Jealousy…

  In his autobiography, All Out!, Ellis writes about John Ciardi, the editor of his 1954 book The American Sexual Tragedy. Ellis agreed with many of Ciardi’s suggestions–some of his detailed editorial notes are on jealousy. Ellis mentions that Ciardi was "neither his therapist nor a political thought…" (All Out!, pp. 474) Ciardi at that […]

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American Academy of Psychotherapists…

  Ellis, Jules Barron, Henry Guze, and Milton V. Kline organized the American Academy of Psychotherapists (AAP) in 1955. They formed the Academy to bring various professionals in psychotherapy together to share research and ideas, and facilitate high standards of training for the benefit of the public. The Academy arranged conferences and symposia on a […]

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Robert A. Harper…

  Robert Harper was one of Ellis’s first collaborators. When Ellis first developed REBT in 1955, Harper was his first supporter. The two men shared a distaste for puritanical individuals in the field and fought against them publicly through numerous presentations. Harper joined Ellis in writing REBT: A Guide to Rational Living, and A Guide to […]

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Random Correspondence…

  With the help of an undergraduate student and an intern, I have been going through and sorting the correspondence for the past few months. While I have not been able to read all the letters, those that I have had the opportunity to peruse have shed light on Ellis’s character. He was obviously blunt […]

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REBT vs. Objectivism…

On May 26, 1967, a public debate was held titled "Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy vs. Objectivist Psychology." Ellis, of course, represented REBT, while Nathaniel Branden (psychologist and Ayn Rand follower at the time), represented the Objectivist side. More than 1100 people attended the debate, most of whom were followers of Objectivism. Ellis claims to have […]

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Ellis on Marx…

  Albert Ellis is best known as the creator of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. This form of psychotherapy is one of the most practiced forms of cognitive therapy today. What I find most interesting is that he was primarily influenced by philosophy rather than psychology. Ellis’s hobby, beginning at the age of 16, was philosophy–first […]

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Welcome to the Albert Ellis Blog..

  Albert Ellis was one of the most influential figures in modern psychology, best known for developing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). In December 2010, the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia University acquired his papers, approximately 300 linear feet of correspondence, manuscripts, journals notebooks, and audio materials, documenting his fascinating and controversial life […]

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