to usher in what we now know as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT is currently the gold-standard approach widely taught in graduate school and a word recognized by the public. Sadly academics, practicing professionals, graduate students, and consumers of psychotherapy services overlook or do not know of Ellis and REBT. Unfortunately, many do not appreciate, know or recognize the profound impact he has had on psychotherapy in general and other forms of cognitive behavior therapies in particular that followed his pioneering work. Many of his ideas have been absorbed and utilized in other forms of cognitive behavior therapy without reference and due recognition to the originator of these valuable ideas and clinical strategies. Ellis was a model of intellectual honesty and referenced the many thinkers over the centuries that contributed to what has come to be known as Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Ellis described his distinct form of cognitive-behavior therapy as an amalgamation of ancient and modern philosophy welded to ideas and strategies borrowed from behavior therapy. Over his 60 plus years of clinical service and noteworthy 180,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, Albert refined the theory and practice of REBT. He toiled from dawn to dusk six days a week, actively teaching people how to face life’s adversities, to accept the presence of these misfortunes while not disturbing themselves about them. He encouraged people to have some degree of happiness even when their lives were less than ideal or after recovering from tragedy.
Ellis died 14 years ago today. He was born September 27, 1913, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He died on July 24, 2007, in New York City. As a tribute to the memory and work of Albert Ellis, I would like to direct your attention to an audio recording of him presenting his theory of psychotherapy, which at that time he referred to as Rational Emotive Therapy. Click on the below link, and it will take you to my website. Listen to the audio, which I refer to as “Dr. Ellis Explains The Theory of REBT,” and you will come to appreciate the man, his ideas and learn how to help yourself live the happiest life you are capable of living. Nobody quite explained and practiced REBT as Al did. Enjoy the presentation: https://rebtdoctor.com/dr-ellis-explains-rebt-theory.html