by Megan Sy, M.S.
In REBT, the language we choose matters significantly. For instance, the difference between a demand and a preference can be viewed simply as a difference in semantics (I should vs. I prefer). Yet this shift in thinking often results in a difference in how we respond emotionally or behaviorally. The choice of words are such a fundamental part of REBT that Ellis credited Alfred Korzybski and the field of general semantics as being a big influence on our theory. However, as clinicians we often encounter clients who have difficulty describing their thoughts or emotions or who may not share the same lexicon as us in terms of talking about these things. In my native language of Tagalog for instance, there is not an easy way to translate the words ‘horrible’ and ‘awful’ without also venturing into the realm of concepts like bad, wrong, or scary. Conversely, there are multiple words that can be used to describe the continuum between the emotions of shame and regret and not all of these word variations are easily conceptualized or described in English. The word nakakapanghinayang, for example, is often loosely translated as regret but is not quite the same.
The above examples are simple and likely easy to adapt to, but they also highlight the need for clinicians to be mindful of the words we choose to use. In following a theory where semantics is fundamental, the challenge for REBT therapists is to engage with our clients such that we’re able to better understand the complexity of thoughts and emotions and how they experience these within themselves and within their culture.
