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Reality therapy
Reality therapy
Lindsey Rasmussen
Counseling Practice & Theory
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Reality therapy
When I first read the chapter on reality therapy I have to be honest, I did not like
the approach at all. I thought some of its premises were far too general and broad; for
example, its assertion that most clients have the same underlying problem: a present
relationship that is not satisfying or the lack of a significant relationship. Furthermore, I
felt as though reality therapy disregarded what I thought to be important elements of a
human being, such as a person’s past history, their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, their
cultural background, and environment. However, the more I read about this approach
and discussed it with my peers, I more open to and accepting of it I found myself
becoming, which actually took me by surprise. I have come to the realization that I don’t
have to agree with every single element or aspect of a particular theory, that it’s okay to
utilize some things and not others. And furthermore, it would be foolish to disregard a
potentially effective approach just because I disagree with a few elements, because in
doing so I miss out on all the positive things it has to offer.
That being said, after much thought, discussion, and reflection, I have discovered
my affinity for certain aspects of reality therapy. Specifically, I agree with the following
premises: (1) we choose how to think, feel, and act, and therefore are responsible for
any consequences that may result; (2) we always have the choice to act differently and
in ways that will more effectively get our needs met; (3) the emphasis of therapy should
be on the present, however, (and this is where my views differ with those of reality
therapy), there are instances in which a person’s past may need to be addressed in
order for that person to move forward in the present. In these cases it is perfectly
acceptable to discuss past events, however, discussion about the past should be kept
to a minimum and should never become the focus of therapy. The final premise of
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Reality therapy
reality therapy that I feel is important is this: (4) we must continually evaluate the
effectiveness and appropriateness of our current behavior and when it’s no longer
effective and/or appropriate, formulate a plan to change and follow through; after all, we
are the only person responsible for our choices and thus our path in life, the person we
are today, and the person we will ultimately become.
I think one of the main reasons I have found myself in agreement with some
aspects of reality therapy is because I see its value and utility in working with clients in
the AODA field. That’s not to say that this approach will work for everyone, because
that’s certainly not the case; however, it seems like an effective approach to use with
clients who, for example, understand that their drug and/or alcohol use is not an
effective way of getting their needs met and desire to change. Furthermore, reality
therapy teaches clients to focus on what they can and are willing to change instead of
dwelling on circumstances that are beyond anyone’s control, which isn’t conducive to
change or a good use of anybody’s time. In general, reality therapy seems rather
empowering and a much more positive approach to counseling than others we have
learned about this semester.
Overall, I would like the chance to watch more examples of this therapy in action,
like the video we watched in Wednesday night’s lab. Moreover, I would like the
opportunity to see this approach utilized with clients that have alcohol and/or drug
abuse or dependency issues. This is because I am under the assumption that reality
therapy is rather effective with this particular population and I want to see the practical
applications of this orientation within the field I would like work in. I also have some
remaining questions about reality therapy. How “popular” is reality therapy with
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Reality therapy
counselors currently working in the counseling profession? Is it a fairly common
approach? Why or why not? How exactly do AODA counselors employ this therapy? Is
the WDEP system used in practice? Again, why or why not?
In conclusion, I would like to discuss this approach more in depth with some of
my peers, especially those on both ends of the spectrum (those who really agree with
reality therapy and on the other end, those who do not care for this approach). I find it
interesting to talk with both groups because in doing so I am able to develop a more
balanced and thorough understanding, especially through discussing the pros and cons
of a particular theory or therapy. Furthermore, when beginning a new lesson plan, I
need to remember to keep an open mind about whatever new approach we are learning
about. This is because while completing the pre-chapter inventory for reality therapy I
formed a negative opinion of the approach and as a result, it took me longer to accept
the positive aspects this therapy has to offer. However, now that I am aware of the
practical applications of reality therapy, I look forward to learning more about it on my
own and in attempting to utilize certain aspects of it in some of my other courses, such
as Introduction to Substance Abuse Counseling.