BY ASHLEY WAGNER

Reality Therapy

Choice Theory

Developed by William Glasser ( formerly control theory) as the basis for reality therapy

Focuses on the needs and wants that people have

People have the capacity to choose their behaviors to meet these needs and wants

The purpose of behavior is to attempt to control the current external world

William Glasser

Tough background but turned his life aroundPsychoanalysis wasn’t meeting the needs of

his clients, wanted to make concrete changeWilliam Glasser Institute (1967)

Glasser’s View of Mental Health

Mental health is accumulation of behaviorsBehaviors that cause person to be labeled

with a mental disorder are under their control

Negative behaviors are an attempt to meet needs

Mental disorders overemphasize the role of external factors instead of personal responsibility

Regressive and Positive Paths of Development

Positive: Positive statement to

change Positive symptoms Positive addictions

Regressive: Attitude of giving up

after unsuccessful attempt at meeting needs

Negative symptoms Negative addictions

Application of Choice theory

Reality therapy focuses on strategies and techniques for dealing with human choices

Helping clients meet internal needs in the outside world- coping with reality

Counselor is the teacher of choice theoryAssessment- no formal methods

Underlying ideas of Reality Therapy

Not labeling behavior in order for person to view behavior as controllable

Focus on the present, current behaviorsPerson is capable of taking responsibility for

meeting their needsConnections with others important and can

even be curative

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUYPchyQfiU

4 elements of behavior

ActingThinkingFeelingPhysiology

Most control over acting and thinking

Goals of Reality Therapy

Helping clients meet internal needs in the outside world- coping with reality

Defining wants and evaluating behaviors in terms of meeting their needs, using the WDEP system

Making concrete plans for fulfilling their needs

5 basic needs

SurvivalBelongingPowerFreedomFun

WDEP System

W- WantsD- DoingE-EvaluationP-Planning

Quality (Ideal) World

Guide/model in your mind that directs your behaviors

Guide consists of images ( such as people, places, objects, or ideas) that meet your needs

Can be updated, like a computer fileUsed to compare to current experience

My Quality World

“Quality World and Culture”

Culture and Quality World are both fluid, dynamic, and interactive through development

Culture influences the organization of the Quality World and the meeting of basic needs in general

Clashes between Quality World and cultureExploring client’s cultural Quality World

Therapeutic Techniques

In general having conversations about needs and wants, being flexible

Using questionsDoing the unexpectedAllowing or imposing consequencesPhysical activity, humor, metaphors

Primary Applications

Schools- the idea of Quality Schools ADHD and ODD efficacy

Couples counselingOther applications: Groups, work settings

Limitations

Lack of empirical research, especially with diverse groups

Human behavior oversimplifiedExternal factors downplayedFeelings not focused on enough for some

clientsDisorders being behaviors we choose

References

Glasser, W. (2000). Counseling with choice theory: The new reality therapy. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

Sanchez, W. (1998). Quality world and culture. International Journal of Reality Therapy, 17(2), 12-16.

Wubbolding, R.E. (2011). Reality therapy. Washington D.C.: American Psychology Association.