| In
the 50’s and 60’s there emerged a pioneering psychologist – Albert
Ellis, PhD. Although
considered a radical at that time, Dr. Ellis is now considered the father
of the cognitive
school of psychology.
REBT methodology is the most researched and considered to be one of
the most essential of psychological tools to be in the psychologist’s
“toolbox”. By the
70’s, 80’s and 90’s, other psychologists who researched this method
included: Lazarus, Beck,
Meichenbaum, Burns, and Seligman among many others.
In fact, it was Consumers Report’s 1996 article that showed it to
be a highly effective treatment for anxiety and depression.
In the area of addictions, (nicotine, alcohol, food, gambling, etc.),
REBT and it's newist cousin - AVRT (Addictive Voice Recognition
Technique) have been found to be especially effective. AVRT is a
thinking skill that addresses addiction with a structual and not a
spiritual (as with AA) concept of the brain and addiction. Permanent
abstinence is obtained by learning AVRT and applying it as the foundation
of the Rational Recovery (RR) approach. The text that is used here at CPGR
and the one that clients use to learn this technique is called Rational
Recovery - The New Cure by Jack Trimpey, MSW. It can be ordered
through the Resources Section of this Web Site. Although
I have practiced and been trained over the last 20 years by a variety of
specialists in these techniques, I have considered myself fortunate to
have been able to receive training from Dr. Ellis himself in 2000. |