Conference theme: Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy: Theory, Research and Practice.
Welcome to the Association for Rational emotive Behaviour Therapy (AREBT) annual conference programme. Do note that this is provisional programme. Speakers will be added to Session 2 shortly.
Conference networking room opens at 09.30am and is open all day.
The AREBT AGM starts at 17.00pm.
NB All times in GMT (UK time).
Booking for Conference Day 1, 3rd December, 2024
Cost: AREBT Members Free. Non-Members: £50.
Booking: Eventbrite
Session 1
09.50am Conference Welcome
10.00am Keynote 1 – Dr Jamie Barker
Keynote: Mind the Gap – Exploring the nature and efficacy of REBT interventions: Implications for research and practice.
11.00am to 11.30am – Speaker Networking with Dr. Jamie Barker
This presentation will provide an overview of our recent systematic review of the nature and efficacy of REBT interventions regarding key findings, and areas for consideration https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0306835#sec042. More specifically, the talk will focus on current methodological practices, areas for development as well as insights into how to deliver effective REBT-based interventions across various contexts. The presentation will balance research and practice insights and therefore will be relevant to researchers and practitioners alike. The overall aim of the presentation is to help to drive the standard of REBT intervention research and practice.
11.30am to 11.45am – Short tea break and Networking Session.
Session 2
11.45am to 13.00pm. Speakers in this session TBC. Watch this space.
Session 3: Lunchtime Networking, Meet the Sponosors & pre-recorded Keynote
13.00pm to 14.00pm Networking and meet the sponsors
Joint Keynote with Dr Stephen Palmer PhD and Dr Siobhain O’Riordan PhD
13.00pm to 14.00pm Keynote: Overview to Relaxation Techniques to reduce stress, enhance health and wellbeing with Dr Stephen Palmer PhD and Dr Siobhain O’Riordan PhD. This keynote was first given at the International Relaxation Day conference on 15th August 2024. They will provide an overview to relaxation techniques, key research and there will be an opportunity to have a go at two simple relaxation exercises and evaluate its effectiveness. Although this is a 90 minute session, the recording will be available online for watching at and also after the AREBT conference. The International Relaxation Day and the international conference were supported by AREBT as part of their public engagement strategy.
Session 4
14.00 pm Keynote – Prof Windy Dryden
Keynote: Making the Most of the First (and Perhaps Only Session) of REBT
In this pre-recorded keynote, Prof Dryden will cover the following:
- How can an REBT therapist make the most of the first session, given that it may be the only time that they will meet with their client
- The impact of context on the practice of REBT,
- How the mindset of therapist and client can shape the first session
- How Albert Ellis used to run first sessions
- The contribution of SST to REBT on this issue
14.45pm to 15.15pm Mini-workshop facilitated by Prof Stephen Palmer and the AREBT conference team. This mini-workshop immediately follows the keynote and will focus on how REBT (and perhaps CBT) practitioners can make the most of the first counselling session, given that it may be the only time that they will meet with their client. This session also be of interest to RE-CB coaching practitioners.
15.15pm to 15.30pm – Short tea break and Networking Session.
Conference Doctoral Research Session
Session 4
INVITED RESEARCH PAPER SESSION 15.30pm to 16.20pm
The AREBT Research Centre promotes the sharing of research and in this PhD doctoral research session two REBT researchers are welcomed back to the conference to update us about their research.
15.30pm (UK time) Invited Paper – Jo Hensel: Addressing Performance Anxiety in Conservatoire Music Students: A Case Study of an Individual in a Rational Emotive Behavioural Coaching-Based Intervention
15.50pm Invited Paper – Paul Young: Examining the Feasibility and Mental Wellbeing Effects of a Novel Mindfulness and Rational Emotive Behaviour Coaching Intervention (M-REBC) for Corporate Employees.
16.20pm to 16.45pm – Speaker Networking with Jo Hensel & Paul Young
Addressing Performance Anxiety in Conservatoire Music Students: A Case Study of an Individual in a Rational Emotive Behavioural Coaching-Based Intervention
Speaker: Jo Hensel
This idiographic case study offers insight into the application of Rational Emotive Behaviour Coaching (REBC) when working to reduce the performance anxiety and increase the psychological wellbeing of an undergraduate music student at a leading UK conservatoire. It details the client’s journey, illustrating how REBC techniques were employed to challenge and alter irrational beliefs, leading to significant improvements in performance confidence and performance outcomes.
Examining the Feasibility and Mental Wellbeing Effects of a Novel Mindfulness and Rational Emotive Behaviour Coaching Intervention (M-REBC) for Corporate Employees
Speaker: Paul Young
Background:
This study builds on scholarly observations that mindfulness and REBT may have integrative potential; exploring this potential in the corporate workplace context where poor employee mental wellbeing is a costly issue.
Aims:
The main aim was to ascertain the feasibility of a novel mindfulness-and-REBT-based coaching intervention (M-REBC) for white-collar corporate employees.
Methods:
All participants (n = 14) were adults employed by private sector corporate organisations in white-collar roles. The M-REBC programme was delivered online, one-to-one, over six 60-minute sessions by the lead practitioner-researcher. A within-subjects, repeated measures experimental design assessed pre-intervention to post-intervention changes (plus one-month and three-month follow-ups) in mental wellbeing, resilience, perceived stress, mindfulness and irrational performance beliefs. Debrief interviews were conducted, with social validation data transcribed and analysed qualitatively.
Results:
Statistical analyses indicated that participation in the M-REBC programme led to significant improvements in mental wellbeing, perceived stress, resilience, mindfulness and irrational performance beliefs over time. Improvements continued into follow-up periods. Reflexive analysis of social validation data revealed that the participant experience was overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting greater attitudinal flexibility and a more mindful approach to work and living as a result of receiving M-REBC.
Conclusions:
An M-REBC intervention appears feasible and delivered significant positive changes in mental wellbeing, stress, resilience, mindfulness and performance beliefs among corporate white-collar employees.