Albert Ellis Doing REBT with Jeffrey Guterman

Telephonic session held March 8, 1986 demonstrating Albert Ellis identifying ABC's of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) and disputing irrational beliefs. When this session was held, Jeffrey Guterman was a masters student in counseling and a follower of REBT. He later became a supervisee, colleague, and friend of Albert Ellis. In the 1990s, Guterman shifted to a solution-focused approach and developed his own model called solution-focused counseling; see http://www.jeffreyguterman.com. Here is a transcript from this session:

Ellis: Right. But what are you depressed about?

Guterman: Well, a series of events.

Ellis: Yeah.

Guterman: One was I took my car in and I found out I had to, uh, spend over $600.

Ellis: Alright, so that's unfortunate, but what are you telling yourself? That it's horrible? Or what?

Guterman: Yeah. Pretty much so.

Ellis: Right. But you better go back to, "It's a royal pain in the ass, but I could live with it!."

Guterman: Well...

Ellis: Because you can.

Guterman: Huh?

Ellis: Because you can.

Category:

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Tags:

• guterman
• ellis
• albertellis
• rebt
• counseling
• psychotherapy
• psychology
• education
• mental
• health
• illness
• mentalhealth

[baltasvilkas]

Jguterman, your choice of an example was superb because it so clearly illustrated the difference between a "pain in the ass" and a true catastrophe. REBT's elegant solution to the emotional hassles of life can seem hard to achieve, but it is well worth the effort. Whatever happens, whether you lose money, love, or your job, assume that it's NOT GOING TO KILL YOU! Do this repeatedly, and you'll be right 99.9% of the time. And you'll be wrong only once.

[darkmorpheus30]

Thank you for posting and taking the time to make the video. It is informative for any student of psychotherapy.

[aubreyannemoore]

Go back to, "It's a royal pain in the ass but I can live with it."

[MrGrevy]

It's disgraceful what has been done to Ellis and his institution.

[mookeychase0907]

Hey Jeff I know all therapy doesn't fit every individual hence the different modes of therapy. What mode do/would you enjoy teaching most and what do you think of Freud's work?

[pedagogyagent]

thanks jeffrey , you explain things excellently .... its always great tohear the voice of Ellis .

[eirodgers]

Thank you for the marvelous impression, good shit

[kevin122100]

I'm more of an object relations person - naturally.

[spencerkicksass]

LOL the recording was done 1 day before i was born!

[zonaraasghar]

Amazing how you got the pioneer of REBT to give you an intervention.

[marentrish]

In my opinion, and it is simply an opinion, therapy is something that we take bits and pieces from every therapeutic belief depending on where the client is and what is going on in their lives. If you look at and approach therapy as a one size fits all, you will probably lose the client and not be as effective as you could be if you meet the client where they are.

[fourplusseven]

I agree with the body focus too, you can do both though.