Religiously sensitive rational emotive behavior therapy: Theory, techniques, and brief excerpts from a case

Rational emotive behavior therapy's (REBT's) methods for fostering change, such as disputation of irrational beliefs, are similar to the kinds of acti vities one may expect to encounter in many organized religions. REBT also b ears a strong theoretical affinity with some religions because of its prefe rred therapeutic goal of helping clients examine and change their beliefs. Furthermore, the formal religious tenets and traditions to which many clien ts adhere will usually include doctrinal material that is highly congruent with REBT's theory of change. Such belief-oriented material may be enlisted during REBT to help religious clients evaluate and change their self-defea ting, irrational beliefs. A case that integrates religious belief with REBT is presented. Finally, the authors conclude with a brief summary of prelim inary outcome research regarding the efficacy of this approach.