Q. What is REBT (Rational Emotive Behaviour
Therapy)?
A. It’s a psychotherapy tool used to help
people sort out their behavioural and emotional issues. It is based on
constructivist theory.
Q. Where does it come from?
A. Dr Albert Ellis created it in the
1950’s. It is acknowledged as the original of the cognitive therapies. Some
others are Aaron Becks CBT and William Glassers Choice Theory amongst others.
It is a philosophy based approach, Albert Ellis drawing on the work of
Epictetus and others of the Stoic tradition.
Q. What’s the ABC Theory of Emotional
Disturbance?
A. It demonstrates that A (the event) is
not solely responsible for how someone feels and acts (C) but what we believe
(B) has a lot to with it! I.e. A+B=C
Q. I’m not a psychologist. How do I teach
this stuff?
A. There are some basic strategies that can
be used in daily teaching practise that will value add to the teaching/learning
process. You don’t have to be a psychologist!
Q. What is REBE (Rational Emotive Behaviour
Education)?
A. It’s the application of REBT theory and
practises in daily teaching/learning.
Q. Why is REBE important?
A. It teaches students in a systematic way
how their feelings and actions are driven by their constructed beliefs
(Rational/irrational). If students are aware of this they can begin to make
better choices by deconstructing unhelpful beliefs and replacing them with
helpful ones.
Q. How does this support mental health and
suicide prevention?
A. REBE is based on the very counselling
model, REBT/CBT that is promoted by DECDS, (South Australian Education
Department) Beyond Blue and Headspace to name a few. It teaches students that
anxiety; depression, anger and shame/guilt are driven by irrational core
beliefs. Through REBE we help students to examine their core philosophical
beliefs and develop healthier ones. As depression is known to be a precursor to
suicide and self-harm the benefit of REBE is inestimable.
Q. What other benefits are there for students?
A. REBE addresses victim and bully
behaviour. It is a system based on educative, restorative principles and is a
preventative mental health program, which can be delivered via pastoral care
and across all curriculum areas.
Q. I feel overwhelmed by the number of
approaches, strategies, and programs available.
A. The REBE approach is user friendly. It
doesn’t rely on any program per se but on a counselling philosophy that
embraces most of what we teach about behaviour/mental health via a plethora of other
programs that are presented to us.
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Hello there! |
Q. I’ve heard a lot about Positive
Psychology. Is this the new frontier of preventative/educative personal
development teaching/learning in schools?
A. Bertrand Russell, eminent mathematician
and philosopher of the last century talked about positive psychology. Albert
Ellis and others likewise in many and varied ways promote the ideas of PS.
Martin Seligman of PS fame draws on many of the ideas and principles of
Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy/Education.