This is the second article in a series of 12 dealing with Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy and addictions. Before I continue, I would like to thank my wife, Karen, of 45 years for her love and caring. Without her, this column would not be a reality

The origins of REBT date back to 1991, when I was working as a Chautauqua Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council counselor at Friends of Cazenovia Manor in Buffalo. I worked from 4:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., five days a week at the Halfway House, supervising 18 males who were addicted to alcohol, other drugs, or both.

The two people who introduced me to Dr. Albert Ellis, Ph.D. were Dennis Fink, executive director of the Halfway House (Caz Manor), and Mr. Richard C. Washousky, MS, CRC, NCC, who taught the addictions piece at Erie Community College.

There were several reasons that led me to explore Dr. Ellis’ philosophy. I will mention some; the adverse effect feelings had on people with addictions, especially those trying to remain abstinent from all mood-altering chemicals. More specifically, clients would come to me in internal pain (feelings) and share their pain openly with me.

I would listen, offer suggestions to try to help them through the feeling pain, and while they were in my office they seemed to feel much better. However it was obviously a very short relief, because they continued to re-appear to discuss the same issue time and time again. In fact, after further investigation it became apparent that the majority of these folks had been discussing the same issue for many years, and had numerous attempts at treatment. Most had eight to 15 treatments of all levels of treatment.

I began doing research on Dr. Ellis’ philosophy and found for our clients this philosophy would help their perceptions, the way people thought, the descriptive words they used to describe people, places and events, and how their thinking integrated into feelings. I was now able to convey to them, through REBT, that the information you are about to receive will challenge your thinking about yourself, others, the environment and society in general. So, this is the origin of a philosophy that was brought to the Western New York treatment area in the early ’90s. One thing I need to mention is that you don’t have to be chemically dependent to use this philosophy. If you have disturbed negative emotions that are causing you pain in intensity, frequency and duration, then through your patience and willingness to change your thinking and complete commitment to do the work (worksheets, meetings, sponsorship, volunteering) and to empower yourself to take charge of your recovery on your journey.

Perhaps more than any other psychology, REBT grows out of and actively utilizes strong philosophical background for support. For example, he Greek philosopher Epictetus, first century A.D. stated, “Men, women are disturbed not by things, but by the views which they take of them.” An example would be a screeching car. One person may think the driver is trying to avoid an accident. Another person may think that the driver is reckless, and a third person may ignore it altogether. The same event, three different thinking patterns. Thus, disturbance is largely (not completely) of what we see, what we say to ourselves about what we see (what are you telling yourself) and what value system developed from birth.

It is amazing to me as a CD counselor, that people’s beliefs in addiction are highly irrational based on the following:

¯ Family and cultural standards about addiction. I tell my people this disease (alcoholism) has been in your family for years. You didn’t set out to become dependent and the irrational belief that you can drink safely needs to be challenged.

¯ That children, from family, are taught to evaluate themselves and behaviors as “good” or “bad.” They either “deify” or devil-fy” themselves.

¯ Thus chemical dependent people either damn and deify themselves and others and in doing, so make themselves more disturbed. In other words, “you create your own disturbance based upon whatever.”

¯ Thinking and feeling are not separate in REBT. What you think you feel, and what you feel you act on (behavior).

Thus the philosophy of REBT deals with rational beliefs, and irrational beliefs. Rational beliefs can be scientifically proven. For example, if I throw a baseball up in the air and it falls into my baseball glove, most people would rationally accept gravity. An irrational belief lacks evidence to support one’s thinking. Example: if I think I can fly, and jump off a building to prove my belief, most people’s consensus would be that the person is either going to die or get very hurt. Thus in the society that we are now in, we are prone to think irrationally based upon family, school, church, hood, peers, employers, the law and other things. Ellis broke down irrational beliefs into four core thoughts:

¯ Demandingness, the belief of universal musts, shoulds, have to, got to, ought to, in other words absolute thinking, carved in stone, “or this is the only way.”

¯ Awfulizing, the belief that the world is full of awful, terrible, horrible, catastrophic things, without ever seeing the good things in the world.

¯ Low frustration tolerance. The belief one cannot bear what one does not like.

¯ Global evaluations of human worth. The belief that people can be rated as good, bad, stupid, smart, kind, ruthless. In REBT — we rate behaviors, not people.

Finally the REBT code states the following:

¯ “Thou shall not demand people, places and things change or one will suffer the pain of not having one’s way.”

¯ “Thou shall see thyself as a fallible human being or one will suffer the pains of perfection.”

¯ “Thou shall understand that the reality of living in the world can be very frustrating at times, or one will suffer the pain of anger, rage, shame, guilt, anxiety, depression and fear.”

¯ “Thou shall not awfulize people, events and situations or one will suffer increased feelings of pain.”

¯ “Thou shall use thy brain to think, reason, use logic and come to sensible alternatives.”

¯ “Thou shall make commitment to the recovery process and take full advantage of the opportunity you have been given.”

Finally, the underlying theme of REBT: “Treat others as you would want to be treated.”

Next: “13 irrational beliefs, 10 cognitive traps.”

Mike Tramuta has been a CASAC counselor for the past 38 years and has run the REBT group at Holy Trinity Parish Center from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday night. For more information, call 983-1592.