Running Head: CBT VS REBT 1

Running Head: CBT VS REBT 1

Cognitive Behavioral Theory Versus Rational Emotive Behavioral Theory

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral Therapy (CBT) was developed by Aaron T. Beck during the 1960s

(McLeod, 2015). CBT refer to a system of psychotherapeutic intervention that take into account

the impact of people’s experience structures on their feelings and behaviors (Wheeler, 2014).

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), was created by Albert Ellis during the 1950s which

centers on resolving emotional and behavioral issues (McLeod, 2015). REBT is a type of CBT

which stresses the role of irrational beliefs in provoking dysfunctional emotions and maladaptive

practices (Păsărelu & Dobrean, 2018).

Similarities between Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavioral

Therapy

CBT is grounded on the idea that how we think- cognition, how we feel- emotion and how we

act- behavior, all relate together, in particular, our thoughts decide our feelings and behavior

(McLeod, 2015). Hence, negative and impractical thoughts can give us distress and result in

issues. CBT can be utilized to treat individuals with an extensive variety of mental health

problems. REBT urges an individual to recognize their general and irrational beliefs, for

example, “I must be perfect” and subsequently persuades the individual challenge these false

beliefs through reality testing (McLeod, 2015). Converting irrational beliefs to more rational

ones is the aim of the therapy. The two therapeutic theories include human emotions and

behavior which is linked to thinking, beliefs, attitudes and ideas, and are considered to have a

strong impact on attitude change. Nevertheless, despite the fact that these two treatment

strategies are from two different entities and course of events, they correspond or are related in

Running Head: CBT VS REBT 2

different ways. The two therapies are entangled on the idea that individual habits and emotions

are brought forth from thoughts, stances, inspirations and credence, not from situations.

Additionally, both CBT and REBT are identical with their perceptions that if it’s someone’s

thinking that rousing dysfunctional beliefs, then they should change their beliefs as reiterated by

American Psychiatric Association (2013).

Differences between Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavioral

Therapy

In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), some anger is healthy and appropriate ; now and again,

directness or confrontation might be important, yet usually best to be as collective as could be

expected under the circumstances and to enable clients to solve their issues with insignificant

showdown (Wheeler, 2014). While, REBT uses other suitable problem-solving strategies other

than anger for example, assertiveness since it considers anger as commanding, condemning and

dictatorial philosophy (Păsărelu and Dobrean, 2018). REBT regards the therapist as a teacher and

does not believe that a warm personal relationship with a client is important. In dissimilarity,

CBT stresses the quality of the therapeutic relationship. REBT utilizes various means depending

on the client’s personality, in cognitive therapy, the method depends on the specific disorder

(McLeod, 2015). As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, this difference will help me assist my

patients to gain unconditional self-acceptance which will boost their self-esteem in return.

Adjusting and perceiving secondary disturbances on my patients will help me in decreasing

nervousness at work and permitting the patients not to be bothered by their disturbances, thus

limiting anxiety and depression.

Version of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:Based on my knowledge and observation, I would

mostly use CBT with my client. In recent years, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has been

Running Head: CBT VS REBT 3

applied to a broad variety of patient groups and settings. It is advocated as the therapy of choice

for common mental disorders, such as anxiety and depressive disorders, by the Department of

Health of the UK (Department of Health 2001). The cognitive component of CBT is based upon

the notion that irrational cognitions play a key role in the development and maintenance of

emotional disturbances (Nieuwenhuijsen, 2008). A study was done with a particular group using

CBT, at the end; the whole group exhibited a decrease in irrational beliefs over time, while no

differential effects for diagnosis were found (Nieuwenhuijsen, 2008). These conclusions suggest

that CBT may encompass similar cognitive interventions for all common mental disorders. Also,

cognitive interventions appears to be the most suitable for patients with depression and anxiety

disorders (Nieuwenhuijsen, 2008). To a specific degree, the relationship between changes in

irrational beliefs and symptoms supports the utilization of cognitive interventions in CBT

(Nieuwenhuijsen, 2008). Furthermore, CBT is also likewise appropriate for individuals searching

for a short-term treatment option for certain types of emotional distress that does not essentially

include psychotropic medication. One of the best advantages of CBT is that it enables clients to

develop coping aptitudes that can be valuable both now and later on.

Conclusion

CBT has turned out to be progressively well known among clinicians and the overall population

over recent years (Gaudiano, 2008). Surveys of therapists demonstrate CBT is quick turning into

the majority orientation of practicing psychologists. Even, even media articles every now and

again laud the ideals of this type of psychotherapy. (Gaudiano, 2008). CBT and REBT in

general, can be used with any other form of therapy as the concepts consist of specific techniques

that can be generalized to almost any individual or family.

Running Head: CBT VS REBT 4

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

(5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

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

Psychotherapy.net.

Department of Health (2001). Treatment choice in psychological therapies and counselling.

London: HMSO.

Gaudiano B. A. (2008). Cognitive-behavioural therapies: achievements and challenges.

Evidence-based mental health, 11(1), 5-7.

McLeod, S. A. (2015). Cognitive behavioral therapy. Retrieved

from https://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-therapy.html

Nieuwenhuijsen, K., Verbeek, A. M., de Boer, G. E. M., Blonk., W. B., Van Dijk, J. H. (2008).

Irrational Beliefs in Employees with an Adjustment, a Depressive, or an Anxiety

Disorder: a Prospective Cohort Study. 28:57–72 DOI 10.1007/s10942-007-0075-0

Păsărelu, C. R., & Dobrean, A. (2018). A video-based transdiagnostic REBT universal

prevention program for internalizing problems in adolescents: study protocol of a cluster

randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2018), (1), 1.

doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1684-0. Retrieved

fromhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-018-1684-0