interview

Questions:

1. What are the factors that led you to choose psychotherapy as your major focus in the field of mental health?

That is hard to say. I was always interested in people and how they behaved. I guess I am a practical person and studying psychology just for the knowledge was not interesting if I could not put it to use. Also I had a younger brother who had some problems and no one seemed to be able to help him. That clearly had some influence on me. I have always fond people to be so fascinating and I feel so gratified when someone leaves me and makes changes in their life.

2. What are the unique properties of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) when compared to other psychotherapy approaches? Which features of other psychotherapy does it oppose to?

REBT is more philosophical and specifically draws on Stoic and Existential philosophy. In the college I attended (Villanova University), everyone had a philosophy minor. So I felt at home with this aspect of REBT. Manny Americans do not like this aspect of REBT, because we have such poor training in philosophy in our country. I lie to debate so I was drawn to the active discussion with the client about their personal beliefs and teaching about more healthy ways of thinking. So, I think the active-directive nature of REBT is its most unique feature and the one that drew me to it. REBT is cognitive but so our other psychotherapies. REBT’s focus on acceptance of our selves, others, the world, and the universe, and RENT’s focus on the evaluative thoughts about the way the world is that main distinction from others CBT theories.

I have been most opposed to the passivity of many psychotherapists. It is very nice to wait for people to discover things on their own, but the...

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...element of many contemporary forms of CBT. The focus on secondary emotional disturbance is another concept that has been adopted by many forms of CBT. So we are silently creeping into the ideas of others.

10. As a person who has been teaching at your university and also at the Albert Ellis Institute what can you suggest to young colleagues who want to become cognitive behavioral therapists? What should be the fundamentals of this education according to you?

This is a hard question. I think a good REBT therapist knows very much about psychopathology, personality theory and research, social psychology and of course cognitive psychology. Next you need to learn about how to red human emotions in the faces and speech of your clients. Also good therapist need to learn basic micro counseling skills and how to develop and maintain the therapeutic alliance in all clients.