Rational Emotive Behavior Education in Schools

Albert Ellis pioneered the application of rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT) to the treatment of children and adolescents in the mid 1950s, and it has a long-standing history of application in schools. As Ellis stated, “I have always believed in the potential of REBT to be used in schools as a form of mental health promotion and with young people experiencing developmental problems” (Ellis & Bernard, 2006, p. ix). Many years ago Ellis stressed the importance of a prevention curriculum designed to help young people “help themselves” by learning positive mental health concepts that will benefit them in the present as well as in the future (Ellis, 1972).