--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started to call myself a \"rational…" description: "\"I started to call myself a \"rational therapist\" in January 1955; later I used the term \"rational emotive.\" Now I call myself a \"rational emotive behavi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/albert-ellis-3379_behavior_i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-ther_3140878.jpg" --- # I started to call myself a "rational therapist" in January… ![“I started to call myself a "rational therapist" in January 1955; later I used the term "rational emotive." Now I call myself a "rational emotive behavior therapist." But from the start, I always included philosophic techniques as well as experiential, emotional and behavioral techniques.” quote by Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/albert-ellis-3379_behavior_i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-ther_3140878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/albert-ellis-3379_behavior_i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-ther_3140878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/albert-ellis-3379_behavior_i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-ther_3140878.jpg) > “I started to call myself a "rational therapist" in January 1955; later I used the term "rational emotive." Now I call myself a "rational emotive behavior therapist." But from the start, I always included philosophic techniques as well as experiential, emotional and behavioral techniques.” [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Therapeutic practice evolved, integrating philosophical, experiential, emotional, and behavioral methods. **In simple terms:** Therapy blends philosophy with emotions and actions. Key Takeaway Embrace a holistic approach. Themes psychotherapy integration growth Mood thoughtful analytical Type theoretical practical When to use this quote - counseling sessions - self‑help work - clinical training Key Concepts cognitive restructuring behavioral change philosophical inquiry Questions to Reflect On - How does philosophy enhance therapy? - When might a pure technique be preferable? A Different Perspective Some may view the mix as lacking focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotive Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotive-rational-3010707/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [January](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/january/) [Philosophic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophic/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Emotive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-emotive-2606390/) [Rational Therapist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-therapist-3010705/) [Started Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-rational-3010706/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Term Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-rational-5596090/) [Therapists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapists/) [Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapy/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [I started to call myself a rational therapist in 1955; later I used the term rational emotive. Now I call myself a rational emotive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-therapist-in-1955-later-i-used/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [My rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) was one of the very few therapies that was originated partly or largely because I wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/my-rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt-was-one-of-the-very-few/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [When you are motivating people to do amazing things, you have to win over both their rational side and their emotive side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/when-you-are-motivating-people-to-do-amazing-things-you-have-to-win/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [Hence poetry is something more philosophic and of graver import than history, since its statements are of the nature rather of universals, whereas those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/hence-poetry-is-something-more-philosophic-and-of-graver-import-than/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [If we study Japanese art, we see a man who is undoubtedly wise, philosophic and intelligent, who spends his time doing what? He studies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/if-we-study-japanese-art-we-see-a-man-who-is-undoubtedly-wise/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [To despise riches, may, indeed, be philosophic, but to dispense them worthily, must surely be more beneficial to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-burney/to-despise-riches-may-indeed-be-philosophic-but-to-dispense-them/) [Fanny Burney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-burney/) > [We may say that hysteria is a caricature of an artistic creation, a compulsion neurosis a caricature of a religion, and a paranoiac delusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/we-may-say-that-hysteria-is-a-caricature-of-an-artistic-creation-a/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [After a study of some forty years and more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect, none so scientific,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/after-a-study-of-some-forty-years-and-more-of-the-great-religions-of/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [We must make the building of a free society once more an intellectual adventure, a deed of courage… Unless we can make the philosophic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/we-must-make-the-building-of-a-free-society-once-more-an-intellectual/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [We believe that the materials and the stories taken from the raw can be finer (more real in the philosophic sense) than the acted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grierson/we-believe-that-the-materials-and-the-stories-taken-from-the-raw-can/) [John Grierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grierson/) > [“The philosophic outlook rises above all sectarian controversy. It finds its own position not only by appreciating and synthesizing what is solidly based in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brunton/the-philosophic-outlook-rises-above-all-sectarian-controversy-it/) [Paul Brunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brunton/) > [The philosophic spirit of inquiry may be traced to brute curiosity, and that to the habit of examining all things in search of food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-winwood-reade/the-philosophic-spirit-of-inquiry-may-be-traced-to-brute-curiosity/) [William Winwood Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-winwood-reade/) > [Philosophy begins in wonder. And, at the end, when philosophic thought has done its best, the wonder remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/philosophy-begins-in-wonder-and-at-the-end-when-philosophic-thought/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The Germans are the most philosophic people in the world, and the greatest smokers: now I trace their philosophy to their smoking. Smoking has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-borrow/the-germans-are-the-most-philosophic-people-in-the-world-and-the/) [George Henry Borrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-borrow/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Albert Ellis > [The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-best-years-of-your-life-are-the-ones-in-which-you-decide-your/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“REBT’s Insight No. 1 holds that you have both healthy and unhealthy emotions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/rebt-s-insight-no-1-holds-that-you-have-both-healthy-and-unhealthy/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Failure doesn't have anything to do with your intrinsic value as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/failure-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-your-intrinsic-value-as-a/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [So I'd better stop my whining and help myself cope better with even the worst Adversities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/so-i-d-better-stop-my-whining-and-help-myself-cope-better-with-even/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm one of the best-loved psychologists in the United States, but I'm also probably the most hated one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-one-of-the-best-loved-psychologists-in-the-united-states-but-i-m/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I thought foolishly that Freudian psychoanalysis was deeper and more intensive than other, more directive forms of therapy, so I was trained in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-thought-foolishly-that-freudian-psychoanalysis-was-deeper-and-more/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm very happy. I like my work and I like the various aspects of it - going around the world, teaching the gospel according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-very-happy-i-like-my-work-and-i-like-the-various-aspects-of-it/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Let's suppose somebody abused you sexually. You still had a choice, though not a good one, about what to tell yourself about the abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/let-s-suppose-somebody-abused-you-sexually-you-still-had-a-choice/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contribute-to-their-upsetness/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“The concept of deservingness for one’s “sins” implies that certain acts are unquestionably under all conditions “sinful.” And this is impossible to prove.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-concept-of-deservingness-for-one-s-sins-implies-that-certain-acts/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [The art of love is largely the art of persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-art-of-love-is-largely-the-art-of-persistence/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I teach people to be flexible, scientific and logical in their thinking and therefore to be less prone to brainwashing by the therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-teach-people-to-be-flexible-scientific-and-logical-in-their/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially is: childish dependency. If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/for-that-again-is-what-all-manner-of-religion-essentially-is-childish/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Thinking rationally is often different from "positive thinking," in that it is a realistic assessment of the situation, with a view towards rectifying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/thinking-rationally-is-often-different-from-positive-thinking-in-that/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People are terrified of other people or difficult projects because they tell themselves that they could fail or be rejected. Failure can lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-are-terrified-of-other-people-or-difficult-projects-because/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) [Explore all 132 Albert Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. Willard Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-gibbs/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started to call myself a \"rational therapist\" in January 1955; later I used the term \"rational emotive.\" Now I call myself a \"rational emotive behavior therapist.\" But from the start, I always included philosophic techniques as well as experiential, emotional and behavioral techniques.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Ellis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-therapist-in-january-1955-later-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behavior" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-therapist-in-january-1955-later-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/albert-ellis-3379_behavior_i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-ther_3140878.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/albert-ellis-3379_behavior_i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-ther_3140878.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/albert-ellis-3379_behavior_i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-ther_3140878.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started to call myself a \"rational therapist\" in January 1955; later I used the term \"rational emotive.\"…” — Albert Ellis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Ellis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started to call myself a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-therapist-in-january-1955-later-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-started-to-call-myself-a-rational-therapist-in-january-1955-later-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```