Each chapter addresses a different type of destructive behavior: volatile relationships, addiction, irrational fears, etc, but all use the same investigative and therapeutic technique: identifying irrational beliefs, which are nearly always based in "Must" or "Should" beliefs. There are 3 main types of "musty" beliefs:
"Must" #1, demands on oneself
"Must" #2, demands on other people
"Must" #3, demands on the situation (or on the Universe)

Then he presents a 6 step process for identifying and replacing the irrational thinking with rational thinking: Example: Mary is obsessively angry because she is not admired by men she thinks should admire her. ABCDEF steps are presented for developing a 3 minute routine for eliminating the anger:
A. (Activating event): Jake doesn't admire me.
B. (irrational Belief): Jake MUST admire me.
C. (emotional Consequences): Anger.
D. (Disputing) or questioning your "must," and involves asking "Why?" or "What's the evidence for my MUST?" Or in our example, "Why MUST Jake admire me?"
E. (Effective new thinking): I prefer that Jake admire me, but I can survive quite well if he doesn't.
F. (new Feeling): regret or disappointment, but no anger.

Dr. Edelstein shows how this technique works to eliminate many behaviors, as long as the exercises are done regularly.