Albert Ellis and REBT news

Gayle Rosellini, a renowned author, close and trusted friend and strong supporter of Albert Ellis, writes Albert Ellis and REBT news. Gayle has a long-term practice in REBT, and is a specialist in 501-c-3, private, non-profit agencies. Her specialties also include treatment of addictions and criminality. She is author of 6 books and numerous articles.

The webmaster is personally grateful to Gayle for her constant support, both personally and in matters related to REBT and this website. It has been a pleasure to know her. Webmaster is unable to express in words the gratitude for her immense support, without which this site would have been impossible.

_________________________________________________________________________

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.

A report of the 2000 conference of The Surgeon General's Report on Children's Mental Health recognized this crisis and advanced this warning:

Growing numbers of children are suffering needlessly because their emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs are not being met by those very institutions which were explicitly created to take care of them. It is time that we as a Nation took seriously the task of preventing mental health problems and treating mental illnesses in youth.

Rational emotive education (REE) is a research-supported positive prevention psychological education program for kids and teens that was pioneered and developed by psychologist Dr. Bill Knaus. It may be the best of its kind.

The program operates on three premises: (1) It is wiser and less costly to prevent needless mental health problems then to pay for the consequences. (2) Children and adolescents can be beneficially taught critical thinking, life skills, and rational coping concepts in classroom settings. (3) Children and adolescents can test positive mental health concepts through classroom simulations. In spontaneously arising situations they may apply what they previously tested and found effective.

While special training in the use of the REE method is desirable, with appropriate practice the original program was designed so that it may be used like a cookbook.

As a public service, the original REE program is now a free download offered at REBTnetwork.org. This donation was made by Bill Knaus in honor of Albert Ellis' enormous contributions to humanity, and in recognition of Ellis' special interest in prevention programs to support the positive mental health of children and adolescents. The original REE program is found at:

http://www.rebtnetwork.org/library/Rational_Emotive_Education.pdf

As a public service, the program will be revised and also offered as a free download.

An article that describes the planned revision is found at:

http://rebtnetwork.org/essays/essay.html

In addition to its use as a primary prevention method, REE can be adapted for use in clinical and counseling settings as an intervention strategy for treating children and adolescents with emotional disabilities who are responsive to a rational cognitive and behavioral form of intervention.

If you wish to comment about the program, write webmaster@rebtnetwork.org or REEcommittee@gmail.com. Email messages sent to the committee address will be checked bimonthly.

The revision and evolution of the REE program is supported by The International Advisory Committee for the Advancement of Rational Emotive Education. The committee is open-ended. From time to time, new members with a special interest in prevention will join the committee. The list of committee members follows:

THE INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF RATIONAL EMOTIVE EDUCATION

Bill Knaus, Ed.D. Originator of Rational Emotive Education. One of the original Directors of Postgraduate Training, REBT. Fellow, REBT. Supervisor REBT. Taught at City University of New York: Queens College, PACE University, Long-Island University, Springfield College, & American International College. Former president, Advocacy Network. Author of over 70 popular and professional articles and 15 books including The Cognitive-Behavioral Workbook for Depression and Rational Emotive Education: A Manual for Elementary School Teachers. Committee Chair.

George S. Elias, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Assumption College. Founder, and Director, Institute for Social and Rehabilitative Services (ret). Career development. Group guidance. Capacity building for previously under served. Rehabilitation of the Drug User-IRS Publication-co-editor: Guidelines for Employment Testing (co-author) for the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Co-author: Know Yourself.

Elliot Cohen, Ph.D. Principal founder of philosophical counseling in the United States. Co-founder and Executive Director of the Society for Philosophy, Counseling, and Psychotherapy. Ethics Editor for Free Inquiry. Editor-In-Chief and founder of International Journal of Applied Philosophy and International Journal of Philosophical Practice. Author of 20 books including The New Rational Therapy.

Sanjay Singh, MD, DNB, Ph.D. REE Representative in India. REBT Initiatives for India. Associate professor, Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

Reverend Thomas Downes, Ph.D. Supervisor, REBT. Diplomat, American Psychotherapy Association. Diplomat in Grief Counseling. Lead REP. NGO for Pax Christi International at the UN. Franciscan brothers. Hospital Chaplain training in evidence-based psychotherapy methods.

Rene F.W. Diekstra Ph.D. Professor of Psychology and Head of the Youth and Development Center, University for Professional Education, The Hague. Professor of Psychology and Head Social Science Department, Roosevelt Academy/University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. Specialty: Adolescent suicide prevention. Co-author: Suicide Prevention: A Holistic Approach.

Vince Parr, Ph.D. President, Tampa Rational Living Foundation. Associate Fellow, REBT. Training Faculty, REBT. President, Center for Rational Living and the Rational Living Foundation. Adjunct Professor, University of Tampa. Member, Center for Inquiry.

Luney Parr, MS. Administrator of six Montessori schools, Berkely Prep, Tampa FL. Spanish language instructor, Hillsboro Community College, Tampa.

Gayle Rosellini, M.S. Long-term practice in REBT. Specialty: treatment of addictions and criminality. Political activist. Educational advocate. Author, "Of Course You're Angry" and other books on addiction.

Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D. dePaul distinguished professor of psychology, DePaul University. Editor, Journal of Prevention &Intervention in the Community. Author of 3 scholarly books and 45 articles. 150 presentations on procrastination for academic, corporate and public audiences.

Timothy Pychyl, Ph.D. Associate professor, Graduate chair, Department of Psychology and Centre for Initiatives in Education, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. Specialty: Procrastination research (www.procrastination.ca). National 3M Teaching Fellow, Excellence in teaching, higher education. Co-editor: Counseling the Procrastinator in Academic Settings (APA). Co-editor: Procrastination: Current Issues and New Directions. Special Issue of the Journal of Social Behavior and Personality.

Ed Garcia, MA. One of the original Directors of Training in REBT. Training Faculty, REBT. Fellow, REBT.Certified Social Worker. Consultant: Piedmont Hospital, Nursing Development Program. Co-Author: Building Emotional Muscle and Homer the Homely Hound Dog.

Nosheen K. Rahman, Ph.D. Fellow, REBT. Professor/Director, Centre for Clinical Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Author of chapter on: Status of Psychology in Pakistan in Handbook of International Psychology. Chapter on: Psychology of Adolescent Behavior in Pakistan for the International Handbook of Adolescent psychology.

James J. Burns, MD. Associate Professor, Pediatrics Tufts University School of Medicine. Chief, General Pediatrics Baystate Children's Hospital.

William Wagner. President, Chicopee Savings Bank. Community services: Board member of numerous organizations dedicated to education and to the betterment of the community.

Robert Forester. Vice-president of Marketing, New England Etching Corporation (ret).

Diane Nadeau. Educational Advocate and Political Activist. Owner: ACTION Business.

David L. Albright, MSW, Ph.D. Student in Social Work, Florida State University. Research interests include: evidence-based practice, intervention research, post-traumatic stress disorder, military and veteran populations.

Reverend George Morelli, Ph.D. Associate Fellow, REBT. Training Faculty, REBT. Professor, Kean University. Taught Rutgers University. Archpriest and Assistant Pastor of St. George's Antiochian Orthodox Church, San Diego, California. Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion.

Will Ross. Long-term practice in the application of REBT in voluntary settings such as a suicide prevention hotline counselor. Training and mentoring of hot line counselors. REBT instruction in areas of parenting, relationship management, and stress management. Development of multimedia paraprofessional counselor training materials and programs.

Susan Tapper, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, San Francisco State University, Department of Health Education. Distance learning program development.

H. Jon Geis, Ph.D. The original Director of Training in REBT. Taught at New York University, Columbia, and Yeshiva University. Private practice. Author of Effectively Leading a Group in the Present Moment.

Irwin Altrows, Ph.D. Associate Fellow in REBT since 1985. Training Faculty, REBT. Adjunct Assistant Professor (Psychiatry) and Clinical Supervisor (Psychology), Queens University. Author 18 publications.

Nancy Haberstroh, Ph.D., MBA. Rational Emotive Education with developmentally disabled persons. Director of Psychological Services, Monson Developmental Center. Personnel selection. Absenteeism assessments. Marketing research. Continuing education programming. Co-author: A Rational Emotive Education Program to Help Disruptive Mentally Retarded Clients Develop Self-Control.

Deborah Steinberg, MSW. Fellow, REBT. Supervisor, REBT. Child specialty: character development and moral education. Author of How to Stick with a Diet.

Richard Snyder. Vice-president Bank of New England West (ret). Child advocate, State of Florida

Margaret Snyder. Leasing services, Bank of New England West (ret). Child advocate, State of Florida.

Robert E. Arthur, Ph.D. Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Specialty: School Psychology.

Janet Wolfe, Ph.D. Former Executive Director, Albert Ellis Institute. Author of How to Raise a Healthy and Happy Child (with Albert Ellis) and co-editor of The REBT Resource Book for Practitioners, and over 80 articles. Adjunct Professor of Psychology, New York University, and private practice, New York City.

Joseph Gerstein, MD. Harvard Medical School faculty (ret). Internal medicine and pain management. First president, SMART Recovery.

Karen Noon-Yvonne, Ed.D. Dissertation in Rational Emotive Education. Specialty: School Psychology.

Robi Richardson, Ph.D. Clinical psychologist and the Vice Chair of AREBT United Kingdom and Clinical Instructor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Assistant Attending Psychiatrist at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York.

Joseph Costanzo, Ed.D. Former Special Education Director, Westfield Schools. Child Advocate. Private practice.

Sam Klarreich, Ph.D. Training Faculty, REBT. President of The Berkeley Centre for Effectiveness and The Centre for Rational-Emotive Therapy (Toronto). Author, 7 books including Pressure Proofing. Positions include Chief Psychologist at a major Toronto hospital, Employee Assistance Program Director at an international oil company and Vice-President at a national career consulting organization.

Russ Grieger, Ph.D. Clinical psychologist in private practice of REBT. Fellow, REBT. Training Faculty, REBT. Former President of The Mid-Atlantic Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy. Formerly Co-editor of The Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Adjunct Professor at the University of Virginia, and Organizational Consultant and Trainer. Author or editor of six REBT-based books, including The Handbook of Rational-Emotive Therapy: Volumes I and II, and over 60 papers, chapters, and monographs

Leon Pomeroy, Ph.D. Fellow, REBT. Adjunct faculty, George Mason University. President of The Robert S. Hartman Institute. Author of The New Science of Axiological Psychology. Multiple publications in the emerging field of values research, employing a mathematical model of value and moral behavior.

Susan Ellis, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist, Licensed School Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Family Mediator, Parent Coordinator. Private Practice, Largo (Tampa Bay area), Florida. Author of Make Sense of Your Dreams, and Make Sense of Your Feelings.

David R. Ellis, Esq. Attorney, Intellectual Property; Computer, Cyberspace, Technology Law; Business, Entertainment and Arts Law; Franchise, Licensing and Contract Law; Registered Patent Attorney, Largo (Tampa Bay area), Florida. Author, A Computer Law Primer. Lecturer and Writer. Former Adjunct Professor, University of Florida and Stetson University.

Joel Block, Ph.D. ABPP. Fellow in REBT. Training Faculty, REBT. Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology. Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Einstein College of Medicine, Senior Psychologist, North Shore, LIJ, Medical Center. Author, of numerous articles and 18 books including Staying Cool: Anger Management for Teens and Stepliving for Teens: Getting Along with Stepparents, Parents and Siblings.

David Cowles, Ed.D. Behavioral technologies applied to system development. Specialties: children's services, clinical services for the mentally retarded.

Forrest Patenaude MA. Retired marine officer. Specialist in systems development and logistics. Entrepreneurial initiatives and management. Educator. Former school board member. Donation of time and financial resources to just causes.

Guy Azoulai, Ph.D. French representative for REE. Supervisor, REBT. Member and teacher at the French cognitive behavior association (AFTCC), Addiction services. MINT trainer. Consultation.

Jules Evans. British journalist who specializes in writing on mental health and well-being, for publications including The Times, Prospect, New Statesman and Psychologies.

Howard Kassinove, Ph.D., ABPP. Professor of Psychology. Director, Institute for the Study and Treatment of Anger and Aggression. Hofstra University. Co-author of Anger Management: The complete treatment guidebook for practitioners.

Michael Edelstein, Ph.D. Fellow, REBT. Training Faculty, REBT. Diplomate in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Board of Advisors of the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists. Past President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy. Author, Three Minute Therapy.

Bruno Broll-Barone, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate. Anger Management Therapist at the Hofstra University Institute for the Study and Treatment of Anger and Aggression. Former Peace Corps health educator, Cubolta, Republic of Moldova.

(April 21, 2008)

_________________________________________________________________________

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.

Debbie is a licensed mental health counseling professional in New York State (license number 18 003680 JOFFE DEBBIE FRANCES)

She is also a registered psychologist in her native Australia (registration number 3906.)

Debbie was honored in India for her work in holistic health before she trained as a Fellow at the Albert Ellis Institute. In addition to her duties as Albert Ellis' assistant, she volunteered at Ground Zero after 9/11. After completing her Fellowship, she was hired at AEI as a staff psychotherapist. Of course, all of that ended with the controversy between Dr. Ellis and AEI.

Debbie and Al married in 2004, after knowing each other as friends and colleagues since 1999. In addition to her role as wife, Debbie assisted Al in his workshops and acted as his amanuensis and caregiver. Al designated Debbie as his representative and continuator of REBT into the future.

You may contact Debbie by phone or snail mail.
Debbie Joffe-Ellis
75 West End Avenue # C14J
New York, New York 10023-7862

You can also leave a voicemail message for Debbie by calling: 1-917-887-2006.
Voicemail picks up on the tenth ring. Leave your name and number and Debbie will return your call. Please speak clearly and repeat your number twice--slowly. Some calls have been missed due to indecipherable numbers. Thank you!

_________________________________________________________________________

Announcement: Profiles in Courage Awards

Three Former Directors of Training of the Albert Ellis Institute offer the first of a series of Profiles in Courage awards. They go to Albert Ellis, Gayle Rosellini, Deborah Steinberg, Will Ross, and Debbie Joffe Ellis.

Over the past two years Albert Ellis expended as much time as he was able to complete his life work while fighting against what he saw as injustice. Rosellini, Steinberg, Ross, and Joffe-Ellis literally contributed thousands of hours of their time and thoughtful clear-thinking efforts in the pursuit of justice and for the advancement of REBT.

Nothing in the annals of the history of psychology rivals the conflict that the Albert Ellis Institute Board of Trustees started when they unlawfully removed Albert Ellis from the Board of Trustees at the Institute he founded. Just before that time, at that moment, and thereafter, they figuratively unleashed a firestorm that has continued to this day. History will be the judge of their behavior.

Dr. Albert Ellis receives a Profile in Courage award for his long-standing defense of rationality against the forces of myth, magic, irrationality, and intolerance. In the past few years, Ellis has stood especially tall in his fight for justice and to fulfill his desire to regain control of the Albert Ellis Institute. Few ninety-three year olds would have carried on an extensive and time-consuming campaign for justice during the late stages of their lives and when beset by a progressive illness. But Albert Ellis is not your ordinary ninety-three-year-old. His courage speaks for itself. Albert Ellis richly deserves a special recognition for the courage he has shown in the face of adversity.

Gayle Rosellini receives a Profile in Courage award for her tremendously commendable two-years of effort to bring justice for Albert Ellis and to promote REBT. Tireless and vigilant, this advocate for human rights and justice persisted even when threatened with three lawsuits by the Albert Ellis Institute's Board of Trustees. She served as the glue that helped bind together a movement of different personalities whose purpose was to support REBT and to promote justice for Albert Ellis. Her clear thinking translated into a newsletter and other writings that helped bring to public attention key issues regarding the conflict between the Albert Ellis Institute Board of Trustees and Albert Ellis. Gayle Rosellini richly deserves special recognition for the courage she has shown in the face of adversity.

Deborah Steinberg receives a Profile in Courage award for her tireless efforts for more than two years to bring justice to Albert Ellis. In her capacity as an Albert Ellis Institute trustee, Deborah wrote four minority reports in opposition to the Albert Ellis Institute Board's actions to remove Albert Ellis from the Board of Trustees. She did so despite being called names by some of her colleagues on the Board, and despite pressures to silence her. Her strong ethical bearing was later supported by a New York State Supreme Court judge who described the process the Board followed to remove Albert Ellis as disingenuous (deceptive, insincere). (The Judge reinstated Ellis to the Board, but he still had no meaningful voice.) Ever vigilant, Deborah Steinberg continues to advance the importance of ethics in our dealing with others, and sometimes does so at personal risk. Deborah Steinberg richly deserves special recognition for the courage she has shown in the face of adversity.

Will Ross receives a Profile in Courage award for his exemplary work in rationally pursuing justice for Albert Ellis and for actively supporting the advancement and growth of REBT through the website he founded, nurtured, and maintained for Albert Ellis. Will persisted in his work despite two threatened AEI Board lawsuits. He found ways to keep the REBT message and the campaign for justice for Albert Ellis continuing. In testimony of his courage, the REBTnetwork.org website that he founded and maintains continues today, and is among the top REBT sites. Will Ross richly deserves special recognition for the courage he has shown in the face of adversity.

Debbie Joffe Ellis receives a Profile in Courage award for her extraordinary efforts to support a campaign of justice for Albert Ellis and to have the Institute he founded go forward in the hands of people he designated as his "continuers." What is not well known is Debbie's twenty-four hour, seven days-a-week effort to keep her husband alive, for him to enjoy his life, and for him to complete the books he wanted to write and to live out the remainder of his life in an atmosphere of freedom he so strongly desired. Dry words on paper cannot begin to describe what appears to have been a nasty, abusive, public denouncement of this lady who "stuck by her man" where many others would have left under duress. She continues on despite being called all sorts of defamatory names that some Board members and staff reduced to print. Deborah Joffe-Ellis richly deserves special recognition for the courage she has shown in the face of adversity.

July 18. 2007

Dr. Bill Knaus
Dr. H. Jon Geis
Mr. Edward Garcia

_________________________________________________________________________

In Celebration of Dr. Albert Ellis: Glimpse of the Memorial Service

The evening of rememberances and tributes to Al was absolutely stunning. The lecture hall was large, the acoustics fine. Some technical difficulties with playing some videos. Well attended. I learned a lot more about Al. It was lengthy, but I would gladly have sat still for even more. A reception afterwards with delicious foods. Just wanted to drop you a quick note. I'm sure you'll hear much more in detail. It was fabulous!

~A friend of Albert Ellis who attended the service on September 28, 2007~

_________________________________________________________________________

August 7, 2007

Date of Dr. Ellis' official memorial service changed to Friday, September 28; Friends bid Al a final farewell; APA Tribute to Albert Ellis scheduled August 17 at San Francisco convention; Summit conference to discuss the future of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE: DATE OF OFFICIAL MEMORIAL SERVICE CHANGED TO FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
Due to scheduling conflicts, the date of the official memorial service for Dr. Albert Ellis has been changed: Please share this information with your network of friends and post on your websites, listservs and blogs. The official memorial service for Dr. Albert Ellis will be held on Friday, September 28, 2007, 7:30 P.M. at St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University.

FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND PATIENTS BID DR. ALBERT ELLIS FAREWELL
by Dr. Bill Knaus

It was July 27. The throngs gathered at a simple chapel at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, to honor Dr. Albert Ellis, to celebrate his life, and to say good-bye.

At 3:30, the services began. Al's wife, Debbie Joffe-Ellis, gave a moving description of Al's last days and moments and she will dedicate herself to continuing Al's life work so that it will be properly remembered and promoted.

The American Psychological Association sent a representative to give tribute to Al. Al's oldest friend, Manny Birnbaum, spoke and said what Al's life was like when he was a boy in the Bronx. Another old friend, Tom Downing, said words of tribute for Al. Several of Al's former clients spoke. One specifically chastised the AEI Board and Staff. People who trained under Al came forward. One by one, each told a story of how important Al was to them personally, and what they learned from him. AEI "minority" Board member, and Ellis supporter, Deborah Steinberg sent a carefully articulated message. Steinberg described the occasion as sad, but also as a time for rebuilding. She took the Board to task for the part it played. Susan and David Ellis, Al's closest living relatives, each spoke in his honor. Janet Wolfe spoke about her 37 years with Al. I (Bill Knaus,) representing the two other former Directors of Training, Ed Garcia and Jon Geis, said that the words of tribute for Al were important, but not so much as what we do to honor his life and his many contributions.

At the end of the ceremony, a small group followed the hearse carrying Al's casket to his burial plot. Some threw flowers into the grave. Although this was a secular ceremony, many, in Jewish tradition, put shovels or fistfuls of dirt into the grave. Then, the time to depart had come.

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH OF US TO SAY A WORD IN AL'S MEMORY AT LEGACY.COM

You can write a short message or just sign your name to the Legacy.com guest book for Albert Ellis. To leave your message, please click here.

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION TRIBUTE TO ALBERT ELLIS

The American Psychological Association will hold its 115th annual convention at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The convention runs from Friday, August 17, through Monday, August 20.

On Friday, August 17, at 2:00 p.m., Dr. Jon Carlson will chair a panel of distinguished speakers who will pay tribute to the role Albert Ellis has played in their professional and private lives. The tribute will be held at the Moscone Center, Room 303, on the Esplanade Level- South Building. Debbie Joffe-Ellis will speak of her years with Al and her plans to carry on the legacy of his work. Other speakers and presentations include:

Jon Carlson PsyD, EdD Discussion Chair
Robert Alberti PhD How to Be Rationally Stubborn, Emotionally Undisturbable, Behaviorally Happy, Unconditionally Accepting, Shamelessly Unfrustrated, and Unmiserably Reasonable While Keeping People From Pushing Your Buttons
David D. Burns MD Albert Ellis: A Personal Note
Elliot Cohen PhD Albert Ellis' Philosophical Revolution
Arthur Freeman EdD How Al Ellis Introduced Me to REBT and CBT
Bill Knaus EdD Remembrances
G. Alan Marlatt PhD Moving From 12 Steps to SMART Recovery
John C. Norcross PhD Al Ellis: Courageous and Integrative Empiricist
John Minor PhD The Consummate Psychologist
Gerald Corey EdD My Irrational Fondness of Al Ellis
William Glasser PhD Albert Ellis: An Exceptional Colleague
Nicholas A. Cummings PhD, DSc A Tribute To Albert Ellis

THE FUTURE OF RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY - A SUMMIT MEETING
By Dr. Bill Knaus

Albert Ellis wished to see REBT continue past his time, to maintain its uniqueness, and for people trained in the method to continue to build and advance REBT. The future progression of the system will depend upon the credibility of those who continue what Albert Ellis started and the quality of the work that they produce.

Albert Ellis' prodigious work and writings directly or indirectly positively influenced the lives of millions, and stimulated the development of allied systems of cognitive-behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, and others. Few have matched Albert Ellis' dedication, persistence, work output, and quality of contribution to the betterment of humanity. Still, much work remains to build upon the work Albert Ellis initiated:

1. Continue to develop and promote the REBT delivery system to advance community health and individual happiness;
2. Train and develop professional counselors and therapists in the application of REBT;
3. Support the continuation of the system through research and practice.

Starting now, an organized, purposeful, and persistent effort to advance REBT can significantly add velocity to the viability of this bedrock psychological services delivery system. This effort is to be done independent of the AEI as it is currently constituted, which Albert Ellis described as the "fake" AEI.

Many trained in REBT have a strong stake in advancing the REBT system while at the same time distancing themselves from the Albert Ellis Institute, as it is currently constituted. Therefore, in support of the many, with the aim of advancing REBT, a summit planning conference on the future of REBT will be conducted in two parts. This will be followed by an implementation phase.

Phase one involves a meeting of some of the most senior fellows and Board in Waiting members to consider the future of REBT and to develop an agenda. This will convene within the next thirty days.

Phase two is a conference for Board in Waiting members and other parties of interest who have a stake in the evolution of REBT. Members of this group will consider agenda issues and firm up a preliminary action plan.

Phase two will convene on September 28, 2007. This phase opens a more intensive opportunity for Board in Waiting members, and other parties of interest, to take part in the shaping of an REBT strategic plan for the future.

Phase three involves implementation and modifications based upon experience and reality.

At all three stages, people from the REBT community, who wish to participate in the advancement of REBT but who choose not to affiliate with the current Albert Ellis Institute, as it is currently constituted, can provide their thoughts, guidance, and counsel. This input is welcomed. Until the mechanisms for this process are formalized, you are invited to send your comments to the webmaster of the REBTnetwork.org, or to the webmaster of this site.

The agenda for Phase one follows.

Phase One

Phase one will be implemented by a small group of the most senior REBT fellows and supervisors who are members of the Board in Waiting. In this phase, the group will consider:

1. General strategies to assure a bright future of REBT.
2. How to implement training and development programs that are consistent with the REBT model that Al initiated and intended.
3. New models and strategies for promoting REBT through theory, research, and practice, as well as through improving tested models already found effective.
4. The feasibility of organizing the promotion and development of REBT around a new "hub" model. The hubs are major training sites located in various parts of the country that support the training initiatives of qualified REBT practitioners within the designated zone. Each hub center will enjoy autonomy, issue training certificates, provide continuing education credit, produce products for sale, and network with the other hubs and a committee of the most senior fellows. (This represents a decentralized approach.)
5. Methods for supporting the training efforts and therapeutic work and production of fellows, associate fellows, and people with recognized special talents and capabilities. Members of this group have already demonstrated that they understand and can ably apply REBT at higher levels of efficiency and effectiveness. By supporting members of this group's efforts to train and develop other REBT practitioners, and by supporting their efforts, we support the advancement of REBT.
6. The refinement and development of self-help materials for public dissemination.
7. Instructional designs for specialist professional training: e.g., anger management, procrastination, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, stress management, group therapy methods, etc.. The goal is to make such programs highly competitive.
8. Instructional designs for workshops to teach the basics of REBT and specialist areas such as the application of methods of scientific inquiry to solve problems in daily living, optimizing performances, and to deal with the "big four" of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and procrastination.
9. Methods for dealing with complex problem issues involving coexisting conditions such as perfectionism, self-doubts, indecisiveness, procrastination, and other common human problems in daily living.
10. Strategies for refining the teaching or other ways to recognize irrational beliefs, and related forms of cognitive distortions, developing emotional tolerance skills, and engaging proactively in problem-solving behaviors to support personal health and happiness.
11. School-based initiatives to bring rational principles into the classroom.
12. Promoting research and evolving the system through evidence-based techniques that are consistent with the philosophy and delivery structure of REBT.
13. Evolving an ethical code for REBT.

_________________________________________________________________________