Chapter Nine: Choice Theory and the new Reality Therapy.

Chapter Nine: Choice Theory and the new Reality Therapy

Biographical Information—William Glasser

Born 1925 Writes of his mother being very

“controlling”, parents “incompatible” Studied engineering, clinical psychology,

and medicine

Historical Context

Behavioral?

Existential?

Theoretical Principles of Control Theory

Five Basic Human Needs– Survival– Love and Belonging– Power– Freedom– Fun

Theoretical Principles of Control Theory (continued)

Quality World

Total Behavior– Acting– Thinking– Feeling– Physiology

Theory of Psychopathology

We choose our behaviors Restraining anger Getting Help Avoiding Things

The Practice of Reality Therapy

Preparing yourself

Preparing your client

Assessment Issues and Procedures

Specific Therapy Techniques

What do you want? What are you doing? Is it working? Should you make a new plan?

Specific Therapy Techniques (continued)

Building the Relationship Seven Deadly Habits Effective Plan Construction Client Self-evaluation

Extended Case Examples

Glasser works with Teresa

Therapy Outcomes Research

The few published studies that exist indicate positive results

Multicultural Perspectives

Glasser believes our needs are genetic—and therefore cross cultures. They are merely expressed differently.

Little actual research conducted with minority cultures, though writers stress need for sensitivity

Concluding Comments

Glasser embodies his theory

Choice theory has much to offer the world

Student Review Assignments

Critical corner Reviewing key terms Review questions

Critical Corner Choice theory and reality therapy refuse to

acknowledge the power and relevance of unconscious processes in human functioning and in the therapeutic process. For example, Glasser considers transference and dreams to be irrelevant to counseling. Given the rich and unique human interactions associated with dreams and transference, do you think reality therapists are missing an opportunity by considering them irrelevant to counseling? On the other hand, do you think excluding dreams and transference might make therapy more efficient?

Critical Corner (continued)

If reality therapists reject transference, they probably also reject the concept of countertransference. Do you think that ignoring these basic relationship dynamics might blind therapists from their own issues, impulses, and other countertranference reactions? How would ignorance of your countertransference reactions have a detrimental affect on therapy process and outcome?

Critical Corner (continued)

Choice theory espouses the radical view that mental illness does not exist. This position might cause clients to feel blamed for their symptoms and might even cause them to think the reality therapist considers their distress is imaginary or “in their heads.” What do you think of a contemporary theory of therapy that doesn’t believe in the existence of mental illness?

Critical Corner (continued)

There is no substantial empirical evidence that reality therapy is more effective than no therapy at all. Without empirical evidence, how can a professional therapist place faith in reality therapy procedures?

Critical Corner (continued)

Choice theory includes several intangible and immeasurable concepts like “the five basic human needs,” the “quality world,” and “total behavior.” These constructs, like the id, ego, and superego, are imaginary or conceptual and lack empirical support to validate their existence. Do you think that reality therapy is based on a theoretical fiction or do you think we will eventually accumulate evidence to support Glasser’s theoretical claims?

Critical Corner (continued)

Glasser ignores or rejects ethical boundaries typical of most usual and customary therapeutic procedures. For example, he tells clients “We can talk as long as you want” and sometimes meets with clients who are old friends of the family (Glasser, 2000). What do you think of his unconventionally friendly approach to therapy? What might be the ethical dangers linked to his approach?

Review Key Terms

External Control Psychology List and Define Choice Theory’s Five Basic

Human Needs List and Define the Three Types of

Information in Your Quality World List and Define the Four Components of

Total Behavior

Key Terms (continued)

WDEP System and Four Questions of Choice Theory

The 10 Axioms of Choice Theory The Seven Deadly Habits SAMIC3

Review Questions How do reality therapists define mental illness? Why do reality therapists use the terms

“depressing” and “headaching?” Would a reality therapist work with a psychotic

patient? If so, how? What are the two foundational components of

reality therapy? What are the three logical explanations of

pathological behavior? What are the four main goals of therapy, from the

reality therapist’s perspective?

Review Questions (continued)

Why do reality therapists mostly ignore client’s complaints and the client’s past?

How do reality therapists use rational argument in counseling?

How do they use in-session demonstrations? For reality therapists, what constitutes a good

homework assignment and a good plan? Come up with a client homework assignment that

emphasizes front wheel behaviors and thoughts.