This is Such a Pity

by Chris Kelly, M.A. A friend of mine always used to say: “More to be pitied than scorned.” She would say this whenever she noticed some stranger acting in a rude or hateful manner. The flip way in which she

Disqualifying the Positives in Others

by Brianna Cheney, M.A.  The Atlantic recently published Coddling the American Mind, which identified several cognitive distortions widespread among American college students and speculated about the negative effects on education.  It was argued that “mental filtering” (i.e., selecting a negative

The "Need Trap"

by Elissa Habinsky, M.A., M.S. Language plays a central role in the practice of REBT, and as such I have been paying close attention to the language that I use, as well as those around me. What I have noticed

Taxi Cab Confessions

by Jeff Goldman, M.A. Anger is one of the most understudied emotions in psychology.  Even the DSM-5 diagnosis of Intermittent Explosive Disorder does not capture its core facets. In the past 40 years or so, there has been an awakening

Setting Realistic Goals

by William Taboas, M.A.  Goal setting is a frequently discussed topic, not just in therapy settings, but across disciplines and personal matters. However, most of us don’t have a method for effective goal setting. We may have unrealistic expectations or

Inside Out and REBT

by Mark Schiffman, M.S. Inside Out has earned critical acclaim, as well as success at the box office, amassing over $600,000,000 worldwide.  For the few who haven’t seen it, the story centers on Riley, an eleven year old girl whose

REBT Self-Care

by Brianna Cheney, M.A. As a doctoral student with minimal free time, I struggle to balance maintaining my interpersonal relationships with making time for myself.  I frequently push myself to spend time with friends and loved ones, even when exhausted,

Packing Intolerance

by Elissa Habinsky, M.A., M.S.  I think that everyone would agree that moving is stressful. I am moving in a few short days, and I have been feeling beyond stressed. There is so much to do and so many moving

The Need for Approval

by Jeff Goldman, M.A. As a new extern at the Ellis Institute, I find myself trying to become familiarized with REBT’s tenets and principles. Not only is it like learning a foreign language, it equates to adopting a new philosophy