“What are They Thinking When They do Something like That?”: Using the ABC System of Emotional and Behavioral Self-Management to Teach Health Education

Abstract

Historically, health education largely has dispensed advice and information. There are many people who behave in unhealthy and dangerous ways despite having received the necessary advice and information, and despite past or impending negative consequences. At McHenry High School, the theories and practices of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy and Education, based on the ABC Theory of Emotions by Dr. Albert Ellis (London, 1988, 1991, 1992) have been modified and adapted for use in the classroom to address this problem. The primary focus of the class is to teach students a way to better self-manage their thoughts, and thereby their emotions and behavior in situations that are typically troublesome for teens. The system as taught is called the ABC System of Emotional and Behavioral Self-Management.