Rational Emotive Therapy (RET)
 A Specific Stress Management Strategy for Athletes
Who Can’t Control Distracting Thoughts
A. The goal of RET is to eliminate negative self-talk
and unrealistic expectations to increase mental
relaxation.
B. Developed by Albert Ellis
C. Ellis believes that our self-talk problems stem from
trying to change situations you don’t have the
ability to change (no control).
RET Model
Activating Event A------Belief B-------Consequence C
1. It appears that A causes C
2. RET states that although A directly contributes to
C it does not cause it.
3. We rely on our beliefs (B) to make judgements and
evaluate situations. Our belief system includes ideas
not entirely our own. Much has been put there by
society’s set of beliefs values and norms.
4. People don’t react directly to events they encounter.
They cause their own reactions by the way they
interpret or evaluate the events they experience.
5. Our belief system causes rational or irrational
beliefs. It is the irrational beliefs which cause
anxiety.
6. The consequences could include appropriate
feelings/behaviours or inappropriate
feelings/behaviours.
Intervention
1. Detect the belief - analyse your thinking - what is or
isn’t logical?
2. Dispute the belief (self debating). How can I be
logical?
3. Substitute rational for irrational statements.
A
B
C
Activating Event----Belief----Consequences---D
E
Detect & Dispute----Effect (a new way of looking at
the problem)