Rational Living Therapy
Encyclopedia
Rational Living Therapy (RLT) is a form of Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) developed by Aldo R. Pucci, Psy.D., DCBT the current president of the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists and founder of the Rational Living Therapy Institute.
RLT utilizes elements of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Behavior Therapy
, and Cognitive Therapy
in a systematic approach in which the therapy progresses through a series of set points.
RLT is a motivational therapy which utilizes Rational Motivational Interviewing techniques to help the client effect positive change. It utilizes empirical
research in the areas of linguistics
, cognitive development, learning theory, general semantics
, neuro functioning, social psychology
and perception, and linguistics
.
Rational Living therapy avoids diagnosing clients according to the criteria set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders. The belief is that the diagnoses in the DSM only serve to label a series of behaviors and by doing so creates a negative perception in the client that they "have" or "suffer from" a "disorder" which leads to a feeling of hopelessness and therefore impedes positive change.
RLT doesn't adhere to the standard CBT emphasis on "self acceptance" and does not adhere to the common concepts of self-esteem and self-confidence instead utilizing what Pucci refers to as the "Four A's" and concentrating on rational self counseling and underlying assumptions the client may have. The belief is that by doing so the therapy takes on a deeper role leading to more long term behavioral change.
An optional component termed Rational Hypnotherapy
is also utilized by some therapists. It is believed hypnotherapy serves as an addendum to the conventional talk aspects of the therapy speeding along and facilitating the process. RLT therapists are certified via taking additional training.
RLT utilizes elements of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Behavior Therapy
Rational Behavior Therapy
Rational Behavior Therapy is a form of Cognitive behavioral therapy developed by psychiatrist Dr. Maxie C. Maultsby Jr a professor at the Medical College at Howard University. RBT is designed to be a short term therapy which is based on the belief of discovering an unsuspected problem which...
, and Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach: a talking therapy. CBT aims to solve problems concerning dysfunctional emotions, behaviors and cognitions through a goal-oriented, systematic procedure in the present...
in a systematic approach in which the therapy progresses through a series of set points.
RLT is a motivational therapy which utilizes Rational Motivational Interviewing techniques to help the client effect positive change. It utilizes empirical
Empirical
The word empirical denotes information gained by means of observation or experimentation. Empirical data are data produced by an experiment or observation....
research in the areas of linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, cognitive development, learning theory, general semantics
Semantics
Semantics is the study of meaning. It focuses on the relation between signifiers, such as words, phrases, signs and symbols, and what they stand for, their denotata....
, neuro functioning, social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
and perception, and linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
.
Rational Living therapy avoids diagnosing clients according to the criteria set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders. The belief is that the diagnoses in the DSM only serve to label a series of behaviors and by doing so creates a negative perception in the client that they "have" or "suffer from" a "disorder" which leads to a feeling of hopelessness and therefore impedes positive change.
RLT doesn't adhere to the standard CBT emphasis on "self acceptance" and does not adhere to the common concepts of self-esteem and self-confidence instead utilizing what Pucci refers to as the "Four A's" and concentrating on rational self counseling and underlying assumptions the client may have. The belief is that by doing so the therapy takes on a deeper role leading to more long term behavioral change.
An optional component termed Rational Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a therapy that is undertaken with a subject in hypnosis.The word "hypnosis" is an abbreviation of James Braid's term "neuro-hypnotism", meaning "sleep of the nervous system"....
is also utilized by some therapists. It is believed hypnotherapy serves as an addendum to the conventional talk aspects of the therapy speeding along and facilitating the process. RLT therapists are certified via taking additional training.