I. Background of the Proponent A. William Glasser a.

Came up with Reality Therapy directed from reality psychiatry; we are al responsible

for what we choose to do.

b. Initially a chemical engineer then turned to psychology (MA, Clinical Psychology) c. Rejected the Freudian model. Became convinced that it was of importance that clients accept personal responsibility for their behavior. d. Taught students to achieve a success identity rather than a failure identity. e. Changed control theory to choice theory. B. Robert E. Wubbolding, EdD a. Director of the Center for Reality Therapy b. Extended reality therapy with his conceptualization of the WDEP System II. Reality Therapy A. Introduction 1. Underlying problem of clients: unsatisfying relationship or lack what could even be called relationship. 2. Clients choose their behaviors as a way to deal with the frustrations caused by unsatisfying relationships. 3. Clients should not be labeled with a diagnosis. 4. Assisting clients in prioritizing wants and uncovering what is most important to them. B. Key Concepts 1. Choice Theory - Theoretical basis for reality therapy; it explains how we function. - We are not born blank slates waiting to be externally motivated by forces. a. Survival or Self-preservation b. Love and Belonging The primary need c. Power or Inner control d. Freedom or Independence e. Fun or Enjoyment - Identifying unmet needs and try to satisfy them. 2. Quality World - File of wants that stores information in our minds in how to keep close track of anything we do that feels very good. - Consists of specific images of people, activities, events, beliefs, possessions, and situations that fulfill our needs. - The inner Picture Album. 3. Total Behavior - Our best attempt to get what we want to satisfy our needs. - Behavior is made up of four components: a. Acting b. Thinking c. Feeling d. Physiology - It is designed to close the gap between what we want and what we perceive we are getting. - The purpose of behavior is to influence the world to get what we want. C. Characteristics of Reality Therapy

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Focuses on the unsatisfying relationship or the lack of relationship. The emphasis is not on what clients cannot control that is of minimal value; but rather is on what clients can control in their relationships. - The only person you can control is yourself. Choice and Responsibility - If we choose all we do, we must be responsible for what we choose. - Focuses on the areas where clients have choice. The as if they have choices. Reject Transference - Transference is a way that both therapist and client avoid being who they are and owning what they are doing right now. Keep the Therapy in the Present - The past may have contributed to a current problem but it is not the problem. - People need to live and plan in the present and take steps to a better future. - What has happened is over; it cant be changed. The more time we spend looking back, the more we avoid looking forward. Avoid Focusing on Symptoms - People who have symptoms believe that if they could only be symptom-free they would find happiness. They are reluctant to accept reality that their suffering is due to the total behavior they are choosing. Challenge Traditional Views of Mental Illness - Reframing diagnostic categories and negative behaviors.

III. Goals of Counseling and Psychotherapy A. Help clients get connected or reconnected with the people they have chosen to put in their quality world. B. Help clients learn better ways of fulfilling all of their needs, including achievement, power or inner control, freedom or independence and fun. C. Making more effective and responsible choices related to wants and needs. IV. Sources of difficulty/anxiety A. Not being able to get what they want in life or what they think they want in life. B. Inability to connect, to get close to others, or to have a satisfying or successful relationship with at least one significant person on their lives. C. Unhappiness results from the way they are choosing to behave. V. Therapeutic Relationship (Role of the therapist and client) A. Therapists Function and Role - Teach clients how to engage in self-evaluation, Is what you are choosing to do getting what you want and need? - Challenge clients to examine what they are doing. - Convey the idea that no matter how bag things are there is still hope. An advocate of the client. B. Clients Experience - Not expected to dwell in the past and talk about feelings. - The emphasis is on the actions of the clients. - Experience some urgency in the therapy. C. Relationship Between Therapist and Client 1. An understanding and supportive relationship or therapeutic alliance. 2. The client should perceive that the therapist as being skilled and knowledgeable.

VI. Therapeutic Process, Procedures and Techniques A. Cycle of Counseling 1. The Counseling Environment - Counselors who hope to create a therapeutic relationship strive to avoid behaviors such as arguing, attacking, accusing, demeaning, bossing, criticizing, finding fault, coercing, encouraging excuses, holding grudges, instilling fear and giving up easily. 2. Procedures that Lead to Change a. Motivated by change when: We are convinced that our present behavior is not meeting our needs. We believe we can choose other behaviors that will get us closer to what we want. b. Process: Explore the tenets of choice theory with clients Helping clients identify basic needs Discovering clients quality world Helping clients understand that they are choosing the total behaviors that are their symptoms. VII. WDEP System A. Help clients explore their WANTS - Exploring the quality world and how their behavior is aimed at. - What do you want? B. Possible things they can DO (Direction and Doing) - What are you doing? - Discuss with clients the overall direction of their lives, including where they are going and where their behavior is taking them. - Gaining awareness of and changing current total behavior. - Encourage clients to take action by changing what they are doing and thinking. C. Opportunities for Self- EVALUATION - Core of reality therapy - Does your present behavior have a reasonable chance of getting what you want now, and will it take you in the direction you want to go? - Examining behavioral direction, specific actions, wants, perceptions, new directions and plans. D. Design PLANS for improvement (Planning and Action) - What is your plan? - Explore other possible behaviors and formulate and action plan. - Characteristics of plans: The plan is within limits of the motivation and capacities of the client. Good plans are simple and easy to understand. Involves a positive course of action, and it is stated in terms of what the client is willing to do. Develop plans that carry out independently of what others do. Repetitive and performed daily. Plans are carried out as soon as possible. Plans involve process-centered activities. Evaluate the plans with the therapist. Commitment to plans.

VII. Multicultural Perspective A. Strengths - It can be applied both individually and in groups to anyone with psychological problem in any cultural context. - Principles underlying choice theory are universal, which makes choice theory applicable to all people. - Can be modified to fit the cultural context of people. Adaptable to non-Western clients. - Provides clients with tools to make the changes they desire. B. Shortcomings - Clients from certain ethnic groups could not be taken into full account their real environmental forces that operate against them in their everyday lives. - Reality therapy gives only limited attention to helping people address environmental and social problems. - May overstress the ability of these clients to take charge of their lives and not pay enough attention to systematic and environmental factors. - Some clients are very reluctant to directly verbally express what they need. VIII. Application of therapy on the Case of Stan IX. Evaluation (Contribution/Limitations) A. Contributions - It has a short-term focus and deals with conscious behavioral problems. - Existentialism exists in the theory as well as cognitive-behaviorism. - There is no hidden agenda by the therapist, it is client focused. - Client is encouraged to decide if what they are doing is working or not. B. Limitations and Criticisms - For some cultures, clients may be reluctant to voice their needs, & that discrimination & racism may impede clients from obtaining what they want in life. - It is also believed that the psychoanalytic aspects of counseling (unconscious, dreams, transference & past childhood experiences) are not given adequate emphasis in influencing our behavior. - Vulnerable to the practitioner who assumes the role of an expert. - Reality therapy makes use of concrete language and simple concepts. - Many people disagree with Glasser that all psychological disorders are behavioral choices and that there are no biochemical or genetic influences.