RLT Certification Process
Certification requires a masters degree in a mental health discipline (psychology, counseling, social work, psychiatric nursing, psychiatry). Current students in a graduate mental health program may also be certified.
The entire certification process can be completed via online home study.
The RLT certification process requires the completion of five training levels and a practicum. The practicum can be completed via Zoom consultation.
Included with each RLT home study program level is an examination. You simply listen to the audio included with each level and complete the exam as you listen to the lecture. The levels must be completed in numerical order (One – Four).
The practicum involves 6 months (24 sessions) of weekly 30-minute telephone or Zoom consultations. The trainee presents cases in which RLT is being implemented, and Dr. Pucci provides feedback in terms of the trainee’s use of RLT. The fee for each 30 minute supervision session is $25.
Once all levels and the practicum have been completed, the trainee receives the “Certified Rational Living Therapist” credential. This designation also fulfills the training requirement for the “Diplomate in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy” credential provided by the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists.
The Training Levels
1. RLT Level-One
Introduction to Rational Living Therapy
— Theoretical Basis of RLT, Including Evidence Supporting It
— Theory of Emotions and Behavior (Both “Healthy” and Maladaptive)
— Complete Presentation of the Entire Process of Therapy, from Assessment to Termination
Dealing with Resistance
— Complete Review of the Many Ways in Which Clients Can Have Difficulty
Benefiting from Therapy and how Resistance is Treated in RLT
Introduction to the Treatment of Specific Problem Areas, Such as Depression, Suicide, Anxiety, Substance Abuse, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia.
Introduction to Group Therapy
2. RLT Level-1.5
Coming Soon! This level focuses on behavioral techniques to help people change their thinking.
3. RLT Level-Two
Treatment of “Personality Disorders”, from engagement to treatment and termination.
Advanced “Underlying Assumption / Core Belief” Therapy
Advanced Cognitive Modification Skills
Application to Mood / Anxiety Disorders
Group Therapy
4. RLT Level-Three
Very Comprehensive approach to Marital Therapy, from assessment to termination
Substance Abuse Treatment
Treatment of Children
5. RLT Level-Four
Comprehensive Review of the Rational Living Therapy Therapeutic Process
Dr. Pucci reviews, with great detail, the step-by-step RLT therapeutic process, as well as describing how to prevent potential problems and to correct already established problems / therapeutic resistance.
Teaching Important RLT Therapeutic Concepts
Dr. Pucci provides participants the opportunity to present how they would teach important concepts, like the ABCs of Emotions, Irrational Shoulds, and the Confusion of Needs and Wants. Then listen as he provides feedback and helps the participants fine tune their approach.
Recognizing the Top 40 Shoulds that Disturb People
Listen as Dr. Pucci teaches participants how to recognize and correct the top 40 irrational shoulds and musts and create an entitlement mentality and create significant disturbance.
Develop New Rational Replacement Thoughts
Learn with great detail how to use the continuum of thought change and the Successive Approximations of Thought Acquisition techniques to help clients replace irrational thoughts with new, rational thoughts.
6. Level-Five
The practicum involves 6 months (24 sessions) of weekly 30-minute telephone or Zoom consultations. The trainee presents cases in which RLT is being implemented, and Dr. Pucci provides feedback in terms of the trainee’s use of RLT. The fee for each 30 minute supervision session is $25.