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Basics of the Theory
William Glasser is the founder of reality therapy. He worked at a girls school where he concluded that traditional psychoanalysis that was used was not effective. He thought they something needed to be done about their failure to take responsibility for themselves and their lives
Key Concepts
Problems originate during early childhood when we encounter people who believe they know what is right for us (parents, caregivers). We accept this control (because we are dependent) and come to believe that others make us act or feel the way we do
People are self-determining and able to overcome their early difficulties. We do not have to choose to be victims of our circumstances
A motivation to fulfill our internal needs directs our choices and behaviors. Childhood conflict, unconscious motivation, or external pressures do not cause present behavior
5 basic Human Needs
Belonging
power/achievement
Pleasure
freedom/independence
survival/self-preservation
The relative strength of each of these determine our personalities
These are presumed to be universal and the degree of satisfaction thought to impact our reality
Takes the position that all human behavior is purposeful and directed at meeting a need
Does not subscribe to mental illness. Think that nothing is wrong with our brains that can't be fixed through relationship and behavioral changes
Goals of the Therapeutic Process
Enable people to have greater control over their lives by making better choices
WDEP
WDEP
WANTS: what CI wants that they are getting, what CI wnts that they are not getting, and what they are getting that they don’t want
DIRECTION & DOING: what we are doing, not why we are acting in certain ways
EVALUATION: is not judgment about goodness or badness of our behaviors but evaluation if they are realistic and helpful to ourselves and others
PLANNING: plans should evolve from self-evaluation and reflect desired changes.
Reality therapy focuses more on process than outcome, more on behaviors used to achieve results rather than the actual achievements
Total behavior is made of acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology
Reality therapy believes in changing actions first, then changes in thoughts will follow and eventually changes in feelings and physiology
Choice Theory
Choice Theory
The only person whose behavior we can control is our own.
The best a counselor or another person can do is to give information to a client.
All long-lasting psychological disturbances are rooted in relationship problems.
People’s problematic relationships are always part of their present life.
Although the past may affect who we are today, we can only satisfy our basic needs in the present
and plan to continue satisfying them in the future.We can only satisfy our needs by satisfying the pictures in our quality world.
All we do can best be described as behaving.
All behavior is total behavior and is made up of four components: acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology.
All total behavior is chosen, but we only have direct control over the acting and thinking components. We control our feelings and physiology indirectly through how we choose to act and think.
All total behavior is named by verbs and named by the most recognizable part.
Therapeutic Techniques and Procedures
Use of cognitive and behavioral interventions
Metaphors
Relationships
Questions
WDEP
Positive Addictions (habits)
Using verbs & “ing” words
Reasonable consequences (but are not punitive)
Paradoxical interventions
Skill development / education
Role of the Counselor:
Do not assume responsibility for telling clients what choices to make
Do take responsibility for the direction and success of counseling
Negotiate clear commitments and contracts w/ CI
Avoid wasting time on excuses and strive to more forward rather than backward
Establish positive environment free from criticism, fault finding, or blame
Reduce time spent venting or complaining
Use first person pronouns ( I and We) to emphasize collaborative nature
Ask 'what' rather than 'why' questions
Application of Theory
Application of Theory
Limitations of this theory
Reality Therapy overlooks barriers and lived experiences that limit peoples chioces
A disregard for mental illness and diagnosis is not in line with current professional guidelines
Strengths of this theory
This approach is clear, positive, and easily understood
Centers the attention on the need of clients to self-evaluate and make responsible choices
Application to multicultural clients
Clients develop plans to address their behavior based on their own worldview
Reality therapy treats people as individuals
Principles of choice theory are universal and therefore widely applicable
All people have needs and ways to address them
Need to be particularly careful when using reality therapy with people who have a belief system that emphasizes a higher power, predestination and predetermination as it might conflict with the idea that individuals are self-determining
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