Which of the following is an example of Albert Ellis's Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)?

• A. A therapist teaches a client to use mindfulness meditation to increase present-moment awareness.
• B. A therapist encourages a client to use systematic desensitization to overcome a phobia.
• C. A therapist asks a client to recall and interpret their dreams to uncover unconscious conflicts.
• D. A therapist helps a client identify and challenge irrational beliefs that lead to emotional distress.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the core principle of Albert Ellis's Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), which focuses on identifying and challenging irrational beliefs that cause emotional distress.
2. Step 2: Review each option and determine whether it involves directly addressing and disputing irrational thoughts or beliefs, as REBT emphasizes cognitive restructuring.
3. Step 3: Recognize that mindfulness meditation (Option 1) is more related to acceptance and awareness techniques, not specifically REBT.
4. Step 4: Note that systematic desensitization (Option 2) is a behavioral technique used primarily in behavior therapy for phobias, not REBT.
5. Step 5: Understand that dream interpretation (Option 3) is a psychoanalytic approach, which differs from the cognitive focus of REBT, making the last option the correct example of REBT.