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What is REBT – CBT?

REBT was originated by Dr Albert Ellis of New York in 1955 and it is the original method of CBT. Other approaches followed, but there are limited differences between their theoretical approaches. The psychological approaches of REBT-CBT are based on scientific principles and research has shown them to be effective for a wide range of problems. You and I will work as a team to identify and understand problems in terms of the relationship between thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behaviour. The approach usually focuses on the present difficulties, and relies on us developing a shared view of your problems. This then leads to the identification personalized, time-limited therapy goals and strategies which are carefully monitored and evaluated.

REBT-CBT not only works with individuals, but is also found to be very effective with couples, families and groups. Moreover, these approaches can be used to help anyone irrespective of ability, culture, race, gender or sexual preference.

Quotes in line with REBT Philosophy

• Everything should be made as simple as possible–but don’t be simple about life, other people and yourself.
• Judge not your neighbours till you’ve been in their situation.
• Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.
• Circumstances are beyond our control; but we have the power to control our own conduct.
• If I try to be like someone, who will be like me?
• A people’s memory is history; and as a person without a memory, so a people without a history cannot grow wiser and better.
• Even if you are otherwise perfect, you fail without humility.
• As long as there is life, there is hope.
• Do not be wise in words – be wise in deeds.
• My friend is the person who will tell me my faults in private.

What will happen in your therapy?

In the sessions, you and I work together to:
Develop a shared understanding of your problems.
Identify how these problems affect your thoughts, beliefs, behaviours, feelings and daily functioning.

Based on the understanding of your problems we will then work together as a team to identify goals and to agree on a shared treatment plan. The focus of therapy is to enable you to generate solutions to your problems that are more helpful than the way you have been dealing with them so far. This also involves using your time between therapy sessions and practising your therapeutic gains (i.e. homework tasks).

Therapy is organised over an agreed number of sessions (usually between 8 to 16). The number of sessions needed will differ, depending on the nature and severity of your problems. Typically, sessions are weekly and last an hour. After the completion of treatment I usually advise a limited number of follow-up sessions or a booster session, helping you to achieve more progress and maintain therapeutic gains.

What kind of methods will be used in the therapy?

Essentially you will learn many important cognitive and behavioural skills during therapy which you can use to overcome your psychological, emotional and behavioural problems. These will be very useful in preventing any more disturbances in the future and will help you to capitalise on your therapeutic gains.