About Albert Ellis Ph.D.
He published his first book on REBT, How to Live with a Neurotic, in 1957. Two years later he organized the Institute for Rational Living, where he held workshops to teach his principles to other therapists. The Art and Science of Love, his first really successful book, appeared in 1960, and he has now published 54 books and over 600 articles on REBT, sex and marriage. Until his death on July 24, 2007, Dr. Ellis served as President Emeritus of the Albert Ellis Institute in New York, which provides professional training programs and psychotherapy to individuals, families and groups.
REBT is a therapy growing in popularity (thousands now practice it), but also a very old one. It owes at least as much to the Stoic philosopher, Epictetus, as to Sigmund Freud. Yet REBT's origin is not to be found simply in the logical temperament Ellis shares with a long line of rational philosophers. "The irrationalities -- even in regard to REBT -- which I have beautifully tolerated for many years of my life would tend to belie this hypothesis," he says. But he loathes inefficiency and will not tolerate passivity, and these traits were important forces in REBT's evolution. "I love my work and work at my loving," Ellis says. "That is the secret of my present unusually happy state."
