Founder of rational emotive behavioral therapy to speak about coping with disasters at SUNY New Paltz

NEW PALTZ — Albert Ellis, the man named “Most Influential Psychotherapist” in a survey of Canadian clinical psychologists, will speak at the State University of New York at New Paltz on Friday, April 12.

Ellis will speak about dealing rationally with the emotional ramifications of the World Trade Center attacks and the continuing threat of terrorism.

Ellis is the founder of rational emotive behavioral therapy and the ‘grandfather’ of cognitive behavior therapy. These therapies have made the greatest advances in the field of psychotherapy and have most influenced mental health professionals.

“Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy shows people how they can cope with terrorism and other disasters and still lead happy and productive lives,” said Ellis.

He has been a psychotherapist, sex therapist, and marriage and family therapist for more than 60 years. Ellis has published more than 100 articles and is a frequent guest on television and radio talk shows, including Good Morning America, The Today Show, Tom Snyder, and Barry Gray. He has also had a feature film made about his work, and a biography, Albert Ellis: Passionate Skeptic.

Some of his professional books include: Handbook of Rational Emotive Therapy, Rational-Emotive Approaches to the Problems of Childhood, and The Essential Albert Ellis. His work has been translated in more than 20 languages and several of his books have sold widely in many countries.

Ellis holds a bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York, and a master’s and Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology from Columbia University. He has been an adjunct professor of psychology at Rutgers University, United States International University, and Pittsburg State University, Kansas.

He served as chief psychologist of the New Jersey Department of Institutions and Agencies, and as a clinical psychology consultant to the New York Board of Education and to the Veterans Administration. Currently, Ellis is the president of the Albert Ellis Institute for Emotive Behavior Therapy.

“Dr. Albert Ellis is the founder of Rational Emotive Therapy, which is used by therapists worldwide,” said Kelli White, Psychology Academic Advisor. “He has had success using it, to treat eating disorders, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders, and he will now show us how to use the theory to deal with the aftermath of 9-11 and other disasters.”

The lecture will be take place from 12-1:30 p.m. in Lecture Center 102. It is free and open to the public. For further information contact White at 257-3602.