Cognitive Behavioral Theory versus Rational Emotive Behavioral Theory

Introduction

The philosophy of the rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) is that some form of thoughts intrinsically result to problems and always occur when an individual is troubled regardless the type of difficult an individual is going through (Turner et al, 2014). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is based on how an individual thinks, feels, and behaves (Bell et al, 2015). Even though both REBT and CBT specifically focus on an individual’s tendency to develop own “emotional” difficulties, these therapies have their own differences as well.

Both therapies hypothesize that emotions and beliefs are as a result of ideas, thoughts, attitudes and beliefs and not events and hence change of thinking can lead to emotional change and hence change in behavior (Ruggiero et al, 2016).

However, these therapies have significant difference. While REBT focuses of solving emotional and behavioral problems in order to transform the illogical beliefs into rational beliefs, the CBT focuses on the distorted thinking in order to assist an individual to become aware whenever one makes negative interpretations or behaviors supporting distorted thinking (Turner et al, 2016). Additionally, while the CBT assists an individual to develop alternative thinking and behavior pattern in order to decrease the psychological distress, REBT helps individuals to identify the irrational beliefs and encourages an individual to change the false beliefs and accept the reality (Turner et al, 2016).  Another difference involves the components of both therapies. The key elements of the CBT practice include clinical diagnosis, CBT theorization, and sound therapeutical relationship (Ruggiero et al, 2016). On the other hand, the key elements of REBT include the activating event, the beliefs and the consequences whereby the irrational beliefs are analyzed (Sarkar et al, 2015).

I would recommend cognitive behavioral therapy for my clients. This is because CBT is more in-depth because it focuses on the root cause of the distorted thinking and faulty cognitions (Ruggiero et al, 2016). Therefore, during therapy the patient is taught how to identify distorted thinking through evaluation. This hence helps the patient to learn to identify how cognition affects their feelings, and to monitor their thinking; as a result beliefs and thinking starts to change and eventually the behavior changes (Ruggiero et al, 2016).

Summary

Similarities between CBT and REBT include that both therapies focus on emotions and beliefs. The key differences include REBT focuses on emotional and behavioral problems while CBT focuses on distorted thinking. Additionally, REBT aims to help people identify and change irrational beliefs while CBT help people to develop alternative thinking pattern. Their practice components are also different. I would use CBT on my clients. This is because this form of therapy is more exhaustive because it aims to change thinking patterns and eventually behavioral pattern.

References

Bell, T, Mackie L & Bennett- Levy, J. (2015). ‘Venturing Towards the Dark Side’: The use of imagery interventions by recently qualified cognitive-behavioural therapists. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy. 1(22), 591–603

Ruggiero G, Spada M, Caselli G & Sassarol S. (2016).  A Historical and Theoretical Review of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies: From Structural Self-Knowledge to Functional Processes. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. 1(2), 1-26.

Sarkar M, Fletcher D & Brown D. J. (2015). What doesn’t kill me. Adversity-related experiences are vital in the development of superior Olympic performance. J. Sci. Med. Sport. 18 (1), 475–479.

Turner M. J., Barker J. B. (2014). Using Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy with Athletes. Sport Psychol. 28(1), 75–90.

Turner M. (2016). Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Irrational and Rational Beliefs, and the Mental Health of Athletes. Front Psychol. 1(7), 1423.

Week 4: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
When first introduced, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was unlike any other therapeutic approach. For years, psychotherapeutic techniques were driven by psychoanalytic theories. These techniques were time consuming, leaving many therapists frustrated with the length of time involved in helping their clients achieve a sense of relief. With the development of CBT, however, therapists were able to help their clients heal more quickly. This poses the questions: If CBT is more efficient than other techniques, why isn’t it used with all clients? How do you know when CBT is an appropriate therapeutic approach?

This week, as you examine cognitive behavioral therapy and its appropriateness for clients, you compare it to rational emotive behavioral therapy. You also develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy and consider legal and ethical implications of counseling these clients.

Photo Credit: Clayton Rohner/Creatas Video/Getty Images

Learning Resources
Required Readings
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Chapter 8, “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” (pp. 313–346)
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Required Media
Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2013). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net.

Beck, A. (1994). Aaron Beck on cognitive therapy [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net.

Eysenck, H. (n.d.). Hans Eysenck on behavior therapy [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net.

Optional Resources
Ellis, A. (2012). Albert Ellis on REBT [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net.

Note: You will access this media from the Walden Library databases. The approximate length of this media piece is 50 minutes.

Assignment 1: Cognitive Behavioral Theory Versus Rational Emotive Behavioral Theory
While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) have many similarities, they are distinctly different therapeutic approaches. When assessing clients and selecting one of these therapies, you must recognize the importance of not only selecting the one that is best for the client, but also the approach that most aligns to your own skill set. For this Assignment, as you examine the similarities and differences between CBT and REBT, consider which therapeutic approach you might use with your clients.

Learning Objectives
Students will:
Compare cognitive behavioral therapy and rational emotive behavioral therapy
Recommend cognitive behavioral therapies for clients
To prepare:

Review the media in this week’s Learning Resources.
Reflect on the various forms of cognitive behavioral therapy.
The Assignment
In a 1- to 2-page paper, address the following:

Briefly describe how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) are similar.
Explain at least three differences between CBT and REBT. Include how these differences might impact your practice as a mental health counselor.
Explain which version of cognitive behavioral therapy you might use with clients and why. Support your approach with evidence-based literature.
Note: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available at http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

Rubric
https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/bbgs-deep-links-BBLEARN/app/course/rubric?course_id=_16638428_1&rubric_id=_1375124_1

Demonstrates and applies exceptional support of major points and integrates 2 or more credible outside sources, in addition to 2-3 course resources to suppport point of view.

Cognitive Behavioral Theory versus Rational Emotive Behavioral Theory

Introduction

The philosophy of the rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) is that some form of thoughts intrinsically result to problems and always occur when an individual is troubled regardless the type of difficult an individual is going through (Turner et al, 2014). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is based on how an individual thinks, feels, and behaves (Bell et al, 2015). Even though both REBT and CBT specifically focus on an individual’s tendency to develop own “emotional” difficulties, these therapies have their own differences as well.

Both therapies hypothesize that emotions and beliefs are as a result of ideas, thoughts, attitudes and beliefs and not events and hence change of thinking can lead to emotional change and hence change in behavior (Ruggiero et al, 2016).

However, these therapies have significant difference. While REBT focuses of solving emotional and behavioral problems in order to transform the illogical beliefs into rational beliefs, the CBT focuses on the distorted thinking in order to assist an individual to become aware whenever one makes negative interpretations or behaviors supporting distorted thinking (Turner et al, 2016). Additionally, while the CBT assists an individual to develop alternative thinking and behavior pattern in order to decrease the psychological distress, REBT helps individuals to identify the irrational beliefs and encourages an individual to change the false beliefs and accept the reality (Turner et al, 2016).  Another difference involves the components of both therapies. The key elements of the CBT practice include clinical diagnosis, CBT theorization, and sound therapeutical relationship (Ruggiero et al, 2016). On the other hand, the key elements of REBT include the activating event, the beliefs and the consequences whereby the irrational beliefs are analyzed (Sarkar et al, 2015).

I would recommend cognitive behavioral therapy for my clients. This is because CBT is more in-depth because it focuses on the root cause of the distorted thinking and faulty cognitions (Ruggiero et al, 2016). Therefore, during therapy the patient is taught how to identify distorted thinking through evaluation. This hence helps the patient to learn to identify how cognition affects their feelings, and to monitor their thinking; as a result beliefs and thinking starts to change and eventually the behavior changes (Ruggiero et al, 2016).

Summary

Similarities between CBT and REBT include that both therapies focus on emotions and beliefs. The key differences include REBT focuses on emotional and behavioral problems while CBT focuses on distorted thinking. Additionally, REBT aims to help people identify and change irrational beliefs while CBT help people to develop alternative thinking pattern. Their practice components are also different. I would use CBT on my clients. This is because this form of therapy is more exhaustive because it aims to change thinking patterns and eventually behavioral pattern.

References

Bell, T, Mackie L & Bennett- Levy, J. (2015). ‘Venturing Towards the Dark Side’: The use of imagery interventions by recently qualified cognitive-behavioural therapists. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy. 1(22), 591–603

Ruggiero G, Spada M, Caselli G & Sassarol S. (2016).  A Historical and Theoretical Review of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies: From Structural Self-Knowledge to Functional Processes. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. 1(2), 1-26.

Sarkar M, Fletcher D & Brown D. J. (2015). What doesn’t kill me. Adversity-related experiences are vital in the development of superior Olympic performance. J. Sci. Med. Sport. 18 (1), 475–479.

Turner M. J., Barker J. B. (2014). Using Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy with Athletes. Sport Psychol. 28(1), 75–90.

Turner M. (2016). Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Irrational and Rational Beliefs, and the Mental Health of Athletes. Front Psychol. 1(7), 1423.