The first discrete therapeutic approach to CBT was Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) – in the 1990’s renamed to REBT (Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy). REBT was originally developed by Dr. Albert Ellis in the mid 1950’s. Ellis developed his approach in reaction to his disliking of the inefficient and in-directive nature of Psychoanalysis. Albert Ellis used the very well known ABC model to explain emotional disturbances. Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck, the two originators of CBT had been directly inspired by Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy and in particular Stoicism. Epictetus (Stoic Philosopher) wrote: ‘Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them’. What occupies the REBT theory is the distinction between healthy and unhealthy negative emotions as well as the existentialism based acceptance beliefs. REBT argues that at the core of emotional disturbance lies a set of irrational beliefs that people hold about themselves, the world and others.
