Elegance in REBT: Reflections on the Ellis and Dryden Sessions with Jane

Abstract

In this article, I reflect on the one-off sessions that Albert Ellis and I did with Jane. It is clear that Albert Ellis’s work is an example of inelegant or general REBT, while my session is an example of specific or elegant REBT. First, I speculate on the possible reasons why Ellis practised inelegant REBT is his session. Then, I critique my own work covering both what I like and dislike about my work with Jane. I conclude that while I practised elegant REBT with her, my work was flawed in two major respects: (i) failure to target consistently Jane’s demands for change and (ii) introducing changes at A while disputing irrational beliefs at B.