Albert Ellis
Albert Ellis
American psychologist (1913–2007) and founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). He proposed the ABC model, showing that irrational beliefs — not events themselves — cause emotional distress.
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Albert Ellis (1913–2007)
American psychologist and founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), one of the earliest forms of cognitive behavioral therapy. Along with Aaron Beck, Ellis was a pioneer of the cognitive revolution in psychotherapy.
The ABC Model
Ellis proposed that emotional distress does not come directly from events, but from our beliefs about them:
By changing irrational beliefs at point B, emotional responses at point C can be transformed.
Irrational Beliefs
Ellis identified several common irrational beliefs, including:
His therapeutic style was direct and active — he would dispute irrational beliefs head-on, helping clients adopt more rational perspectives.
Mindy's note: It's not what happens to us that shapes our suffering, but what we tell ourselves about what happens.
💡 Real-Life Example
It is not the event itself that causes our pain, but our beliefs about the event — the core insight of Ellis's ABC model.
This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.