July 24, 2007, New York City – It is with deep sadness
that the Albert Ellis Institute announces the death of Albert Ellis,
Ph.D. on July 24, 2007. Dr.
Ellis, who was 93 years old, died of natural causes. At the time
of his death, he was President Emeritus of the Albert Ellis Institute
in New York City.
Dr. Ellis was born in Pittsburgh in 1913, grew up in New York City,
and received a master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology
from Columbia University.
As a practicing psychoanalyst from 1947 to 1953, Dr. Ellis grew increasingly
doubtful about the efficacy of that form of psychotherapy, concerned
that no amount of talk would help his clients if they failed to take
action against their habitual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By
late 1953, he had stopped calling himself a psychoanalyst and begun
developing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), an action-oriented
therapy aimed at making emotional and behavioral change through challenging
self-defeating thoughts.
REBT is today widely acclaimed as a pioneering approach to psychotherapy
and the foundation of all modern cognitive behavior therapies. In
2003, the American Psychological Association named Dr. Ellis the second
most influential psychologist of the 20th century, second only to Carl
Rogers. In 2005, Dr. Ellis’s 78th book, The Myth of
Self Esteem, was published.
In 1960, Dr. Ellis established a nonprofit institute chartered by
the New York State Board of Regents known today as the Albert Ellis
Institute (AEI). Since its founding, AEI has provided educational
programs and psychotherapy to hundreds of thousands of professionals,
individuals and families.
“We all owe a great debt to Dr. Ellis,” said Robert O’Connell,
Executive Director of AEI. “His students and clients will remember
him for his tremendous insight and dedication as a psychotherapist.
His innovations in the field will continue to influence the practice
of psychotherapy for decades to come, and the institute he founded
will continue to provide outstanding professional education programs
and treatment based on the principles of REBT which he originated”.
During his career, Dr. Ellis served as President of the Division
of Consulting Psychology of the American Psychological Association,
as a member of the APA’s Council of Representatives, and as a Fellow
and President of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex. He
was a Fellow of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists;
the American Orthopsychiatric Association, the American Sociological
Association; the American Association of Applied Anthropology and the
American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Ellis
was also a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology of the American Board
of Professional Psychology, a Diplomate in Clinical Hypnosis of the
American Board of Psychological Hypnosis, a Diplomate of the American
Board of Medical Psychotherapists, and a Diplomate of the American
Board of Sexology, as well as a sex therapist certified by the American
Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.
Memorial Tribute:
Please join us:
In Celebration of Dr. Albert Ellis
Friday, September 28, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Alfred Lerner Hall Auditorium
Columbia University
2920 Broadway at W.114 St.
New York City
Speakers will include (list in formation)
Dr. Aaron Beck, Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research
Dr. Alan Kazdin, incoming president, APA
Dr. Jeff Zeig, Founder and Director of Milton H. Erickson Foundation
Dr. Paul Kurtz, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy
Andy Borowitz, satirist, writer, media commentator
Dr. Jon Carlson, Distinguished Professor of Psychology/ Counseling
Dr. Frank Farley, Past President of APA
