Chapter 4
Reality Therapy: Counseling with Choice Theory
THEORY OVERVIEW
Reality Therapy, created by William Glasser, is based upon the belief that psychological
problems are caused by individuals’ inability to fulfill their basic needs. A major theme in reality
therapy is people achieving responsibility through awareness. Glasser believed that people are
responsible for choosing how to get their needs met. By becoming responsible for their own
growth, people develop a success identity rather than a failure identity.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
After completing this chapter, the student will be able to:
1. Discuss the philosophical assumptions of choice theory/reality therapy.
2. Explain human nature, innate drives, and tendencies of humans from a choice theory
perspective.
3. Describe the etiology of maladaptive behavior according to choice theory.
4. Delineate the necessary conditions under which psychological growth and/or
behavior change occurs in the reality therapy approach.
5. Demonstrate the specific procedures and techniques that facilitate constructive client
change for the reality therapist.
6. Compare and contrast reality therapy with other counseling approaches.
7. Evaluate the limitations and contributions of the reality therapy model.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
William Glasser, a psychiatrist who developed choice theory and reality therapy, wrote that
people experience problems because they are unable to fulfill their basic needs. He believes the
five basic needs are survival, freedom, power, fun and love and belonging.. Irresponsible
behavior is defined as attempts by people to satisfy their own basic needs in ways that infringe
on the rights of others.
Glasser believes that psychological problems result from denial or reality which refers to people
trying to avoid the unpleasant natural consequences of their irresponsible behavior. Choice
theory is based on the proposition that our behavior is our choice. Choice theory practitioners
teach their clients that a people can control only their own behavior and that they have the
freedom to make choices that lead to better-quality lives.
A major theme in reality therapy based on choice theory is people achieving responsibility
through awareness. By becoming responsible for their own growth, people develop a success
identity rather than the failure identity of irresponsibility. The three R's of Glasser's system
include responsibility, right and wrong, and reality. More recently Glasser has stated that all
problems brought to counseling have a relationship component.
21
Glasser’s views on the nature of people are based on these principles:





The only person whose behavior we can control is our own.
All long-lasting psychological problems are relationship problems that result from
attempts of people to control other people.
Past events have everything to do with what we are today, but we can satisfy our basic
needs only in the present and we can make plans for the future.
Satisfying the needs represented by the pictures of our quality world is the way we meet
our needs for survival, fun, freedom, power, and love and belonging. Failure to meet
these needs often results in choosing a symptom as a way of rationalizing or excusing this
failure.
Total behavior is all that we do, including acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology. We
have direct control over acting and thinking; however, we can control our feelings and
physiology indirectly by how we choose to act and think.
The primary focus of choice theory is to prevent problems before they happen. Glasser believed
that a good way to learn choice theory is to treat others in your life like you treat your best
friend, your boss, and most strangers. You rarely try to force these people to do anything.
Glasser identified three faulty beliefs of the control psychology that he says rules the world: (1)
Much of my behavior is a response to an external signal, such as answering a ringing phone. (2) I
can make people do what I want them to do even if they do not want to do it, and other people
can control how I think act, and feel. (3) I have a right and a duty to punish those who do not do
what I tell them to do and to reward those who do.
Reality therapy includes an examination of the client’s belief system. Clients are challenged to
prove the rationality of what they believe as well as the utility of what they do when they act on
their beliefs. Each person has a quality world vision made up of pictures of the people we want
to be with, the things we want to own and to experience, and the ideas or belief systems which
govern our behavior. The closer our reality world approaches our quality world, the happier we
will be. The idea is to place one’s quality world totally in one’s hands and not have quality world
objectives under the control of others. The focus is on improving present relationships through
personal change and disregarding past relationships. The success of the counseling process
depends on creating a good relationship between the client and the counselor.
Glasser outlined eight steps for the counselor in the reality therapy process:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Build a good relationship.
Examine the current behavior.
Evaluate whether the behavior is helpful or not.
Brainstorm alternatives.
Make a commitment to try selected alternatives.
At a later time examine the effectiveness of the commitment - no punishment and no
excuses.
7. Accept the logical and natural consequences of the behavior.
8. Do not become discouraged.
22
Five questions (and statements) help expedite this process:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What are you doing?
If you are ready to do this, we can begin by looking at what you have been
doing to solve the problem.
How is what you are doing helping you get what you want?
It might be helpful to think about your behavior to see how each method is
working for you.
What might be some other things you could try?
We could look at some new ideas to try when you are ready to look at moving
toward a plan.
Which idea would you like to try first?
You have several possibilities. Tell me what you think about trying any of
them?
When?
Let’s figure out when we can talk about whether your plan is working.
Practitioners need to consider the concepts of reality, responsibility and right and wrong in
Choice Theory in light of the developmental differences in young people’s moral development.
Kohlberg identifies three stages of morality. Pre-convention morality involves sub-stages in
which the person asks “Will I get caught?” and in stage 1 “What is in it for me?” Conventional
morality includes stage 3 with “What will the neighbors think?” and stage 4 with “What is the
rule or law?” Post-conventional morality incorporates stage 5 “What is best for society?” and
stage 6 with “What is best for humankind?” Children’s reasoning about right and wrong may
reflect those different questions.
To summarize, reality therapy treatment is geared toward taking the steps needed to put clients
on track to finding better ways in meet their needs. Just as the essence of life is building loving
relationships and a solid career or other meaningful activities that contribute to society, the
essence of choice theory/reality therapy is building and maintaining relationships and improving
academic or career performance to meet one’s basic needs.
A 10-step consultation model is presented. Cross-cultural applications and the place of reality
therapy in a managed care environment are also discussed.
KEY CONCEPTS
1.
2.
3.
In reality therapy the concept of reality is defined as being willing to accept the natural
consequences of our actions.
In reality therapy the concept of responsibility is defined as the ability to meet one's own
needs without infringing on the rights of others who are seeking to meet their needs.
In reality therapy the concept of right and wrong is defined as something you know by
how you feel.
23
4.
5.
6.
In reality therapy the first step in the counseling process is the building of a warm, caring
relationship with the child.
Present behavior is identified and evaluated.
A plan is made and the client makes a commitment to act on the plan.
KEY TERMS, CONCEPTS, and PERSONALITIES
Commitment – The process where the client dedicates himself/herself to the pursuit of his/her
goals.
Consequences – Logical and natural responses to specific behaviors.
Choice theory – A philosophy that values individuals taking control of their life by being
responsible for their own choice, decisions, and goals.
Failure identity – The result of one’s inability to meet the need to be loved and the need to be
valued.
Reality – The willingness of the client to accept natural consequences of his/her behavior.
Responsibility – The ability to meet one’s needs without affecting the ability of others to meet
their needs.
Success identity – The result of the attainment of the need to be loved and the need to be valued.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Glasser believed that psychological problems are the result of:
A. irrational thinking.
B. childhood experiences.
C. an inability to fulfill one’s basic needs.
D. an inability to control one’s behavior.
2. According to Glasser, what are the two primary traits of adjusted people?
3. A primary product of becoming a responsible person is
1. Glasser’s treatment plan focuses on teaching people to love and be loved and:
A. to feel valued by oneself and others.
B. to learn acceptable behavior.
C. to learn to think rationally.
D. to feel accepted by others.
24
.
5. Glasser’s “three R’s” are:
A. reasoning, rationality, and reality.
B. responsibility, right and wrong, and reality.
C. reality, respect and right and wrong.
D. responsibility, respect, and righteousness.
6. Glasser believed that people become mentally ill because:
A. they behave irresponsibly.
B. other people or events influence them negatively.
C. they are destined from birth.
D. they are, by nature, evil.
7. Reality Therapy is a
A. healing
B. guiding
C. teaching
D. curing
process, according to Glasser.
8. List and explain the eight steps of reality therapy.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
9. The first step in Reality Therapy involves:
A. making a diagnosis.
B. building a relationship.
C. gathering information about the client’s past.
D. having the client make a commitment to change.
10.One question a reality therapist might ask a client is:
A. “Is what you are doing helping you get what you want?’
B. “Why are you doing what you are doing?”
C. “What does your mother think about what you are doing?”
D. “Who else does what you are doing?”
25
11.The reality therapist should, according to Glasser:
A. work toward solving client’s problems.
B. focus on behaviors impeding client’s progress.
C. help clients to solve their problems themselves.
D. reject any failed attempt by the client to change.
12. Which of the following is not true of reality therapy?
A. The counselor does not accept excuses from the client.
B. The client must take responsibility for his or her actions.
C. Transference is a necessary aspect of therapy.
D. Clients are asked to evaluate their actions.
13. Glasser believes that behavior is
A. acting
B. thinking
C. feeling
D. all of the above
11.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Glasser states that all long-lasting psychological problems are
relationship problems
responsibility problems
unconscious problems
cognitive problems
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. In developing his theory, Glasser was reacting against traditional psychoanalytic therapy.
Describe the major differences between the two theories.
2. Choice theory maintains that people are responsible for their own choices and goals, and
therefore, for their own happiness. People choose whether or not to let external events and
people affect them. Glasser would say that, instead of a person being depressed, a person is
depressing. Explain his reasoning for that concept.
3. Use the reality therapy questions and write a script for a counseling session.
26
ACTIVITY
1. Glasser describes learning teams made up of two to five students which are designed to give
students the responsibility for their learning while meeting their basic needs for belonging,
power, friendship, and achievement. Create a plan for a classroom guidance lesson on any
topic based upon this model. Include the topic to be addressed, the structure of the lesson,
activities to be done, and how each of the four needs will be met.
2. Identify a problem you are currently facing in your life. Using the five questions in the text
(The Reality Therapy Process), talk yourself through the reality therapy process. With a
partner, discuss if and how these questions aided your understanding of this problem. What
are your reactions to this process?
3. Use the 10-step consultation process to show how a teacher could be helped in working with
a student who is always late.
27