The first RETMAN concept was thought up at the Albert Ellis Institute, US, in the 80s (Calvin Merrifield and Rebecca Merriefield: Call Me Retman and Have a Ball, 1979) inspired by the name Rational Emotive Therapy (that is how this form of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy was referred to then).
Primul concept RETMAN a fost elaborat la Albert Ellis Institute, SUA, in anii 80, (Calvin Merrifield and Rebecca Merriefield: Call Me Retman and Have a Ball, 1979) pornind de la numele Rational Emotive Therapy (așa era numită atunci această formă de psihoterapie cognitiv-comportamentală).