Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) Practice

What does the ABC model in Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy stand for?

1. Action, Belief, Consequence

2. Activating event, Behavior, Cause

3. Afterthought, Belief, Consequence

4. Activating event, Belief, Consequence

The correct answer is: Activating event, Belief, Consequence

The ABC model in Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) is a fundamental concept used to help individuals understand how their beliefs about events influence their emotional responses. The correct answer, which includes "Activating event, Belief, Consequence," outlines the key components of this model. In this context: - **Activating Event** refers to any event or situation that triggers a reaction. This could be an external event or an internal thought. - **Belief** represents the individual's interpretation or belief about the activating event. The beliefs can be rational or irrational, and they significantly shape how a person feels in response to the event. - **Consequence** refers to the emotional or behavioral outcome that results from the beliefs about the activating event. This is where the impact of both the event and the belief is manifested in terms of feelings and actions. Understanding the ABC model is crucial for addiction counselors, as it equips them with a framework to help clients identify and modify unhelpful beliefs that may contribute to their emotional distress and potentially their substance use. This approach promotes cognitive restructuring, encouraging individuals to replace irrational beliefs with more rational ones, ultimately leading to healthier emotional responses and behaviors.