ABOUT New England Behavioral Health

Our Specialty is People

NEBH OVERVIEW
Rational Living Therapy NEBH

Our Unique Perspective: Rational Living Therapy

The general focus of NEBH is to provide help to children/adolescents and adults who are experiencing life difficulties. We focus on a wide spectrum of behavioral problems. The individual who attends therapy with NEBH has options that both Therapist and Patient help tailor to the Patient’s own specific needs and treatment plan. For example, some Patients desire an individual (1 on 1) with their clinician, however there are times when the Patient may request that his/her family or spouse get involved in the therapeutic process when needed and family members are welcome to attend therapy when appropriate.
People often get caught up in past negative events. They also overly project their futures. Rational Living Therapy orientation focuses on learning from the past but making positive and effective changes in the here and now in order to change current negative situations caused by irrational thinking. RLT also aids Patients in building a more positive and healthy future by setting goals.

The Rational Living Therapy orientation focuses on future goal setting and learning from the past as well as making positive and effective changes in the here and now in order to change current negative situations caused by irrational thinking. By changing negative thoughts, our feelings and behaviors should also change (Pucci, 2002).

What makes NEBH unique is the approach used while utilizing RLT. The basis of RLT (a type of CBT) is that one’s thoughts are responsible for one's feelings and behaviors. For example, if we change how we feel about people and situations; our feelings about them will change and then our behaviors will change. The aforementioned basic science of RLT/CBT is effective in that it aids in extinguishing repetitive behaviors that are deeply rooted in the past. However, we believe that people also need to vent (to get issues off their chest) in order to make positive rational choices, meet goals, solve problems and heal adequately. With the addition of routine talking therapy to the RLT process the patient has the opportunity to purge his or her emotions through conversation. This enables both therapist and Patient to piece events and situations together so that the therapist can learn more about the patient. This can help the RLT process.
Although not always as effective, talking therapy without the RLT element can be useful and purging however the underlying cause of the Patient's problems remain beneath the surface (Pucci, 2002). This is why we believe both elements RLT combined with elements of Talking Therapy are useful.

 

Children and Adolescent Psychotherapy / Child & Teen Life Skills NEBH Children and Adolescent Psychotherapy / Child & Teen Life Skills
Children and Adolescents experiencing behavioral problems often have a difficult time adjusting to therapy. Unlike adults who usually seek therapy due to a self-realization that he/she needs help; children and adolescents are usually urged to attend therapy by adults (parents, care-providers and teachers or mandated by the court system). These kids will often resist therapy due to the aforementioned. They feel they don’t have issues or that they cannot trust adults. Children and adolescents will not openly communicate and cooperate with those they do not trust and they can detect someone who is not genuine with ease. Therefore, establishing genuine trust, rapport and a type of friendship is the key factor to clinical success. Without these rudiments behavioral change and the healing process cannot begin.

New England Behavioral Health (NEBH) utilizes the Rational Living Therapy (RLT) approach combined with elements of talking therapy. The therapist is careful not to be too abrupt using the techniques that correspond with the Rational Therapy / Cognitive Behavioral Approach. By getting to know the Patient and his/her background and past experiences through communication, feedback, support and empathetic-positive-self-regard the therapist knows how to specifically implement therapy to that particular child or adolescent.
Some children and adolescents have little difficulty discussing their issues and completing self-help assignments for the therapist while others whole heartedly resist clinical expertise. Children and Adolescent Patients who are resistant and refuse to adhere to rules and guidelines, need both positive (rewards and praise) and negative reinforcement (deprivation) in order to respond to therapy and to change their behaviors. Basic reinforcement is used in partnership with parents, care-givers, the school and legal system as a means to change unwanted negative behaviors in order to pave the way for RLT techniques designed to aid the patient in making rational life choices by changing his/her thinking patterns. It is important to note that children and adolescents experiencing behavioral problems are not bad but it is their behaviors and choices and that are.
Whether you or loved one are experiencing major difficulties or need to make some minor life adjustments, give us a call, we’re always here to help.