RationalEmotiveBehaviorTherapy

CASESTUDY
DescriptionofClient
Maryisa47yearoldmarried,Caucasianwoman.Shehasbeenmarriedtoher
husbandTimfor22yearswithwhomshehasateenagesonanddaughter.Mary
worksasanelementaryschoolteacher.Maryhasmoreofanintrovertedpersonality
andfindsherselfspendingtimeonherown.Duetothefactthatsheworksfulltime
andspendsalotofherextratimeensuringthatthingsarerunningsmoothlyathome,
shedoesnthavemuchextratimetospendonhobbiesorotheractivities.
PresentingProblem
Followingherfatherspassinglastmonth,Maryhasexpressedthatitisherjobto
takeontheroleofherfatherinthefamily.Maryhasbecomemorecontrollingwith
herfamilyandatwork,butdoesnotseemtofullyunderstandwhythisisaproblem.
Althoughherbehaviorshavebecomefunctionalinsomeaspects,theyare
beginningtocausestraininherpersonalandprofessionalrelationships.Herhusband
hasthreatenedadivorce,herchildrenarebecomingresentfulofhercontrollingways
andhermotheraswellassisterhasstoppedspeakingtoher.
ClientGoal
Marysbossreceivedseveralcomplaintsfromparentsinregardstotheamountof
controlshewasusingintheclassroom.Also,complaintsfromcolleagueswere
startingtobebroughttoadministration.Asaresult,Marywasmandatedto
employeecounseling.Maryfeltthatshehadlostcontrolwiththisdecision,and
expressedagreatdealofangerduringthefirstfewsessions.Attheendofthefourth
sessionMarybegantorealizeandacceptthatshehadacontrolissueandaskedthe
counselorifshecouldexploreoptionsofincludingherfamilyandhusbandin
subsequentsessions.Maryandhertherapistworkedtogetheronamaintreatment
goal,whichistoimproverelationshipswithherfamilybyreducinghercontrolling
behavior.
RelevantBackgroundInformation
Maryreportedthatgrowingup,herfatherwasinthemilitaryandasaresulthisstrict
naturefollowedfromworktothehome.Hetendedtobequitecontrollingtowards
hermotherandsister.Growingup,Maryresentedherfatherscontrollingbehavior
andcontinuestoholdangeragainsthermotherforneverstandingupforher.
OtherImportantInformation&Resources
Maryhastriedseveralstressrelievingtipssuchasyogaandmeditationhowever,she
isunabletofocushermindformorethanafewminutesbeforethinkingofallthe
taskssheneedstodo.

Question1:
Inregardstospendingtherapytimeencouraginglongtalesof
woe...emotionalizing...andinclusivelyreflectingfeelings,ourcoursetext
statesthatREBTtherapistsgenerallykeepthesedialoguesshortbecausethey
considertheseasformsofindulgencetherapyinwhichtheclientmaybe
helpedftofeelbetterbutrarelytogetbetter(pg.168).Commentonthis
idea.DoyouagreetwiththeREBTtherapistsposition?Whatwould
theoristsfromotherperspectives,whichwehavediscussedinclassthusfar,
say?
Question2:
TherapistswhopracticeRationalEmotiveBehaviorTherapy(REBT)often
looktoidentifytheABCrelationshipintheirclientsthoughtsand
behaviors.BasedonthecasestudyofMary,whatwouldyouconsidertobe
herABCS?HowwouldyouhelpMarytorationalizeherbeliefs?
AActivatingEvent:Event/situationthathappenedinMarys
Environment
BBeliefs:ThebeliefthatMaryholdsabouttheevent/situation
CConsequence:TheemotionalresponseMaryhastoherbelief.
Question3:
InDrydens(2012)articleaboutdealingwithprocrastination,hestated,
"REBTarguesthatpeopledonotprocrastinatebecausetheyanticipate
encounteringthreat,failure,curtailmentoffreedomandasignificantfallfrom
grace.Rather,theyprocrastinatebecausetheyholdrigidandextremebeliefs
abouttheseanticipated"A"s."(p.265).Doyouagreeordisagreewiththis
statement?StateyourreasonswhybyreflectingonREBT'streatmentof
procrastination(i.e.:notionsoflowfrustrationtolerance,rationalizationof
procrastination,developmentofjustifications,etc.).DoyouthinktheREBT
approachtowardsprocrastinationisbeneficial,orarethereotherstrategies
thatshouldbeimplemented?
Question4:
InDrydenandDavids(2008)articleonthecurrentstatusofREBT,review
table1onpage198andfigure1onpage199regardingREBTsstanceonthe
ninebasichumanassumptionsconcerninghumannature.Pickoneofthese
nineassumptions(i.e.Freedom/Determinism,Subjectivity/Objectivity,etc.)
andcommentonwhetherornotyouagreewithREBTsstanceonthat
assumptioninregardstohumannature.Statereasonswhyyouagreeor
disagree.