The therapeutic process focuses on clients' experiences in the present Like the person-centered and existential approaches to therapy, REBT mainly emphasizes here-and-now experiences and clients' present ability to change the patterns of thinking and emoting that they constructed earlier. The thera- pist does not devote much time to exploring clients' early history and making connections between their past and present behavior. Nor does the therapist usually explore in depth clients' early relationships with their parents or siblings. Instead, the therapeutic process stresses to clients that they are presently disturbed because they still believe in and act upon their self-defeating view of themselves and their world.