RET (Rational Emotive Therapy) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the strong connection between thoughts and emotions.
According to this theory, psychological symptoms don’t arise from situations or events, but from the way these situations or events are interpreted.
Albert Ellis (1913-2007), the founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, concluded that every person lives according to a system of beliefs.
This system of beliefs, also called the 'belief system', is responsible for our emotions and behavior. Unproductive or incorrect beliefs are called irrational.
The main premise of RET is that irrational beliefs can result in negative emotions and unwanted behavior.
In rational emotive therapy, the client is taught how to identify irrational ideas and learns how to replace them with healthier and more rational beliefs.
This shift in the client’s mindset causes a positive change of emotions and helps facilitate the healing of behavioral and psychological symptoms.
Rational emotive therapy is often seen as a form of cognitive therapy as it is aimed at changing someone’s way of thinking.
However, there are a few differences. The client takes on a more active role because self-analysis is an important part of the RET process.
Typically, the client will face a larger number of challenges and confrontations in rational emotive therapy.
Another difference is that RET places some emphasis on the past, whereas cognitive therapy doesn’t.
