Academy of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

08/17/2026

Why do many trainees struggle when applying REBT in clinical practice?

In part two of his REBT training series, Dr. Windy Dryden explores the practical hurdles mental health professionals face when moving from theory to the therapy room.

Key insights covered in this article:

Balancing the Technical and Relational: Why building a strong therapeutic alliance is just as vital as mastering the ABC framework.

Leveraging Client Factors: Incorporating the client's past successes, internal strengths (both tough- and tender-minded), and support networks.

Navigating Assessment & Practice Obstacles: Actionable training tasks designed to help supervisors and trainees overcome common clinical stumbling blocks.

📖 Read the full article below to enhance your training and practice:





Published by Walter Matweychuk for the of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

By Windy Dryden, Ph.D. (Author) Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) is a unique form of cognitive behaviour therapy that has several important distinctive features (Ellis, 1994; Dryden, 2021; Matweychuk, 2026). I have trained counsellors and psychotherapists in REBT since 1978. During this tim...

08/10/2026

https://rebtdoctor.com/beating-burnout-starts-with-practicing-what-you-preach/

Mental health and allied health professionals are at risk of burnout. I am a telehealth psychologist who regularly sees around thirty-five patients per week. Although I will feel physically tired at the end of a nine-patient day, I can honestly say I enjoy my work as an REBT psychotherapist and have...

08/06/2026

https://academyofrebt.org/training-in-rational-emotive-behaviour-therapy-i-trainees-struggles-with-the-abcs-of-rebt/

Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) is a unique form of cognitive behaviour therapy that has several important distinctive features (Ellis, 1994; Dryden, 2021; Matweychuk, 2026). I have trained counsellors and psychotherapists in REBT since 1978. During this time, I have noticed that trainees....

08/02/2026

New Book Release: Powerful and Sensible Self-Help

I’m excited to share the release of my latest book: Powerful and Sensible Self-Help: The Selected REBT Writings of Walter J. Matweychuk, Ph.D.

This volume features 58 curated Intermittent Reinforcements email messages written since 2013, thoughtfully selected and organized by editor Christiana Papadakou into four sections:

Part 1: Core Ideas and Strategies
Part 2: Improving Interpersonal Relations
Part 3: Special Applications of REBT
Part 4: Accepting Life’s Challenges, Disability, Aging, and Death

You can find Powerful and Sensible Self-Help on Amazon, available on Kindle and in paperback, starting today!

07/28/2026

Want to carry on the legacy of Albert Ellis?

Starting September 5th, the AcademyofREBT.org will be hosting our upcoming certification training for therapists.

REBT isn't about teaching a cookbook of quick-fix techniques. We teach practical, sensible ideas that help clients day in and day out for the rest of their lives. And because the best REBT therapists practice what they preach, this program will transform your clinical work from the inside out.

Consider joining us starting September 5th!













https://academyofrebt.org/how-is-rebt-different-from-cbt/

How is REBT different from CBT? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a broad term for a therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. REBT is a specific form of cognitive-behavioral therapy and is among the first of several second-wave cognitive-behav...

07/21/2026

I was recently reflecting on this thought-provoking piece in the Wall Street Journal regarding the growing trend of adults cutting ties with their parents:
Are Therapists to Blame for the Rise of Adults Cutting Off Their Parents?

In Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), we emphasize the Principle of Emotional Responsibility. Before jumping straight to cutting someone out of your life, the priority is to first work on our own internal reactions—moving from unhealthy disturbance to healthy negative emotions grounded in a rational, flexible, non-extreme set of attitudes. Only after doing that internal work does it make sense to evaluate whether distancing yourself is truly prudent.

Why? Because human beings are inherently fallible. Ending one relationship to start another simply shifts the trade-offs of living and loving a different imperfect person. Keep cutting people out of your life as your go-to response, and you end up isolated.

Key REBT concepts like Unconditional Other Acceptance and tolerance seem less common in mainstream therapeutic discussions today, but they remain vital for building long-term resilience and navigating challenging relationships.

This is a sensible approach. I guess sensible thinking is not in vogue in some psychotherapists' offices these days.

Many moms and dads believe that their adult children are getting bad advice—and a growing number of researchers agree.

07/21/2026

Is REBT being overlooked when it’s needed most?

I submitted a proposal titled "Cultivating Tolerance Amid Intolerance: Applying CBT Strategies for a Divided World" for the upcoming EABCT conference in Brussels. Despite the conference focus on “Unique as We Are” and inclusivity, the proposal was declined.

In times of increasing global divide, REBT’s strategies for cultivating tolerance offer crucial insights. I’ve posted the full workshop proposal in the comments section of EABCT’s Facebook post.

If you support theoretical diversity within the cognitive-behavioral therapy field, please head over to the post, like the comment, or share your thoughts to help stand up for REBT. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068407435206&__cft__[0]=AZbkbYkBHqzj8UEC2SrAgZNkGm60oqbHLGP3XBRW5bka_zNYyeS1ADqEPlw5ppgq6KZOEt8_yMSD9BqqqU4uHVreetWaDpmQDArTKWFk8waPWP8WK7qYy3fVJBlI88LstQaRJMf1fR-AD8H-UL_X9-m3v1DFg9pYd8Im-Q0vIj4X_mbcLn2guEEjF-tmg3RLM_k&__tn__=-UK-R

European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies

07/20/2026

Whenever I give out my card, the reaction is almost always the same: "Those are great ideas."

Yet, despite strong interest from the public, REBT remains surprisingly understudied among mental health professionals. It's a highly effective framework, but many therapists haven't had the chance to embrace it.

Are you a clinician interested in integrating REBT into your practice? Learn directly from Dr. Windy Dryden and me at AcademyofREBT.org.

07/13/2026

Developing Excellence in REBT Professional Skills - Key Training Components

While knowledge of the theory and practice of REBT is important, our experience is that knowledge alone is insufficient in developing excellence in therapy skills. In this presentation on Saturday, July 18th at 10 AM Eastern, we will outline our vision of excellence in REBT training by discussing its twelve key components.

Therapists of all skill levels are invited to this presentation and to ask questions about our views.

This presentation will immediately follow the weekly Saturday REBT Zoom Conversation Hour. It will use the same link as Conversation Hour. If you are a new member of the REBT community and wish to attend, request the link by writing to [email protected].