Albert Ellis, as far as I'm concerned, is comparable
to Albert Einstein. As Einstein introduced us to the wonders of the physical
world, Ellis introduced us to the wonders of the psychological world.
~William Glasser,
M.D., Creator of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy
Albert Ellis is a contemporary prophet whose ideas will be remembered along with those of Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu and Sartre. ~Jon Carlson, Distinguished Professor, Governors State University
There is no question that Ellis is the pioneer in modern-day psychotherapy. He really cleared the road for the rest of us who followed behind him...He's absolutely right about the shoulds and the musts...I do want to personally thank him for what he's done in helping me to develop my own therapeutic techniques. ~Aaron Beck
Dr. Albert Ellis was one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century and his contributions will continue to save lives into the 21st century and beyond. ~Gayle Rosellini
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There is virtually nothing in which I delight more than throwing myself into a good and difficult problem. ~Albert Ellis
Dr. Albert Ellis, creator of Psychology's Cognitive Revolution, changed Psychology and Psychotherapy forever in early 1950s when, disappointed with slowness and frequent ineffectiveness of Freudian psychoanalysis, he emphasized the role thoughts play in creating emotions and behaviors. His form of therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), which he initially called Rational Emotive Therapy (RET), is evidence-based and is the foundation of all Cognitive Therapies.
Author of more than 75 books and 1200 articles, Albert Ellis is generally recognized as the world's greatest psychologist and psychotherapist. Among psychologists, he is rated as being more influential than Jung, Freud, or Skinner.
More psychotherapists practice his form of therapy than any other. Available citation tracking shows that Albert Ellis has more citations in major counseling psychology journals than any other author from 1957 to 1980.
Millions of individuals have benefited from Albert Ellis' teachings, which, more than psychotherapy, constitute a comprehensive philosophy of living.
Considered by us to be the greatest thinker of all times on causes and cures of human suffering, Albert Ellis faced great adversities in last several years of his life. Recently he was removed from the Board of Albert Ellis Institute, the Institute which he founded and supported all his life, and prevented from conducting his famous Friday Night Workshops in its building. Despite all odds, Ellis conducted Friday Night Workshops-in-exile in a rented building. Bravely fighting serious illnessess and injustices, Dr. Ellis left us on July 24, 2007.
Dr. Albert Ellis was a living embodiment of his own philosophy. He tried to apply his theories to himself as honestly as he could, making himself a product of his own ideas as his ideas were a product of him.
We proudly announce ourselves to be Ellis' and his beloved wife Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis' loyal friends and strong supporters. We will continue promoting our most beloved Al's legacy, no matter what.
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Will Ross launches new REBT website and e-book, Shameless
Happiness:
REBT presented in a new unique way
We are happy to announce that Will Ross has launched a new REBT website shamelesshappiness.com. The website has a video of a man talking about a book he has written.
Shameless Happiness is a concise e-book written by Will Ross that outlines the ABCs of unhealthy negative emotions and self-defeating behavior. It shows you how to dispute your irrational beliefs to find greater happiness. The book is ideal for everyone wanting to be happy, including beginners and experienced REBTers. You can download the free e-book.
Additional learning materials will be made available
through emails to people who have downloaded the e-book, eventually creating
an entire home-study course.
This website is already # 1 at Google for the search term "shameless
happiness."
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Announcement: A New Blog Dedicated Exclusively to Albert Ellis and REBT: Albert Ellis and REBT: A Rational Oasis
We proudly announce creation of a new blog in honor of Dr Albert Ellis. This blog is open to everyone, from beginners to experts. People are encouraged to post questions, opinions, comments, and experiences with REBT. Also, you may discuss any topic rationally and scientifically. Even anonymous postings are welcome.
To visit the blog, please click albert-ellis.blogspot.com.
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Coping with terrorism
Terroristic events are occurring in several countries of the world, a recent example being the Mumbai events on November 26, 2008. There are many persons who want to start a retaliatory war on terror. Following comments by Albert Ellis tell us how we can rationally cope with such events.
Albert Ellis's comments after the
tragic events of September 11, 2001
Muslims are unfortunately labeled by some individuals
as people who support terrorism. This kind of over-generalizing about
a large group of people because of the behavior of a few is opposed by
REBT. REBT holds that terroristic activity is immoral, but refuses to
completely condemn all terrorists, all Muslims, or all humans who commit
inhuman acts. It strongly teaches unconditional other acceptance (UOA)
along with unconditional self-acceptance (USA). People are not their acts,
even when they irresponsibly commit them. They sometimes do unethical
or socially evil things; but they are not evil or damnable persons. They
do thousands of bad (and good) acts, but they cannot be accurately labeled
as good or bad people. Labeling amounts to bigotry, the same kind of bigotry
that terrorists exhibit.
Our irrational beliefs that get
in our way of rationally dealing with acts of terror probably include:
1. I absolutely must be able to figure out a way to stop terrorists from
acting so brutally and there is something very weak about me because I
can't find a way to stop the terrorism.
2. The terrorists and their backers have perpetrated some of the worst
deeds imaginable, this makes them completely rotten people who should
absolutely be exterminated, since only killing all of them will stop this
deed from happening again.
3. Because the world is so full of cruel violence and terrorism, it is
totally a despicable place and I cannot continue to live in it and be
happy.
These ideas are irrational because
they are unrealistic and illogical overgeneralizations that render people
"unsane". These absolutistic shoulds and musts lead you to make
yourself not only very sad but also to dysfunctionally overwhelm yourself
with panic, rage, and depression. The first irrational belief will cause
you to loathe your entire self, not to only deplore your weakness to halt
terrorism. The second belief will make you thoroughly despise the terrorists
(and other people who do cruel deeds) and consume yourself with rage.
The third belief will make you hopelessly depressed about the present
and future state of the world.
Ironically, these three self-defeating shoulds
and musts are probably very similar to those held by terrorists of the
September 11, 2001, who unsanely killed themselves and thousands of innocent
people for what they considered a sacred holy crusade. They first considered
themselves powerless because they could not stop America from "cruelly"
siding with their enemies; and they therefore felt they absolutely had
to punish America to prove that they themselves were powerful and worthwhile
individuals. Second, they devoutly believed that Americans absolutely
must not oppose their position and that all Americans are complete devils
who deserve to be wiped out. Third, they dogmatically convinced themselves
that there is no use living in and trying to lead a happy life in such
a totally evil world; and therefore, by killing the infidels, they would
attain eternal, blissful life. So, with these unsane beliefs, they enthusiastically
killed themselves, along with countless innocent people.
If you and the rest of the world citizens keep reinforcing your irrational beliefs, you will enrage yourself against the terrorists and their backers and in the process will likely encourage them to increase their fury against people who oppose them, and will encourage more retaliation by them and by us again, until the cycle if retaliation precipitates a world-wide war and quite possibly the end of our planet. As the ancient lore and modern history have amply shown, love begets love and hatred and violence beget increased hatred and violence-with no end in sight.
How REBT can help you cope with
terrorism?
First, you can use REBT to teach yourself-and others-unconditional
self-acceptance. That is, you fully accept yourself with all your flaws,
while disliking and doing your best to change some of your self-defeating
behaviors and your poor behaviors toward others.
Second, you can use REBT to unconditionally
accept all other people as persons, no matter how badly they act. You
can, of course, firmly try to induce them, in a variety of ways, to change
their self-sabotaging and immoral thoughts, feelings and actions. In Christian
terms, you unconditionally accept all sinners but not their sins. Ultimately,
some behaviors may require sanctions or imprisonment for individuals.
Third, you unconditionally accept life, with its
immense problems, and teach yourself to have high frustration tolerance.
As Reinhold Niebuhr said, you strive to change the unfortunate things
that you can change, to accept (but not like) those that you cannot change,
and to have the wisdom to know the difference.
If you achieve a good measure of these three REBT philosophies-that is, unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional other-acceptance, and unconditional life-acceptance-will you therefore be able to convince terrorists to change their absolutistic bigoted ways? Not exactly. But you will cope much better with terrorism, help others to cope with it, and model behavior that can, if you strongly encourage it to be followed around the world, eventually reduce it to a minimum. This will take many years to effect, and will require immense and persistent educational efforts by you and others to promote peaceful and cooperative solutions, instead of hateful and destructive "solutions", to serious national and international difficulties. If we fail to work on our own belief system to produce this long-term purpose, we will only insure renewed terrorism for decades, and perhaps centuries to come.
Are you willing to keep relentlessly working for REBT's recommendations for self-peace, peace to other humans, and peace to the world? If so, you may help people of good will to think, plan, and construct eventual answers to terrorism and many other serious world problems.
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International Committee for the Advancement of Rational Emotive Education (REE) is Formed
In the past 50 years, in the United States alone, we've seen a dramatic rise in psychological and behavioral disabilities, depression, anxiety, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. Cobble this with dramatic increases in the high-school dropout rate, incarceration rate, use of alcohol and illicit substances among middle and high school students, and we are witnessing a social crisis in process. In this changing social landscape, positive psychological prevention programs for children and adolescents may have measurable positive value.
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One of the last messages of Albert Ellis in "Under the influence: Reflections of Albert Ellis in the work of others"
Just received a copy of "Under The Influence: Reflections of Albert Ellis in the Work of Others" (Sharp Press, Tucson) and read it in one quick gulp. Now I need to read it again and reflect a little more myself. Publication of the book, edited by Emmett Velten, was postponed several times. It is strange to read it now with Ellis no longer on the planet but it is cetainly a worthwhile volume, a call for credit where credit is due amongst the 'new' therapies.
The final chapter is by Al himself, it must have been one of the last things he wrote- characteristically courageous and generous until the very end:
"In this, my 93rd year, I look back on my life with some sadness and regrets but also with profound pleasure at having had the guts to strive, to seek, to find - sometimes! - so much I believe can benefit us all, and not to have yielded in the face of storms of opposition and opportunism. As long as my and REBT's imitators help people and encourage less disturbance and more self-actualized living, I welcome them. Not that they need encouragment in that direction, but may they continue to copy and adapt!"
Steve Lake
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Honoring Dr. Albert Ellis: Debbie Joffe Ellis interviewed by David McMillian for Strategies for Living
To listen to the interview, click here.
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Albert Ellis' ideas in the UK national curriculum
The UK government has started a new subject called Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL). The subject was introduced in primary education in 2004 and has been included in secondary education in 2007. REBT and Albert Ellis' ABC model is part of this curriculum.
Click here for the online teaching material for SEAL; for REBT and the ABC model, please read page nos. 59 onwards.
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Contact Debbie Joffe Ellis
Debbie Joffe Ellis, wife of Albert Ellis, is available for media interviews and to make presentations on Dr. Ellis and REBT.
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In celebration of Dr. Albert Ellis: Videos of Albert Ellis' attorneys speaking at his memorial
Robert Juceam and Michael De Leeuw, attorneys for Dr. Ellis in his dispute with the Albert Ellis Institute, recorded their recollections of Albert Ellis, his effect on their work, and their thoughts on the dispute. The videos were played at the Albert Ellis Memorial Service held at Columbia University on September 28, 2007. Watch Michael De Leeuw and Robert Juceam (videos hosted off site).
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Dr. Arnold Lazarus speaks about his friend, Dr. Albert Ellis
I considered Al a friend, an esteemed colleague, and one of my heroes. He visited me in Princeton on several occasions and we both enjoyed having debates, serving on professional panels, conducting workshops together and so forth. Perhaps one of the most helpful pieces of advice I ever received came from Al. In 1968 I was a professor at Temple University Medical School and was unhappy with my work environment and many of my colleagues. I took a train to New York and asked Al if he would give me a job at his Institute. He said to me that I am not the sort of person who should be working for someone else. It was okay to serve on a university faculty, but if I wanted to work at an institute, I would best be advised to set up my own one. Coming from a man I liked and admired who was about 18 years my senior, this gave me a big boost of confidence, and in retrospect, as with many things, Al was 100% on target. His loss is inestimable.
~Dr. Arnold Lazarus~
http://www.thelazarusinstitute.com/aal.html
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Albert Ellis Guest Book
If you wish to visit or sign Albert Ellis Guest Book, please click here.
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For recent articles on Albert Ellis in world media click here.
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For a rare photograph of Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck and a historic dialogue between the two legends click here.
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Website launched on June 5, 2007
About the photographs: All photographs of Albert Ellis, which appear on this website, were taken by Jim Kahnweiler (http://www.jimkphotographics.com/ in late November and December 2006. In some of the photographs, you will also see Debbie Joffe. We gratefully acknowledge Jim's kind permission to show these inspiring photographs here. The photographs were taken in a hospital, when a group of students visited Ellis.
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