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 around Psychoanalysis wasn’t meeting the needs of his clients, wanted to make concrete change William Glasser Institute (1967)

Glasser’s View of Mental Health Mental health is accumulation of behaviors Behaviors 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 theory Assessment- 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 behaviors Person is capable of taking responsibility for meeting their needs Connections with others important and can even be curative

4 elements of behavior Acting Thinking Feeling Physiology 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 Survival Belonging Power Freedom Fun

WDEP System W- Wants D- Doing E-Evaluation P-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 file Used 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 culture Exploring client’s cultural Quality World

Therapeutic Techniques In general having conversations about needs and wants, being flexible Using questions Doing the unexpected Allowing or imposing consequences Physical activity, humor, metaphors

Primary Applicatio ns Schools-  the idea of Quality Schools  ADHD and ODD efficacy Couples counseling Other applications: Groups, work settings

Limitations Lack of empirical research, especially with diverse groups Human behavior oversimplified External factors downplayed Feelings not focused on enough for some clients Disorders 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), Wubbolding, R.E. (2011). Reality therapy. Washington D.C.: American Psychology Association.