Albert Ellis and William Glasser

Webster University - Kelly Air Force Base

Albert Ellis and William Glasser have been in the mainstream of psychological society for over four decades. Both have contributed greatly to modern psychotherapy. The Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) of Albert Ellis and the Reality therapy of William Glasser have endured the trendy world of psychology and in fact as they are based in ancient philosophy (Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius), they also remain the foundation for brief therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and ecclectisism. Their strength is in the flexibility and simplicity inherent in each. They go directly to the problem and focus energy there without lengthy psychotherapy. Both prolific writers and dedicated therapists have expanded their views and adapted with the times. They are true humanists in that through non-profit organizations they have been able to alleviate much human suffering by providing sources for personal and professional growth.

In 1955, Albert Ellis used the fundamental concept of truth and logic to

RET employs an A-B-C method of viewing human personality and disturbance. When trying to help a person, the therapist usually begins with C-the upsetting emotional Consequence that he [sic] has recently experienced. Typically he has been rejected by someone (this rejection can be called A, the Activating Experience) and then feels anxious, worthless or depressed at C. He wrongly believes that A, his being rejected has caused C, his feelings ...; and he may even overtly voice this belief by saying something like, "She rejected me and that made me depressed." The individual can be shown that A does not and cannot really cause C- that an Activating Event in the outside world cannot possibly create any feeling or emotional consequence in his head and gut. For if this were true virtually everyone who gets rejected would have to feel just as depressed as he does; and this is obviously not the case. C, then is really caused by some intervening variable, or by B; and B is the individuals belief system.

Assertiveness training allows the client to act on the idea that personal worth and rights can be defended with quiet dignity or insistence. The idea is to train clients how to not be bullied, manipulated, or otherwise abused. More importantly it trains the individual how to express one's own needs and desires without resorting to bullying, manipulating or other abuse. Clients often go through guided imagery sessions prior to practicing assertiveness in the real world.

So there is the simplicity of Ellis and RET; the knowledge that the individual chooses to believe and behave in a way that causes the distress. The confrontational and often playful style of Ellis's REBT helps people to recognize and change parts of their thinking that are insensible, inaccurate and not useful. The counselor then confronts the client with this truth and helps them move towards greater self - control. "Disputing" is the type of confronting the therapist uses to help people rethink those dysfunctional beliefs into more healthy and reasonable ones. In the example above, the dispute was whether the A caused C. It is important for the client to be confronted with that disputation of his perception. It is not uncommon for Ellis to call irrational beliefs "nuttiness" or "nonsense" or "silly" or "idiotic". Other disputations have to do with more complex or long standing personal beliefs that encumber the client.

I (A.E.) originated the system around the early part of 1955 and gave a first paper on it at the 1956 meeting of the American Psychological Association in Chicago Since that time, RET has gone through many minor and some major changes, originated by myself and some of my main collaborators-especially Dr. Robert A. Harper, Dr. H.Jon Geis, Edward Garcia, Dr. William Knause, Dr. John M. Gullo, Dr. Paul Hauck, Dr. Donald R. Meichenbaum, Dr. Janet L. Wolf, Dr. Arnold A. Lazarus, Dr. Aaron T. Beck, and (most notably) Dr. Maxie C. Maultsbie Jr. It has taken on other names than Ret-such as Rational Therapy (RT), semantic therapy, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and (quite popularly) rational behavior training (RBT)...(pg.202)

Ellis, A. (1999) How to make yourself happy: Atascadero, CA Impact Publishers

William Glasser on the other hand is kind but more sedate in his professional comportment. He is warm sensitive and caring but maintains a very dignified composure when working with clients. It is against his nature to ridicule a client, as he is certain that the risk of harming a client through such behavior does not justify the gamble. His view on confrontation is basically to read a client and see what the client is ready for. He likens pushing too much to denying young lovers to see each other only to force them to elope. William Glasser would rather coax a client towards growth with his appeal as a steadfast, competent, caring helper rather than behave in a way to scare or insult the client. He would never "shame" a client, as would Ellis becau

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