Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Counseling applications of RET in a Chinese cultural context

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To explore the potential of Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) with clients of Chinese background, a brief review is conducted with respect to parallels between RET philosophy and some key components of Chinese culture and ways in which Chinese think. Arguments are advanced as to why RET is particularly suitable for use within a Chinese cultural context. Issues involved in using RET with Chinese clients are addressed including the appreciation many Chinese have for the logical and rational aspects of RET, the most appropriate type of client-counselor relationship to facilitate RET therapeutic progress, appropriate ways to dispute, and some cautionary words on the use of “emotive methods”. Areas where the RET counselor needs to be particularly sensitive to the cultural background of the client are highlighted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bond, M. H., & Wang, S. H. (1981). Aggressive behaviour in Chinese society: The problem of maintaining order and harmony.Acta Psychologica Taiwanica, 23(1), 57–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond, M. H., & Pang, M. K. (1991). Trusting to the Tao: Chinese values and the re-centering of psychology.Bulletin of the Hong Kong Psychological Society, 26–27, 5–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, C. Y. (1957).The essence of Chinese culture. Taipei, Taiwan: China News Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, L. Y. (19910. Sino-therapy: Is it necessary? Is it possible?Bulletin of the Hong Kong Psychological Society, 26–27, 71–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, E. D. (1987). The use of syllogism in rational-emotive therapy.Journal of Counseling & Development, 66(1), 37–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Bary, W. T. (1970).The unfolding of Neo-Confucianism. New York: Columbia University Press, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiGiuseppe, R. (1986). The implication of the philosophy of science for rational-emotive theory and therapy.Psychotherapy, 23(4), 634–639.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiGiuseppe, R. (1991). Comprehensive cognitive disputing in RET. In M.E. Bernard (Ed.),Using rational-emotive therapy effectively, pp. 173–196. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryden, W., (1983). Vivid RET II: Disputing methods.Journal of Rational-Emotive Therapy, 1(1), 9–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dryden, W. (1989). The use of chaining in rational-emotive therapy.Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 7(2), 59–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1962).Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. New York: Lyle Stuart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1967). Rational-emotive Psychotherapy. In D. Arbuckle (Ed.),Counseling and psychotherapy. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1971).Growth through reason. Hollywood, CA: Wilshire Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1973).Humanistic psychotherapy: The rational-emotive approach. New York: Julian Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1979). Rational-emotive therapy. In A. Ellis & J. M. Whiteley (Eds.),Theoretical and empirical foundations of rational-emotive therapy (pp. 1–6). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1983). Rational-emotive therapy (RET) approaches to overcoming resistance: II. How RET disputes clients' irrational, resistance-creating beliefs.British Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 1(2), 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1984). Rational-emotive therapy (RET) approaches to overcoming resistance: III. Using emotive and behavioral techniques of overcoming resistance.British Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 2(1), 11–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1986). An emotional control card for inappropriate emotions in using rational-emotive imagery.Journal of Counseling & Development, 65(4), 205–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1988). How to live with a neurotic man.Journal of Rational Emotive & Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 6(1–2), 129–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engels, G. I. & Garnefski, N. (1993). Efficacy of rational-emotive therapy: A quantitative analysis.Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 61(6), 1083–1090.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gitlin, D. E., & Tucker, C. M. (1988). Ability to discriminate rational responses to items on the Irrational Beliefs Test as a predictor of rationality and trait anxiety.Psychological Reports, 62(2), 483–487.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Himle, D. P. (1989). Changing personal rules.Journal of Rational Emotive & Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 7(2), 79–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kam, L. (1984). Salvaging Confucian education (1949–1983).Comparative Education, 20(1), 27–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, X. T., & Xu, S. L. (1987). 30 years of Chinese clinical psychology.International Journal of Mental Health, 16(3), 3–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C. H. (1987). Chinese and American perceptions of Rogers, Perls', and Ellis' approaches to psychotherapy.Dissertation Abstracts International, 48(4-A), 836–387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Da. (1979).The Tao and Chinese culture. New York: Schocken Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, L. C., & Woods, P. J. (1991). The efficacy of rational-emotive therapy: A quantitative review of the outcome research.Clinical Psychology Review, 11(4), 357–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma, H. K. (1988). The Chinese perspectives on moral judgment development.International Journal of Psychology, 23(2), 201–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGovern, T. E., & Silverman, M. (1986). A review of outcome studies of rational-emotive therapy from 1977 to 1982. In A. Ellis & R. Grieger (Eds.),Handbook of rational-emotive therapy: Vol. 2 (pp. 81–102), New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, C. A. (Ed.). (1967).The Chinese mind: essentials of Chinese philosophy and culture. Honolulu: East-West Center Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, R. H. (1983). Inference as “A” in RET.British Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 1(2), 17–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, P. T. (1981).Chinese sayings: what they reveal of China's history and culture. Hong Kong: Po Wen Book Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munro, D. J. (1975). The Chinese view of modeling.Human Development, 18(5), 333–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinet, I. (1993).Taoist meditation: the Mao-shan tradition of great purity. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roetz, H. (1993).Confucian ethics of the axial age: a reconstruction under the aspect of the breakthrough toward postconventional thinking. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryerson, A. (1992). Dead Asian male: Confucius and multiculturalism.Policy Review, 61, 74–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, M. S., & McCarthy, M. (1992). A review of outcome studies of rational-emotive therapy from 1982–1989.Journal of Rational Emotive & Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 10(3), 111–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strong, S. R., Welsh, J. A., Corcoran, J. L., & Hoyt, W. T. (1992). Social Psychology and Counseling Psychology: The History, Products, and Promise of an Interface.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 39(2), 139–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strong, S. R., & Dixon, D. N. (1971). Expertness, attractiveness, and influence in counseling.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 18(6), 562–570.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tseng, W. S., & Wu, D. H. (1985). (Eds.),Chinese culture and mental health. Orlando: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tu, W. M. (1993).Way, learning, and politics: essays on the Confucian intellectual. Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tung, M. (1991). Insight-oriented psychotherapy and the Chinese patient.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 61(2), 186–194.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woods, P. J. (1992). A study of “belief” and “non-belief” items from the Jones Irrational Beliefs Test with implications for the theory of RET.Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 10(1), 41–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, R. L. (1992). Rational emotive group therapy applied to sense of inferiority among university students.Chinese Mental Health Journal, 6(2), 74–76.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education, The University of British Columbia, 2125 Main Mall, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

    Charles P. Chen

Authors
  1. Charles P. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Charles P. Chen holds a master's degree in educational counseling and is currently a Ph.D. student and instructor in the Department of Counselling Psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. His interests include cross-cultural and multi-cultural counseling, career counseling, and group counseling.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, C.P. Counseling applications of RET in a Chinese cultural context. J Rational-Emot Cognitive-Behav Ther 13, 117–129 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02354457

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02354457

Keywords

Search

Navigation