Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
Some students misbehave due to overwhelming emotions; these students can be taught how to control themselves by regulating their emotions. Rational emotive behaviour therapy aims to make students aware of their inner self-talk, teach them how to differentiate irrational thoughts from rational thoughts and offers a way to challenge irrational beliefs. (Banks & Zionsts, 2009)
REBT in the Classroom
When a student is unfairly disciplined for behaviours resulting from an inability to control emotions, we have failed that student. Teaching students how to use rational emotive behaviour therapy teaches them how to control their emotions which ultimately helps them manage their behaviour.
Teaching students to “self-monitor” is a strategy teachers can use for students to keep track of their behaviour and academic standing, thus allowing students to feel empowered and take responsibility for their behaviour and learning.
I hope to introduce my students to REBT in my classroom by teaching them how to use the ABCD model.
Activating event: what is the event that is causing the problem?
Belief system: what beliefs does the student have about the activating event?
Consequences: what are the emotional and behavioural consequences resulting from the belief system?
Disputation: what can they challenge this belief system?