An Interview With Psychologist Albert Ellis

The following is an interview that I, Franz Buker, conducted in 2005 with the late psychotherapy pioneer, Albert Ellis. This fascinating man is still widely considered one of the three most influential psychologists of all time and was one of the founders of the now tremendously popular Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. His own particular brand of therapy is called Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT).

FB: In "Sex Without Guilt," you discuss the various reasons why Americans seem to be the most neurotic culture when it comes to sex. Although much has changed since 1966 when that book was published, sex education classes have remained similar in that the emphasis is put on the dangers of sex with little attention given to the possible benefits. Could you briefly explain some changes that you would like to see implemented in sex education courses?

AE: The main thing is to tell the truth, to show them (youths) that sex has its dangers as everything does, but that they can have a great deal of satisfaction and pleasure in intercourse, or in petting or anything, without the dangers. Therefore, they can enjoy it freely.

FB: How, if at all can REBT help individuals with acute psychoses (e.g. schizophrenia)? For example, could a psychotic person use REBT to become significantly less disturbed by a hallucination?

AE: Normally psychosis is a matter of biology, so that they are born and raised disturbed and they are not going to change very much. You're not going to talk them out of some of the schizophrenic ideas. So, you teach them, as we teach everybody, USA (Unconditional Self Acceptance). This teaches to accept yourself with your psychosis, to know that it is a handicap, to know that many people will criticize you for being psychotic, but still say I'm OK just because I am alive even though I have schizophrenia and am seriously disturbed. Then you'll be able to not live as happy a life as other people, but you can still lead a quite happy life.

FB: How do you define a vitally absorbing interest, and in your opinion, what degree of importance does having one play in your own mental health.