Rational-Emotive Therapy with Children and Adolescents: Treatment Strategies

Abstract

Rational-emotive therapy (RET) has a long history of use in the treatment of a variety of childhood problems commonly dealt with by school psychologists. This article presents the RET conceptualization of childhood disorders, discussing the interaction of child temperament and parenting styles. RET child treatment goals, which involve the modification of negative and inappropriate childhood emotions, are discussed. The particular RET cognitive change methods (philosophical disputation; disputation of irrational beliefs in specific situations; disputing of inferences; rational self-statements) are illustrated. Specific suggestions for using RET with parents, for using RET effectively, and for using RET with different combinations of child, parents, and teachers conclude the article.