Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): ABCDE Framework

The ABCDE framework is a form of a memory system that is applied in educating the fundamental of rational-emotive behavior therapy. The framework consists of five components. A stands for the activating event. The adversity or event activates stress or anxiety. The event is just a reality. The examples of the events can be a predicament in a personal affiliation, job dissatisfaction, progressive lack of assurance, sexual concerns, or a speech to be presented (Ellis, 1962). The event might be anything that makes an individual sees a counselor. Ellis was ready to address any problem or adversity using this framework of cognitive behavioral therapy. B stands for the belief system. The element represents the cognitive aspect of an individual’s response to the activating events. According to Ellis, persons frequently mention beliefs that are harmful and lessen clear thoughts (Ellis & Dryden, 1987). Ellis challenged people who believe that when an event comes their way, then they have no any alternative to the event or a rational way to respond to the event. Ellis argued that there are better ways of tackling the event or reacting to the activating event, rather than the counterproductive responses and the responses that lessen thinking (Ellis, 1962). Thus, one should display a belief system that will solve the event encountered.
Further, C stands for consequences of irrational beliefs. It is obvious that the irrational thinking and beliefs yield negative impacts. The beliefs can include the self-satisfying insights.

For instance, if one expects to feel worried and performing poorly, he or she sets him or herself up to feel worried and perform poorly (Ellis, 1962). It is possible that some persons will repeat the negative thinking many times. This repetitive thinking is known as rumination, and it is slightly the same as self-programming. An individual who is repetitively thinking may remain in a bad disposition as a result of the unceasing negative self-training. Ellis claims that substitution the irrational beliefs, anxiety, and thoughts with a calmer, more rational evaluation can better an individual’s disposition and result in more adaptive actions that tackle a concern reasonably (Ellis & Dryden, 1987). Again, D stands for disputing irrational beliefs. Ellis’s medication is composed of disputing or challenging a patient’s irrational thoughts in a direct manner. The focus here is the irrationalities. The element involves establishing ways of handling the irrational beliefs of a client. It should be necessary to substitute the negative, impractical thoughts with a more practical and adaptive assessment of the problem circumstances. The last element of the ABCDE model is E, which stands for the effects of altering a person’s understanding of a situation. If the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or rational-emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) is effective, one loses the signs and symptoms of fear or suffering and observes a condition differently (Ellis & Dryden, 1987). The phenomenon is referred to by other therapists as cognitive restructuring. Preferably, the element involves a patient taking practical action to rectify the concern or has a less worrying response to the event. The aim of the CBT is to substitute the upsetting irrational self-conversation with more effective and adaptive self-chat.
The Experience and A-B-C model
My love relationship experience was very troublesome because I could not find ways of responding or solving the events that led to it. I had a girlfriend with whom I could refer to for assistance and advice whenever I was annoyed and lacked something. We could do much of our studies together, and we could tour any places during our leisure moments. We loved each other and cared about each other’s sufferings. However, a time came when everything was not as planned. We had to break up and move on with our individual’s lives. She gave no valid reason for the end of our relationship, which made me wonder and think of what could have happened between us. Meanwhile, there was no communication for even the purpose of checking on one another’s encounters. I knew that the situation was the worst moment in my life because I could not get another lady whom I could love the same way. Eventually, I decided to remain single and opted not to be in any romantic relationship again in my life. Using the A-B-C model, my experience can be segmented in the following ways. The relationship with the lady represents the event that led to the following thoughts. As such, it acts as the A component of the A-B-C model i.e. it is the activating event. Secondly, the belief that I could not find any lady in my life again or any lady who could love like the one who went away represents the reaction to the activating event and, therefore, is the B element i.e. the belief system. Finally, the decision not to be in any other relationship again in my life and to remain single for the rest of my life represents the C element. This implies that it is the consequences of the irrational beliefs.
The Application of ABCDE Model
The model can be applied to change the mood or behavior by following the elements presented by Ellis. By recognizing the activating event causing the troublesome situation, one can be ready to develop the options for tackling the problem. One can know the origin and different perspectives of the event and generate provisional ways of dealing with the concerns. The element enables one to familiarize with the activating event (Ellis, 1962). Also, the B component can be used to question the beliefs systems one develops concerning the reaction to the events. Before perceiving that when the love relationship ends, then there is no any other happy relationship possible with another lady, one should ask himself about whether all ladies are the same or he has met all women in the whole world. The person must know that a break up with a lady is not the end of everything or life. What is more, using the C element, one can know the consequences of the irrational beliefs and thoughts he makes. The irrational beliefs and thoughts, such as not having any other lady in one’s life, can lead to a situation where one is anti-women and does not want to interact with any woman. As such, the C element can allow one to replace the irrational thoughts with more realistic evaluation of the beliefs, which can improve the moods and result in adaptive behavior to handle the problem practically (Ellis & Dryden, 1987). The D element can also be applied to substitute the negative, impractical thoughts and beliefs with more practical and adaptive assessment to the problematic events. The element helps disrupts the irrational beliefs. As a result, the unrealistic beliefs can be eliminated, thereby improving the person’s moods. Ultimately, a person can use the E element to take rational action to solve the concern or reduce the worrying response to the event (Ellis, 1962).

References
Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy.
Ellis, A., & Dryden, W. (1987). The Practice of Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET). Springer Publishing Co.