ABSTRACT
In order to capitalize on these pre-therapy change experiences, you need to identify them. Ask your clients about times in their lives when they have changed an unhealthy attitude, a self-defeating behaviour or a disturbed emotion. Do this at the beginning of therapy or after you have actually disputed their irrational beliefs. Devote some time to understanding what it was that the clients did to bring about this change and, if this is broadly consistent with Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) theory, show them that they can use themselves as a role model for change on the problem you are discussing. Jerome Frank argues that one of the major curative factors of psychotherapy is that it engenders hope. Helping your clients to see that they have been successful in dealing with past emotional problems and that they can regard themselves as an inspiring but realistic role model can be a powerful way of engendering hope in your clients.
