Rational Emotive Behavior Theory in PTSD plus a worksheet

A therapy that I think would benefit this community to be informed on would be the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy/Theory. Although it does not have a one size fits all, it can be very beneficial. The goal of this therapy/theory is to alter any irrational thoughts that lead to reactions and turn them into rational thoughts. PTSD has among the rest of the symptoms some irrational thoughts.

It takes an event for example that traumatizes the individual and makes similar events feel unsafe. REBT works to monitor and work through any demanding musts and shoulds that you might have. When we think irrationally due to fear that we have, we find ourselves paralyzed but if you can think rational thoughts, you can lead to a better outcome/life.

Some irrational beliefs Trauma victims might hold:
"I should have behaved better"

"All life should be meaningful and comprehensible"

"There is a just world and it should always exist"

"I should have acted well in that situation so I can be a good person at all times"

"I can't trust anyone because this happened to me"

Feelings of guilt, shame, apathy

There is an ABC frame work. A - Activating Event, B - Belief, C - Emotional Consequence

An example:

A - A teen is abused by father

B "Im not a good son. I always mess up"

C Boy is depressed.

Through the use of REBT, the therapist tries to reframe the thought held in B to help change the emotional response by using the DEF.

DEF to ABC

D - Disputing intervention E Effect F New Feeling

An example:

D: The father was an alcoholic, an aggressive man and kid an easy target and dad psychologically unstable

E "The abuse was not my fault"

F "I feel sorry for my dad for being so unstable. I feel sad that I could not have a better relationship with my dad"

Irrational belief processes: demandingness, catastrophizing, low frustration tolerance, depreciation.

Rational belief processes: preferences non-catastrophizing, high frustration tolerance, acceptance.

Up to 67% of variance in PTSD symptoms considered irrational belief. Symptoms of avoidance and dysphoria

The way it is done is by helping the client create a more realistic philosophy of their traumatic circumstance. The therapist is a caring teacher and there is cognitive reconstruction. Monitor self talk through self-reflection, substitute adaptive language for negative language. Focus is specific to events. Ruminating thoughts plus PTSD. Therapist encourages clients to dispute irrational thoughts in session and out of session.

Acceptance of event --> Relieve common PTSD and trauma related feeling of guilt and shame

Techniques that can be used

Rational Emotive Imagery and Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Reconstruction, and Action Plans

Here is your homework assignment for those wanting to try this approach

If you cant read the image it reads

In Step 1 – Define Your Current Reality, there are three questions to answer:

What have I done to create my reality?

What has happened to me to create my reality?

How do I experience these things (positively or negatively)?

In Step 2 – Changing Your Reality, there are four questions:

What can I change about my situations, relationships, or work?

What are the resources needed to make the changes I want?

What are the things I cannot change?

How can I change my reactions to things I cannot change to support myself better?

Step 3 – Define Your Expectations consists of four questions:

What do I expect of myself, my relationships, and future?

What do I expect of my community?

What are the origins of these expectations?

Are these expectations achievable given my current skills and supports?

Step 4 – Modify My Expectations includes the final three questions:

How do I make my expectations meet my reality without making my expectations too low or an unrealistic reality?

What does it mean to have hope versus expectations?

Redefine my expectations of home, work, relationships, myself, etc.?

Sources

https://www.giftfromwithin.org/html/rebt.html

https://prezi.com/_vjdfcg4h0ml/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-in-cases-of-trauma-and-ptsd/