ABSTRACT
Rational Emotive Couples Therapy (RECT) is humanistic in that it places the highest value on the individual's pursuit of happiness. It recognizes that all people, regardless of their situation, possess two basic life goals: to survive; while surviving, to be happy. RECT thus recognizes that the individual pursuing his or her own happiness is natural and ethical, while neglecting or sacrificing one's own happiness is unnatural and unethical. Accordingly, RECT asserts that relationships are not valuable in and of people's own sake, but for the contribution they make to the happiness and well-being of the individuals involved. RECT diagnostic process starts with identifying a couple's relationship dissatisfaction and relationship disturbance and goes from there. The couples would be wise to devote quality time and energy for each and every day to habituate the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns needed to make a good relationship.
