ABSTRACT
Here is how I (WD) respond to such a question: ‘Whilst it is true that REBT is a structured approach to psychotherapy, it is also the case that skilled REBT therapists vary the amount of structure according to what is happening in the session. Thus, at times I may be quite unstructured, for example, when you have started to talk about a newly discovered problem or I may use session structure rather loosely, for example, in the ending phase when prompting you to assess a problem using the ABC framework. Of course, at other times as your REBT therapist I will be quite structured, particularly when disputing your irrational beliefs. Again, if I provide a rationale for the use of a tight structure and you understand and assent to this, then you won’t consider that you have been put into a “straitjacket” by the therapist although the observer might make such a conclusion.’
