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(EMAILWIRE.COM, July 26, 2007 ) New York City, NY -- Albert Ellis, the founder of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, died today in New York City, from kidney and heart disease. In 1982, a peer group of 800 clinical psychologists voted Dr. Albert Ellis the second most influential psychotherapist in history, ahead of Freud who was voted number 3.Dr. Ellis was innovative, powerful, irreverent, provocative, and iconoclastic in the field of psychotherapy. He rejected the efficacy of the once popular “Talking Cure” and developed a pragmatic and action-oriented therapeutic model that focused on confronting and taking control of irrational and self-defeating thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and moving on with your life. He emphatically debunked Freud’s views on sexual repression and the emphasis he placed on the influence of childhood memories and experiences. Family and relationships therapists and coaches with an understanding of Ellis' Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy are able to efficiently and effectively shift nagging, long-standing problems so that couples and families can experience greater peace. As step-parenting coach Emily Bouchard of www.Blended-Families.com observed, "The techniques developed by Albert Ellis are some of the most powerful strategies used in the coaching of blended families today. We are grateful for his outstanding and enlightening contribution to the therapeutic community."Dr. Ellis authored 78 books, including, “ Sex without Guilt”, “How to Control your Anxiety Before it Controls You”, “A Guide to Successful Marriage” and “ How to Stubbornly Refuse to make Yourself Miserable About Anything -Yes, Anything”. He was an active director of his Manhattan Institute, which he founded in 1959, until just a few years ago.Albert Ellis was born in Pittsburgh, September 27, 1913. His parents separated when he was 11 and although he claimed this had no effect on him, ” I took my father’s absence and my mother’s neglect in my stride”, this experience taught him to be independent, motivated, and always responsible for himself. He studied at City College during the Depression and later at Columbia University where he earned his doctorate. While studying in New York, and desperately shy, he inadvertently honed the basic concepts of what would become his therapeutic style. Feeling very reserved and nervous around young women, he would sit on a bench outside the New York Botanical Gardens and force himself to speak to any young ladies who happened to sit on the bench near him. “I completely got over my shyness by thinking differently, feeling differently and, in particular, acting differently”. He ended up talking to over 100 women and realized that, over time, he felt very comfortable doing it. He overcame his fear of public speaking in a similar manner, by doing it repeatedly, despite his profound fear and shyness, becoming a very accomplished speaker and presenter.His language like his therapy was blunt and he was totally unapologetic for his direct and candid style. He said, “Neurosis is a high class word for whining” and he did not allow excuses, resentment, self-defeating anger, and negativity to impede anyone from choosing to change behaviors to improve their life. He said that when you’re experiencing something awful you can choose, “to feel sorry, regretful, frustrated, annoyed and not depressed, anxious and despairing”. He was on the forefront of the now popular and highly effective self-help therapeutic style that advocates straight talk, taking responsibility for your actions, and moving on. He was the first to recommend short-term therapy with clients focusing on the present, with a strong emphasis on changing behavior. Many early critics accused him of being “superficial and stupid” but he responded with, “The trouble with most therapy is that it helps you to feel better, but you don’t get better. You have to back it up with action, action, action.”In summary, his basic message was that everyone is born with a talent for “crooked things” or distortions of perception that sabotage their innate desire for happiness. People also have a capacity to change themselves and create their own happiness. He believed the role of the therapist was to intervene using various strategies and assigning homework or action steps, to help people learn to accept themselves as they are (unconditional self acceptance), and then retrain themselves to avoid self defeating or destructive emotions. Thus, the therapist helps others “establish new ways of being and behaving.”Dr. Ellis worked until the very end “writing and preaching the gospel of Albert”, and he will be greatly missed among colleagues and clients alike. About Sheena Berg, M.Ed. Sheena Berg has just joined the staff of step parenting coaches at www.Blended-Families.com and enjoys writing articles related to blended family issues. She has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, majoring in economics, and a Master's degree in Education, majoring in mental health counseling. She also is a Florida Supreme Court certified family mediator. Ms. Berg's training and practical experience has been in marriage and family therapy, addiction counseling, and anger management. Media Contact: Sheena Berg, M.Ed.http://www.Blended-Families.com/sheena-berg.htmlSheena@blended-families.com603-253-6849 ###This press release was issued through GroupWeb EmailWire.com. For more information on press release distribution, go to http://www.emailwire.com.
Blended-Families.com, LLC
Sheena Berg, M.Ed.
sheena@blended-families.com 
Source: EmailWire.com
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