Save The Albert Ellis Institute
In 1959, Dr. Albert Ellis founded the internationally renowned educational and psychotherapy institute which is now known as The Albert Ellis Institute. The mission of the Institute is to promote Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) as a comprehensive educative and preventative theory. In recent years, the Institute has seen a change of personnel on the Board of Trustees. Dr. Ellis has said that the new Board “is now following an agenda that is in many ways inconsistent with REBT.”
Profile in Courage Awards
On July 18, 2007, three former directors of training at the Albert Ellis Institute awarded Dr. Albert Ellis with a Profile in Courage Award. The former directors of training also honored Deborah Steinberg, Gayle Rosellini, Will Ross, and Debbie Joffe-Ellis. More
Lawsuit Filed
On June 6, 2007, lawyers acting for Albert Ellis filed a suit against the Albert Ellis Institute in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. The suit alleges a breach of a long-term contract with the AEI and seeks recovery of the 45 East 65th Street property through imposition of a constructive trust. Update: Robert O'Connell, Executive Director of the Albert Ellis Institute, told New York Magazine that "Dr. Ellis's personal papers are his papers, but our position is that client files belong to the institute."
Board in Waiting
Dr. Albert Ellis has called on the current Board of Trustees of the Albert Ellis Institute to resign. He has named the following people as those he would like to see running the Albert Ellis Institute and taking REBT into the future. More
Associate Fellows Resign From AEI
For more than a year Dr. John Minor and Dr. Irwin Altrows have called on the Board of the AEI to resolve the dispute between Dr. Ellis and the Institute through mediation. Now, the two Associate Fellows have resigned. Read Dr. Altrows' letter of resignation and Dr. Minor's letter (both PDF).
Judge Rules that Albert Ellis was Removed from his Institute Illegally
On January 30, 2006, Judge Edward H. Lehner ruled that the Board of Trustees at the Albert Ellis Institute had acted illegally when they removed Dr. Ellis from the Board. Judge Lehner called the Trustees' position "disingenuous" and noted that "dismissal, accomplished without notice of any kind or the right of confrontation, is offensive and contrary to our fundamental process of democratic and legal procedure, fair play and the spirit of the law." More (Off site).
Three Former AEI Directors of Training Support Dr. Albert Ellis
detailed report issued February 8, 2007
Three former directors of training at the Albert Ellis Institute speak out in support of Albert Ellis. They reaffirm their 2005 statement that the Institute and REBT would be best served by the resignation of Board members who have opposed Dr. Ellis. They explain what you can do to help save the Albert Ellis Institute. More
The McMahon Report: An Analysis
On December 6, 2004, Albert Ellis Institute (AEI) Board member James McMahon presented a series of complaints against Dr. Albert Ellis in a report that has come to be known as the McMahon Report. Since some of the content of the report provided a partial basis for voting Albert Ellis off the AEI Board on September 18, 2005, the report requires a closer look. Bill Knaus, former Director of Training, Albert Ellis Institute, and Irwin Altrows, Associate Fellow and Training Faculty, Albert Ellis Institute provide their analysis of the report. More
Dear Doctor
On April 5, 2006, the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI) Board published a letter on the Institute website. They had previously sent the "Dear Doctor" letter to 18 dignitaries who publicly support Dr. Albert Ellis in his dispute with the Board. Bill Knaus and John Minor respond to the slanted and misleading information contained in the "Dear Doctor" letter. More
Broder, Vernon, McMahon Asked to Quit
On July 25, 2006, the Albert Ellis Institute Board of Trustees held its annual meeting. At this meeting, Trustee Deborah Steinberg read a Statement to the Board. She and fellow Trustee Emmett Velten told Trustees Ann Vernon, Michael Broder and James McMahon that it is time for reasoned judgment and decency to be re-established at AEI. This can only be accomplished with the resignation of those Trustees who have through their actions brought injury to AEI, Dr. Albert Ellis and the REBT-community. Read the statement here.
Two Board Members Speak Out
Two members of the Board Trustees at the Albert Ellis Institute, Emmett Velten and Deborah Steinberg, speak out against the actions of the other Board members. More