Rational Emotional Behavioral Therapy (REBT) was developed by Albert Ellis and is a form of Cognitive Therapy. REBT conceptualizes that emotional disturbance is caused by the way we think.

Essentially we feel parallel to how we think. But why do we think the way we think?

Our thoughts are rooted and show up like symptoms of an entrenched, rigid philosophical belief. These irrational beliefs are acquired by interactions with significant others/society and or can be self constructed through auto suggestion and self repetition.

Essential these rigid believes can be clumped into three:

1. My competency and success determine my value as a human being.
2. I have to be liked/loved by people I consider significant and if not I am worthless.
3. Others should be just and kind to me and if not a catastrophe will ensure and they
should be punished.

These beliefs are somewhat hidden from our everyday thoughts, much like an iceberg. The irrational belief is deep in our consciousness but what we hear and see is the nagging voice
that keeps us stuck ruminating about other people's opinion, our mistakes, and our self worth.

One of the worst part of this self-talk is that it riddles us with anxiety, sadness, insecurity, and fear and just pushes us further away from our goals.

An REBT therapist will help find that irrational belief, discover how it was constructed and where and why it shows up in daily life. He or she will then work alongside the client to debate
and restructure that irrational belief and as a result give the person more power over their emotions/behaviors and wellbeing.