Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is the pioneering, original Cognitive Behavior Therapy developed by Dr. Albert Ellis in 1955. REBT has been used in the treatment of children and adolescents for over six decades to address common emotional and behavioral problems evidenced in this population. REBT is utilized to teach the core rational beliefs that contribute to positive mental health in young individuals, including unconditional self-acceptance, high frustration tolerance, and unconditional acceptance of others. Additionally, there is a focus on the irrational beliefs that contribute to psychosocial and mental health problems seen in children and adolescents, including needs for approval and achievement, a philosophy of self- and other-depreciation, frustration intolerance, and demandingness of self, others, and life conditions. This talk will discuss the key components of REBT that practitioners use when working with children and adolescents- that of addressing and reconstructing the core underlying irrational beliefs, in addition to teaching healthier, more flexible self-talk as a means of building resilience in the face of adversities.

Kristene Doyle

The Albert Ellis Institute, United States.

Kristene A. Doyle, Ph.D., Sc.D. is the Director of the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). Dr. Doyle is also Director of Clinical Services, founding Director of the Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Center (EDTRC), Director of Child and Family Services, and a licensed psychologist at AEI. She is a Diplomate in Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (RE & CBT) and serves on the Diplomate Board. 

In addition to training and supervising AEI’s fellows and staff therapists, Dr. Doyle conducts numerous workshops and professional trainings throughout the world. With a distinguished international presence, Dr. Doyle has influenced the growth and practice of RE & CBT in countries spanning several continents including North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. 

Dr. Doyle’s clinical and research interests include Eating Disorders & Weight Management, RE & CBT treatment of children and adolescents, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapeutic Process, Outcome & Dissemination. Dr. Doyle is co-author of A Practitioner’s Guide to Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy, 3rd edition. She is also the co-editor of Cognitive Behavior Therapies: A Guidebook for Practitioners.  She is co-editor of The Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. She has contributed numerous book chapters on topics such as the treatment of eating disorders, ADHD, group therapy, and coping with loss. She has presented her research at several national and international conventions, including those of the American Psychological Association (APA), Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), and the World Congress of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. In addition, Dr. Doyle has published in numerous scientific journals, some of which include Journal of Social Behavior and Personality and The Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. 

In addition to her work at AEI, Dr. Doyle is appointed as Full Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University in both the Clinical Psychology and School Psychology Doctoral Programs, where she has taught for 22 years. She is also a Full Adjunct Professor serving as a supervising psychologist at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.