REBT teaches patients an A-B-C-D systemof emotional self-control. For
example, Patrick is prone to chronic anxiety. He is driving in his car and hears a
knocking sound. According to Ellis, this is point A, or the activating event.It is
not the actual sound (A), but what Patrick thinks about A that induces anxiety. He
thinks, “The engine is going to explode!” This is point B, the belief.In this case
the belief is irrational because it is an overgeneralization. Patrick is jumping to an
unwarranted conclusion. Patrick feels apprehensive. His heart is pounding. His
mouth is dry. This is point C, the consequenceof the belief. Point C in the system
always refers to an emotional consequence. At this point, without therapy, Patrick
usually stops. He suffers.
However, with therapy Patrick learns to introduce point D, a disputeof his
belief. He says to himself, “I’m overgeneralizing. It’s ridiculous to think that the
engine is going to explode just because it’s knocking. There are all kinds of
things that make an engine knock. I’ll just slow down and pull into the next gas
station to check things out.” Although disputing his irrational belief may not
eliminate all of Patrick’s anxiety, it will modulate it and place it within accept-
able bounds.
As indicated above, the same A-B-C-D system can also be applied to depres-
sion and anger.(a) Cognitive-behavior therapy refers to any approach to therapy that helps the patient to
think more in order to bring emotional states under better control.(b) Rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT) teaches patients an system of
emotional self-control.
Answers: (a) rationally; (b) A-B-C-D.
Cognitive therapytakes the same view of the relationship between thought
and emotion as does REBT. Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist, originated cognitive ther-
apy. Beck speaks ofautomatic thoughts,thoughts that appear at a conscious
level without intention or the use of will. They are just a part of our thinking, and
they are unbidden. As described by Beck, they are very similar to Ellis’s concept
of irrational thoughts.
Automatic thoughts tend to be illogical. They are said to be cognitive dis-
tortions,ways of thinking that tend to make the suffering person look upon the
world incorrectly and unrealistically. As in REBT, the patient is encouraged to
reflect on automatic thoughts and find ways to bring them under voluntary con-
trol. This is done primarily by an analysis of the thoughts themselves. Often, such
an analysis reveals their absurdity.
In both REBT and cognitive therapy the therapist coaches the patient in ways
to improve the quality of his or her thought processes.
It is not necessary to decide which kind of therapy is the best one. Many psy-
chotherapists usemulti-modal therapy,a general approach recognizing that all ofTherapy: Helping Troubled People 239