Michael E. Bernard - Böcker

The initial conceptualization of this book was much more narrow than the final product that has emerged. I started out believing that it would be enlightening to have a group of acknowledged rational-emotive therapy (RET) expert practitioners with well-established literary credentials write about how they approach the problem of modifying dient irrationality. Many RET practitioners of all levels of experience are, on the one hand, enamored of the economy, the precision, and the accuracy of psychological insight that RET theory offers, but they are, on the other hand, equally frustrated by their own inability to "persuade" or otherwise change some of the dients they work with more quickly or even at all. Indeed, dients themselves frequently express the view that RET is illuminating, yet they find themselves at the same time puzzled and perplexed by their inability to make the substantial changes that RET invites. It became dearer as I discussed the project with many of the contrib­ utors that to practice RET effectively requires more than just innovative and persistent assessment and intervention techniques. For example, Rus­ sell Grieger expressed the view that more prerequisite work needs to be done on the value and philosophical systems of dients-induding person­ al responsibility and the philosophy of happiness-before many dients can show significant shifts in their thinking. Susan Walen raised the gener­ al issues of how effective RET can be in the treatment of biologically driven affective disorders.

The initial conceptualization of this book was much more narrow than the final product that has emerged. I started out believing that it would be enlightening to have a group of acknowledged rational-emotive therapy (RET) expert practitioners with well-established literary credentials write about how they approach the problem of modifying dient irrationality. Many RET practitioners of all levels of experience are, on the one hand, enamored of the economy, the precision, and the accuracy of psychological insight that RET theory offers, but they are, on the other hand, equally frustrated by their own inability to "persuade" or otherwise change some of the dients they work with more quickly or even at all. Indeed, dients themselves frequently express the view that RET is illuminating, yet they find themselves at the same time puzzled and perplexed by their inability to make the substantial changes that RET invites. It became dearer as I discussed the project with many of the contrib­ utors that to practice RET effectively requires more than just innovative and persistent assessment and intervention techniques. For example, Rus­ sell Grieger expressed the view that more prerequisite work needs to be done on the value and philosophical systems of dients-induding person­ al responsibility and the philosophy of happiness-before many dients can show significant shifts in their thinking. Susan Walen raised the gener­ al issues of how effective RET can be in the treatment of biologically driven affective disorders.

Since the groundbreaking first edition of Rational Emotive Approaches to the Problems of Childhood by Albert Ellis and Michael Bernard two decades ago, our understanding of the nature and treatment of children’s problems has grown considerably. Now in a completely new volume, Albert Ellis and children’s REBT specialist Professor Michael Bernard have revised and updated this pioneering volume to reflect both the latest in clinical practice and research.Fourteen expert contributors (including many from the original) share with the editors a deep commitment to integrating REBT with other cognitive-behavioral methods, and to providing young people with developmentally appropriate care. Together they give readers a practical framework for conducting assessment, treatment, and prevention with individuals, clients and groups as well as in family and school settings.Key features of this new edition include:Developmental considerations in using REBT with children and adolescentsSpecific chapters devoted to major disorders -- aggression, phobias anxiety, depression, academic underachievement, and ADHDLatest strategies for challenging and changing the irrational beliefs of young peopleTechniques for building key REBT skills: emotional resilience and frustration toleranceExtensive research findings on the efficacy of REBT with young peopleBrand-new material on special issues -- involving parents, conducting group sessions, and working with exceptional childrenAn overview of Rational Emotive Education and You Can Do It! Education, school-based applications of REBT With coverage this thorough, Ellis, Bernard, and collaborators have created a resource of immediate value to child and adolescent mental healthpractitioners including school psychologists, school counselors, school social workers, behavior therapists, and family therapists, and educators involved in helping young people overcome behavioral disorders.

RATIONALITY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS “This book is a labor of love! Michael Bernard has painstakingly transcribed a number of Albert Ellis’s therapy and demonstration sessions as well as a selection of his lectures and has used this material to excellent effect to make Dr Ellis’s views on psychological health and happiness come alive. A gem of a book on a gem of a man by a gem of an author.”Professor Windy Dryden, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK “Michael Bernard’s book reveals the importance of ‘rationality’ as a positive faculty of mind that enables people to strengthen their resilience and self-efficacy in order to not only cope with the inevitable challenges, demands and changes characteristic of our post-modern age but, in addition, through the application of different principles of rational living identified by legendary psychologist Albert Ellis, to live fulfilled and meaningful professional and personal lives. I confidently commend this book.”Professor Field Rickards, Dean, Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia Albert Ellis, one of the world’s most influential psychologists, founded Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in the 1950s. Over the years, this pioneering form of cognitive behavior therapy has advanced the emotional well-being of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Yet while Ellis’s innovative approaches for helping people with emotional difficulties are well known, his views on the pursuit of personal happiness – which have also influenced generations of people both with and without such problems – are far more elusive. Ellis’s powerful arguments in favor of the rational pursuit of happiness are set out for the very first time in this book. Rationality and the Pursuit of Happiness presents Ellis’s views on how the principles of rational living can be used by anyone to achieve lifelong happiness. Transcripts of private counseling sessions and public forums reveal the great power of rationality and the self-defeating nature of irrationality. Drawing on 50 years of Ellis’s writing, Michael Bernard shows how the emotional misery that arises from irrational thinking of the human psyche can obstruct our innate potential for self-actualization and happiness. In doing so, he firmly establishes Ellis as a pioneer of positive psychology and a human being whose superior intellect and years of public education and psychotherapy experience offer genuine insights into the eternal question of what makes for a happy life.

RATIONALITY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS “This book is a labor of love! Michael Bernard has painstakingly transcribed a number of Albert Ellis’s therapy and demonstration sessions as well as a selection of his lectures and has used this material to excellent effect to make Dr Ellis’s views on psychological health and happiness come alive. A gem of a book on a gem of a man by a gem of an author.”Professor Windy Dryden, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK “Michael Bernard’s book reveals the importance of ‘rationality’ as a positive faculty of mind that enables people to strengthen their resilience and self-efficacy in order to not only cope with the inevitable challenges, demands and changes characteristic of our post-modern age but, in addition, through the application of different principles of rational living identified by legendary psychologist Albert Ellis, to live fulfilled and meaningful professional and personal lives. I confidently commend this book.”Professor Field Rickards, Dean, Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia Albert Ellis, one of the world’s most influential psychologists, founded Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in the 1950s. Over the years, this pioneering form of cognitive behavior therapy has advanced the emotional well-being of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Yet while Ellis’s innovative approaches for helping people with emotional difficulties are well known, his views on the pursuit of personal happiness – which have also influenced generations of people both with and without such problems – are far more elusive. Ellis’s powerful arguments in favor of the rational pursuit of happiness are set out for the very first time in this book. Rationality and the Pursuit of Happiness presents Ellis’s views on how the principles of rational living can be used by anyone to achieve lifelong happiness. Transcripts of private counseling sessions and public forums reveal the great power of rationality and the self-defeating nature of irrationality. Drawing on 50 years of Ellis’s writing, Michael Bernard shows how the emotional misery that arises from irrational thinking of the human psyche can obstruct our innate potential for self-actualization and happiness. In doing so, he firmly establishes Ellis as a pioneer of positive psychology and a human being whose superior intellect and years of public education and psychotherapy experience offer genuine insights into the eternal question of what makes for a happy life.

Since the groundbreaking first edition of Rational Emotive Approaches to the Problems of Childhood by Albert Ellis and Michael Bernard two decades ago, our understanding of the nature and treatment of children's problems has grown considerably. Now in a completely new volume, Albert Ellis and children's REBT specialist Professor Michael Bernard have revised and updated this pioneering volume to reflect both the latest in clinical practice and research. Fourteen expert contributors (including many from the original) share with the editors a deep commitment to integrating REBT with other cognitive-behavioral methods, and to providing young people with developmentally appropriate care. Together they give readers a practical framework for conducting assessment, treatment, and prevention with individuals, clients and groups as well as in family and school settings.Key features of this new edition include: Developmental considerations in using REBT with children and adolescents Specific chapters devoted to major disorders -- aggression, phobias anxiety, depression, academic underachievement, and ADHD Latest strategies for challenging and changing the irrational beliefs of young people Techniques for building key REBT skills: emotional resilience and frustration tolerance Extensive research findings on the efficacy of REBT with young people Brand-new material on special issues -- involving parents, conducting group sessions, and working with exceptional children An overview of Rational Emotive Education and You Can Do It! Education, school-based applications of REBT With coverage this thorough, Ellis, Bernard, and collaborators have created a resource of immediate value to child and adolescent mental health practitioners including school psychologists, school counselors, school social workers, behavior therapists, and family therapists, and educators involved in helping young people overcome behavioral disorders.

Since its launching in 1955, rational-emotive therapy (RET) has become one of the most influential forms of counseling and psychotherapy used by literally thousands of mental health practitioners throughout the world. From its beginnings, RET has dealt with problems of human disturbance. It presents a theory of how people primarily disturb themselves and what they can do, particularly with the help of a therapist or counselor, to reduce their disturbances (Ellis, 1957a,b, 1958a,b, 1962). Almost im­ mediately after the creation of RET, it became obvious that the meth­ odology could be used in many other fields-especially those involving human relations (Ellis & Harper, 1961a), and in love, sex, and marital relationships (Ellis, 1958a, 1960, 1963a,b; Ellis & Harper, 1961b). The evident popularity and clinical utility of RET in different cultures and its increasing application to contemporary problems of living indicate that rational-emotive therapy continues to be vital and dynamic. The growing appeal of RET may be due in part to its essentially optimistic outlook and humanistic orientation; optimistic because it pro­ vides people with the possibility and the means for change. Showing to people how their attitudes and beliefs are responsible for their emo­ tional distress and interpersonal problems (and not some out-of-con­ scious early childhood experience), awakens in them the hope that, in reality, they have some control over their destiny.

?Self-acceptance is recognized in diverse schools of Christian and Eastern theology as well as in various schools of counseling and psychotherapy (e.g., Humanistic, Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy) as a major contributor to mental health, life satisfaction and wellness.

?Self-acceptance is recognized in diverse schools of Christian and Eastern theology as well as in various schools of counseling and psychotherapy (e.g., Humanistic, Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy) as a major contributor to mental health, life satisfaction and wellness.

This practice-focused resource demonstrates effective uses of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy methods and techniques in treating clients across various conditions, settings, and subgroups.Client problems featured include both those often associated with REBT (e.g., anxiety, depression, anger) and others noted for complex presentations, difficulties with engagement, and impasses (e.g., addictions, suicidality, psychosis). Challenging treatment populations are covered as well, including women, couples, families, elder and pediatric clients, clients with disabilities, and sexual minorities. These stimulating cases show how well the diversity of clients and their concerns is matched by the flexibility of techniques and applications within REBT.In each chapter, expert therapists:·         Identify concepts in REBT especially suited to approaching the problem or population.·         Outline best REBT practices in assessment and treatment of the client(s).·         Survey evidence-based non-REBT approaches most useful in complementing REBT.·         Provide a brief case example representing appropriate REBT in action.·         Assess their use of REBT in treating the problem or members of the population.A bedrock text for REBT scholar-practitioners, REBT with Diverse Populations and Problems is a testimony to the continuing usefulness of the therapy and its adaptability as client populations emerge and as the contexts of client problems evolve in response to a demanding world.

This eminently useful guide presents an up-to-date framework for Rational-Emotive Cognitive-Behavioral Coaching (RE-CBC), from basic concepts, techniques, and applications to evidence of how and why this versatile method works. It details how RE-CBC synthesizes the rational thinking, cognitive disputing, and semantic training traditions of RE and CB therapies into coaching strategies for solving problems or furthering personal development. The book’s sections on process and techniques demonstrate the flexibility of the method as used in a variety of settings toward a gamut of purposes, illustrating Albert Ellis’ central goal of long-term happiness through rational living. And specialized chapters offer applications of RE-CBC to familiar coaching domains (life, health, family, motivation) as well as to the complex worlds of business and organizations. Included in the coverage: ·         Coaching forrational living: rational-emotive, cognitive-behavioral perspectives.·         Psychological blockers to successful coaching outcomes.·         Enhancing positive psychology coaching practice.·         Assessment, case formulation, and intervention models.·         A step-based framework for coaching practice.·         Plus: applications of Rational-Emotive Cognitive-Behavioral Coaching, including motivational, parent/family, workplace stress management, organizational change, school success, and sports performance. Coaching for Rational Living is a robust practice-building resource for coaches, psychologists, counselors, and health professionals, particularly mental health practitioners who use rational-emotive and cognitive-behavioral therapy and coaching.

This eminently useful guide presents an up-to-date framework for Rational-Emotive Cognitive-Behavioral Coaching (RE-CBC), from basic concepts, techniques, and applications to evidence of how and why this versatile method works. It details how RE-CBC synthesizes the rational thinking, cognitive disputing, and semantic training traditions of RE and CB therapies into coaching strategies for solving problems or furthering personal development. The book’s sections on process and techniques demonstrate the flexibility of the method as used in a variety of settings toward a gamut of purposes, illustrating Albert Ellis’ central goal of long-term happiness through rational living. And specialized chapters offer applications of RE-CBC to familiar coaching domains (life, health, family, motivation) as well as to the complex worlds of business and organizations. Included in the coverage: ·         Coaching forrational living: rational-emotive, cognitive-behavioral perspectives.·         Psychological blockers to successful coaching outcomes.·         Enhancing positive psychology coaching practice.·         Assessment, case formulation, and intervention models.·         A step-based framework for coaching practice.·         Plus: applications of Rational-Emotive Cognitive-Behavioral Coaching, including motivational, parent/family, workplace stress management, organizational change, school success, and sports performance. Coaching for Rational Living is a robust practice-building resource for coaches, psychologists, counselors, and health professionals, particularly mental health practitioners who use rational-emotive and cognitive-behavioral therapy and coaching.