Employing various methods to help clients achieve basic cognitive changes, rational emotive behavior therapy aims to alter an individual's belief system and values. Among the techniques used are:

1. Didactic discussion

2. Behavior modification

3. Bibliotherapy

4. Audiovisual aids

5. Activity-based homework

6. Role-playing

7. Assertion training

8. Desensitization

9. Humor

10. Operant conditioning

11. Suggestion

12. Emotional support

Usually, general rational emotive behavior therapy (learning appropriate behaviors) is included in preferential rational emotive behavior therapy (internalizing logic and empirical thinking to counter irrational ideas and behaviors). In this model, the true cause of an individual's problems is viewed as adherence to dogmatic and irrational beliefs. Therefore, the individual needs to see what difficulties result from those beliefs instead of focusing upon antecedent causes and conditions. Although problems will not go away by themselves, they can be minimized through rational emotive thinking and action. The active-directive approach of rational emotive behavior therapy treats the client holistically with emphasis on the biological factors of personality development. In order to help the client replace a self-defeating outlook with a realistic and acceptable worldview, an REBT therapist identifies and strongly challenges the client's irrational beliefs.