Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reducing REBT’s “Wince Factor:” an insider’s perspective

  • Published:
Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The author discusses three aspects of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) that occasionally make him wince. They are: REBT does not adequately address issues relating to diversity-sensitive counseling; there is a tendency for some REBT adherents to display poor interpersonel skills, and lack a philosophical commitment to the interdependence of humans on one another; and, there is a tendency for REBT to promise more than it can deliver. A list of 15 recommendations and wishes for a “new and improved” version of REBT are included.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albert Ellis’ Rationality Score. (1973). Rational Living, 8(2), 31

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.) Washington, DC: Author

  • Atkinson, D. R., Morten, G., Sue, D. W. (Eds.) (1993). Counseling American minorities: A cross-cultural perspective. (4) Dubuque, IA: Wm.C. gown Publishers

    Google Scholar 

  • Betz N. E. (1993) Toward the integration of multicultural and career psychology. The Career Development Quarterly 42:53–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman S. L. (1993) Career intervention strategies for ethnic minorities. The Career Development Quarterly 42:14–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Calabro L. E. (1990). Adjustment to disability: A cognitive-behavioral model for analysis and clinical management. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:79–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casas J. M. (1988) Cognitive behavioral approaches: A minority perspective. The Counseling Psychologist 16:106–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen C. P. (1995). Applications of RET in a Chinese cultural context. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 13:117–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, E. P. (Ed.). (1993). Women, relationships, and power: Implications for counseling. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association

    Google Scholar 

  • Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. (1994). CACREP accreditation standards and procedures manual. Alexandria, VA: Author

  • Dworkin, S. H., Gutierrez, F. (Eds.) (1992). Counseling gay men and lesbians: Journey to the end of the rainbow. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A. (1981) Science, religiosity and rational-emotive psychology. Psyco-therapy: Theory, Research and Practice 18:155–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A. (1987). Religiosity and emotional disturbance: A reply to Sharkey and Malony. Psychotherapy 24:826–828

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A. (1989). Comments on Sandra Warnock’s. “Rational-emotive therapy and the Christian client.” Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 7:275–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A. (1990). Is rational-emotive therapy (RET) “rationalist” or “constructivist”? Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:169–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A. (1992). My current view of rational-emotive therapy and religiousness. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 10:37–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1993, Summer). RET becomes REBT. IRET letter, pp.1, 4

  • Ellis A. (1994a). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A rational emotive behavioral theory. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 12:3–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A. (1994b). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy (Revised and Updated). Secaucus, NJ: Carol Publishing Group

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis A. (1995) Changing rational-emotive therapy (RET) to rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. 13:85–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fouad N. A. (1993). Cross-cultural vocational assessment. The Career Development Quarterly 42:4–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukuyama M. A. (1990). Taking a universal approach to multicultural counseling. Counselor Education and Supervision 30: 6–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Galvin H., Tamarkin S. (1986). (Transliterators). The Yiddish dictionary sourcebook: A transliterated guide to the Yiddish language. Hoboken, NJ: Ktav Publishing House, Inc

    Google Scholar 

  • Glantz M. D. (1989) Cognitive therapy with the elderly. In: Freeman A., Simon K. M., Beutler L., Arkowitz H. (Eds.) Comprehensive handbook of cognitive therapy. Plenum, New York, pp. 467–489

    Google Scholar 

  • Golden W. L., Gersh W. D. (1990). Cognitive-behavior therapy in the treatment of cancer patients. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:41–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hays P. A. (1995). Multicultural applications of cognitive-behavior therapy. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 26:309–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hewer V. H. (1963). What do theories of vocational choice mean to a counselor? Journal of Counseling Psychology 10:118–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humanist Manifesto II. (1973). The Humanist, 33(5), 4–9

  • Ivey, A. E., Ivey, M. B., Simek-Morgan, L. (1993). Counseling and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective (3rd ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson W. B. (1992). Rational-emotive therapy and religiousness: A review. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 10:21–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson W. B., Ridley C. R. (1992). Brief Christian and non-Christian rational-emotive therapy with depressed Christian clients: An exploratory study. Counseling and Values 36:220–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C. C. (Ed.) (1995). Counseling for diversity: A guide for school counselors and related professionals. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon

    Google Scholar 

  • Leong F. T. L. (1993). The career counseling process with racial-ethnic minorities: The case of Asian Americans. The Career Development Quarterly 42:26–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Lohr J. J., Hamberger L. K. (1990). Cognitive-behavior modification for coronary-prone behaviors: Proposal for a treatment model and review of the evidence. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:103–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris G. B. (1994, October). Cultural diversity. Paper presented at the Refresher Practicum of the Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy, New York, NY

  • Morse C. Bernard M. E., Dennerstein L. (1989). The effects of rational-emotive therapy and relaxation training on premenstrual syndrome: A preliminary study. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 7:98–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mylott K. (1994). Twelve irrational ideas that drive gay men and women crazy. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 12:61–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver R., Bock F. A. (1990). Alleviating the distress of caregivers of Alzheimers disease patients: A rational-emotive therapy model. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:53–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul G. L. (1967). Strategy of outcome.research in psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting Psychology 31:109–118

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen, P. B. (Ed.). (1991). Multiculturalism as a fourth force in counseling [Special issue]. Journal of Counseling and Development, 70(1)

  • Pedersen, P. (1994). A handbook for developing multicultural awareness. (2). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen, P., Carey, J. C. (Eds.) (1994). Multicultural counseling in the schools: A practical handbook. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen P., Ivey A. E. (1993). Culture-centered counseling and interviewing skills: A practical guide. Westport, NC: Praeger

    Google Scholar 

  • Renfrey G. S. (1992). Cognitive-behavior therapy and the native American client. Behavior Therapy 23:321–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robin, M. W. (1994, October). Cultural diversity. Paper presented at the Refresher Practicum of the Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy, New York, NY

  • Robin, M. W., & DiGiuseppe, R. (1995). Endorsing irrational beliefs cross-culturally: Clinical implications. In L. Loeb-Adler & B. R. Mukhurji (Eds.), Spirit versus scalpel: Traditional healing and modern psychotherapy (pp. 147–165) NY: Greenwood Press/Preager

  • Robb H. (1992) Why you don’t have a “perfect right” to anything. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 10:259–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin R., Walen S. R., Ellis A. (1990) Living with diabetes. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:21–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snell W. E., Belk S. S., Hawkins R. C. (1990). Cognitive beliefs about male sexuality: The impact of gender roles and counselor perspective. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:249–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, C., Jackson-Jobe, P. (Eds.) (1992) Helping homeless people: Unique challenges and solutions. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, G. L. (Ed.). (1993). White American researchers and multicultural counseling. The Counseling Psychologist, 21, 197–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, G. L. (Ed.). (1994). Multicultural training. The Counseling Psychologist, 22, 227–314

  • Stone, G. L. (Ed.). (1995). Culture and counseling. The Counseling Psychologist, 23, 3–121

  • Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (1990). Counseling the culturally different: Theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York: Wiley

  • Sweetland J. D. (1990). Cognitive-behavior therapy and physical disability. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:71–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vining T. L., Gaeddert W., McCormick N. B. (1990). Sex role identification and young women’s irrational beliefs. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:159–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walen S. R., DiGiuseppe R., Dryden W. (1992) A practitioner’s guide to rational emotive therapy (2). New York: Oxford University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Warnock S. D. M. (1989). Rational-emotive therapy and the Christian client. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 7:263–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinrach S. G. (1973). Even counselors have irrational ideas. The Personnel and Guidance Journal 52:245–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinrach S. G. (1982). Confessions of a novice rational-emotive therapist. Rational Living 17(1):17–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinrach S. G. (1991). Selecting a counseling theory while scratching your head: A rational-emotive therapist’s personal journey. Journal of Mental Health Counseling 13:367–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinrach, S. G. (1994a, October). Coming out of the closet: Sharing our doubts about the theory and practice of REBT. Paper presented at the Refresher Practicum of the Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy, New York: NY

  • Weinrach, S. G. (1994b, October). Cultural diversity. Paper presented at the Refresher Practicum of the Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy, New York, NY

  • Weinrach S. G. (1995). Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy: A tough-minded therapy for a tender-minded profession. Journal of Counseling and Development 73:296–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinrach, S. G. (in press). Nine experts describe the essence of RET while standing on one foot. Journal of Counseling and Development

  • Weinrach S. G., Ellis A., DiGiuseppe R., Bernard M., Dryden W., Kassinove H., Morris G. B., Vernon A., Wolfe J. (1995) Rational emotive behavior therapy after Ellis: Predictions for the future. Journal of Mental Health Counseling 17:413–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinrach, S. G., & Thomas, K. R. (in press). The counseling profession’s commitment to diversity-sensitive counseling: A critical reassessment. Journal of Counseling and Development

  • Woods P. J., Lyons L. L. (1990) Irrational beliefs and psychosomatic disorders. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 8:3–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA

    Stephen G. Weinrach

Authors
  1. Stephen G. Weinrach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen G. Weinrach.

Additional information

Reprinted from Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 14(1), 63–78, 1996.

The author expressed his appreciation to Dominic DiMattia and Ellen Finkelstein who provided valuable suggestion to a draft version of this article and to Windy Dryden who initiated this dialog and saw it through to its publication.

Stephen G. Weinrach was a professor of counseling and human relations at Villanova, PA and a Fellow of the Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy in New York. He maintained a private practice in Havertown, PA. He died in 2004.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Weinrach, S.G. Reducing REBT’s “Wince Factor:” an insider’s perspective. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 24, 183–198 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-006-0044-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-006-0044-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation