Rational emotive behavior therapy women's groups: A twenty year retrospective

Abstract

Editor's Note: Janet Wolfe was invited to describe her significant contributions to the evolution of cognitive/behavioral/feminist women's groups, including the personal influences that led her to this particular career focus. In this retrospective, key elements in REBT women's groups are highlighted and illustrated with a case example; and changes that have occurred in these groups over the past twenty years are described. A comparison is made with other popular types of women's groups, and suggestions offered for the further development of gender-informed REBT. WOMEN'S ISSUES: AN OVERVIEWThe past 20 years has seen the emergence of considerable social scientific evidence that sex roles--and particularly the female role--can have very deleterious effects on mental health. Women live in a social world that frequently condones patriarchal domination and womanhating; these sexist beliefs then become adopted by women themselves (Brody, 1987). The tremendous violence against women in the United States has been well documented in recent years. Every 15 seconds, a woman is battered; every 11 days, a woman is murdered by her husband, boyfriend, or live-in lover (1988); and one out of four girls will be

The role of women's traditional gender beliefs in depression, intimate partner violence and stress: insights from a Spanish abbreviated multicultural measure

“…This has significant implications for prevention purposes and underlines the critical importance of measuring TGBs. Because TGBs are relatively stable cognitive patterns, attitudes, and behaviors [ 82 , 83 ], research shows that TGBs act in different contexts and over time [ 21 ]. Therefore, addressing TGBs would be crucial in achieving a more egalitarian society.…”

“…Wolfe's pioneering work on women's gender beliefs under the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) framework provided a women-centered perspective of traditional gender roles in clinical settings [ 83 ]. Based on Ellis's and Wolfe's research [ 24 ], O'Kelly [ 59 ] specified that, when these beliefs are transmitted from one generation to another, we can speak of traditional gender beliefs (TGBs).…”

The Role of Women's Traditional Gender Beliefs in Depression, Intimate Partner Violence and Stress: Insights from a Spanish Abbreviated Multicultural Measure

“…This has signi cant implications for prevention purposes and underlines the critical importance of measuring TGBs. Because TGBs are relatively stable cognitive patterns, attitudes, and behaviors (Wolfe, 1992(Wolfe, , 1995, research shows that TGBs act in different contexts and over time (Donley & Baird;. Therefore, addressing TGBs would be crucial in achieving a more egalitarian society.…”

“…Wolfe's pioneering work on women's gender beliefs under the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) framework provided a women-centered perspective of traditional gender roles in clinical settings (Wolfe, 1995). Based on Ellis's and Wolfe's research (1979), O'Kelly (2011) speci ed that, when these beliefs are transmitted from one generation to another, we can speak of traditional gender beliefs (TGBs).…”