Reality Therapy by William Glasser

Study Notes

Reality Therapy by William Glasser

Developed in the 1960s, initially based on work with schizophrenic patients and school environment experience.
Later evolved to be known as Choice Theory.

Primary Aim

Help clients develop a success identity through responsible action.
Use control theory to help clients meet their needs without interfering with others' rights.

View of Human Nature

Motivated by basic needs to create their own destiny.
Enhanced choices help assume responsibility for behavior.
Learn to make appropriate choices to create a "quality world".

Key Concepts

Five basic needs: Fun, Love & Belonging, Freedom, Power, and Survival.
Success identity: fulfilling psychological needs of loving and feeling worthwhile.
Failure identity: unable to meet basic psychological needs, leading to problematic approaches (delinquency, mental disorders).

View of Psychopathology

People are in control of their mental health.
"There are no mental disorders." Labeling can do more harm than good.
Emphasize responsibility and encourage clients to evaluate their behavior.

Positive Addiction

Glasser described how positive addictions can be substituted for negative addictions.

Control Theory

Initial concept: people have a control system to exert control over the environment.
People's responses are conditioned by the environment.
We feel good when in control, bad when out of control.

Choice Theory

Replaced Control Theory.
We have control over what we think and do, indirect control over how we feel and our bodies' health.
Long-lasting problems tend to be relationship problems.
Focusing on the past can do little to help.

Axioms of Choice Theory

People can control only their own behavior.
Information is essentially all that people exchange, and people must choose how to use it.
Long-lasting problems tend to be relationship problems.
Problem relationships affect our present lives.
Focusing on the past can do little to improve current significant relationships.
People are motivated to fulfill needs of survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun.
Need satisfaction is dependent on satisfying pictures in a person's "quality world".
People engage in behaviors relating to acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology throughout life.
Awareness of choice associated with behavior is enhanced by using language such as "I am choosing to feel anxiety" instead of "I am suffering from anxiety".
People have direct control over their acting and thinking and indirect control over feelings and physiology.

Theory of Counseling & Process of Therapy

Help clients choose to live their lives responsibly.
Use the WDEP Model: Wants (needs), Doing/Direction, Evaluation, and Plans.

Evaluation of Reality Therapy

Attractive for use with delinquent children and substance abusers.
Limited research on effectiveness.
Support for group counseling with drug addicts.
More research needed.
Multicultural issues: "responsibility" not as valued in other cultures, and ignoring unique experiences of minorities and oppressed groups.

Description

This quiz explores the principles and concepts of Reality Therapy, developed by William Glasser in the 1960s. Learn about the primary aims, view of human nature, and applications of this therapeutic approach. Test your understanding of Choice Theory and its relationship to Reality Therapy.