What Is Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy?

Albert Ellis developed REBT in the 1950s as a short-term psychotherapy and life philosophy. Rational Em teaches that events don’t cause emotions; our beliefs about events do, which assist in a drug and alcohol rehab center.

REBT Goals and Model

This aims to identify self-defeating beliefs. It teaches clients to replace them with healthier thoughts. Dr. Ellis emphasized that beliefs directly shape our emotional and behavioral responses.

ABC Format

A = Activating event (something happens).
B = Belief about the event.
C = Emotional response then consequences.
REBT teaches that irrational beliefs, not the event, cause the emotional reaction.

Common Irrational Beliefs

REBT identifies beliefs such as:

1. “I must perform well or I’m worthless.”

2. “Others must treat me kindly or they’re bad.”

3. “I must always get what I want, or it’s unbearable.”

Impact on Addiction

These irrational beliefs often lead to shame, guilt, and depression. They also lead to self-destructive behaviors, including addiction. Therapists in rehab help clients dispute these beliefs and form rational alternatives, so they can be success in sober living.

Why This Matters

REBT’s structured, action-based approach helps clients address the beliefs driving addictive behavior. Research supports REBT’s effectiveness in treating addiction, with improved emotional regulation and relapse prevention.

Benefits of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

• Clients are encouraged to accept themselves, others, and the world itself
• Clients learn how to identify and respond to irrational thoughts in a more productive way
• Clients learn that although they cannot control all situations in life, they can control how they react to them and they have the ability to respond in a more positive way

How Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Is Used in Addiction Treatment

During drug and alcohol rehab at Nova, our therapist will facilitate an educational session focused on teaching clients about Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. This will include an in-depth discussion about what it is and opportunities to walk through various examples of it. This session not only introduces REBT to clients in an understandable, manageable way, but it also invites clients to begin changing the way they think so they can change the way they feel.

Although this process looks different for every client enrolled in a drug and alcohol rehab program, our therapist helps clients put behavioral strategies into action to increase their likelihood of success. These strategies may include substituting alternative enjoyable activities for substance abuse or rewarding themselves for achieving various milestones in their sobriety.

REBT is also particularly advantageous in addiction treatment when used alongside 12-step support groups and community-based recovery programming.