360° Health The Power of Rational Thinking for Coping with Suffering And Creating Greater Joy and Fulfillment

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Monday, June 8, 2026

Dr. James JC Cooley along with Co-Host Dr. Michael Mantell- renowned and esteemed mental health architect and prolific author have a sit-down conversation with Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis -licensed psychologist, licensed mental health counselor, presenter, writer and adjunct professor at Columbia University and Robin W. Thorburn - Clinical Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist.

Show Summary

Today’s show discusses Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), developed by Albert Ellis, which teaches that emotional suffering is often intensified not only by difficult events themselves but by the beliefs and interpretations we attach to those events. REBT helps lessen emotional pain by identifying irrational thoughts, challenging unhelpful beliefs, and replacing them with more realistic and flexible ways of thinking.

Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis Biography

Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. New York City has been her home base for the past two decades. She is a licensed psychologist (Australia), licensed mental health counselor (New York), presenter, writer and adjunct professor at Columbia University in New York City where she teaches Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Comparative Psychotherapies. For years she worked with her husband, the brilliant and renowned pioneer of modern cognitive therapies: Dr Albert Ellis, giving public presentations and professional trainings in his approach of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), as well as collaborating with him on writing and research projects until his death in 2007. Before his passing he stated and wrote that he entrusted her to continue his work. She is recognized as a world-renowned expert on REBT, and regularly presents, throughout the USA and in countries around the world, to students, academics, practitioners in the helping professions, and to members of the general public. She wrote the second edition of the book Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (published 2019) that she co-wrote with her husband in its first edition. She is also featured in a DVD produced by the American Psychological Association (APA) demonstrating and discussing the REBT approach. She has written chapters for various text books, articles, and has reviewed publications for APA’s PsycCritiques Journal. In 2014 she was named “Legend in Counseling” at the American Counseling Association annual conference, and has received various other awards and acknowledgments for her work. She recently was nominated by former American Psychological Association President, Dr Frank Farley, and renowned psychologist and author, Dr Stanley Krippner, to receive the American Psychological Association's International Division's "Global Citizen Award". She joyfully and passionately continues her mission of informing as many people as possible - through her presentations, teaching, writing, and the ways she strives to ‘walk her talk’ - that each one of us has the power to create our emotional destinies despite and including challenging circumstances, and through teaching the ‘how-to’s’ of doing so!

Website

www.debbiejoffeellis.com

Robin W. Thorburn ADHP (NC) MNRHP FNSHP UKCP (H) Biography

Robin W. Thorburn, the founder of Exclusive Hypnotherapy Edinburgh, is one of the UK’s leading Hypno-Psychotherapists. He has 33 years verifiable clinical experience and has successfully conducted over 20,000 Hypno-Psychotherapy sessions.

Robin has literally helped thousands of clients who have experienced debilitating panic attacks, phobias, anxiety, stress, insomnia, low self-confidence/esteem/self-worth, unexplained infertility, anger management, depression, imposter syndrome, public speaking and blushing, guilt, irritable bowel syndrome, unexplained infertility, pain control, sports psychology and enhancement of business performance, He is also remarkably successful working with people who wish to stop smoking/vaping, improve weight loss or require, life coaching, sexual and relationship problems are also helped with, as is bereavement.