Reality Therapy

The basic premises of Reality Therapy first began to be developed by William Glasser during his
psychiatric residency in the late 1950s. Glasser had become dissatisfied with psychoanalytic theory
and, in particular, did not like the “endless ruminations about how the client's behavior was 'caused'
by others in the client's family or by a 'harsh' world. “ (Wubbolding& Brickell, 1999, p.2).

Glasser departed from his training and began to focus on the client's present rather than the past,
and holding the client responsible for his actions rather than focusing blame on others. Almost
immediately, he began to see results from his clients who had previously been treated by
psychoanalysis for many years.

In 1965, Glasser wrote his first book Reality Therapy. Although, Glasser had developed a therapy he
continued to search for a theory to explain why people behave as they do. In 1984, influenced by
William Powers, Glasser wrote the book Control Theory. Then, in 1996, changed the name from
Control Theory to Choice Theory (Wubbolding, 2000, p.58)

Choice Theory is based on the premise that all humans have five basic needs : Survival, Love &
Belonging, Power, Freedom, and Fun. (Glasser, 1998, p. 25-41). An individual's current behavior is
an attempt to meet one or more of these basic needs. Behavior, in Choice Theory, not only consists
of the clients actions but rather is described as “total behavior” in that it simultaneously consists of
thinking, action, feeling, and physiological components.(Glasser, 1998, p.72). Although Total
Behavior consists of four parts, Glasser believes that it is the thinking and action components that
an individual has direct control over. Using the metaphor of a car, Glasser describes each
component- thinking, actions, feelings, and physiology- as each being a wheel on the car. Glasser
stresses that a person has the most control over his or her actions, moderate control over thoughts,
and the least direct control over feelings and physiology. According to Glasser's metaphor, when a
person changes his or her thinking and actions- the front two wheels of the car- then, eventually,
feelings and physiology-the back two wheels- will follow (Myers& Jackson, 2002, p. 80).

Although Glasser believes that thinking is important for change, it is behavior which is the primary
focus in Reality Therapy. A frequent Reality Therapist question is to ask the client “Is what you are
doing helping you get what you really want?” Consequently, the Reality Therapist will lead the client
in evaluating if his behavior is ultimately helping or hurting him in achieving his or her goals.

Not only does the individual attempt to meet his needs by using his "total behavior” but Glasser also
stresses that all basic needs are satisfied within relationships (Glasser, 1998, p.41) and that all
problems are, in essence, relationship problems. Therefore, despite what the presenting problem
may be, the Reality Therapist will explore the client's current relationships and how those
relationships may or may not be need satisfying (Glasser, 2000, p.69).

References

Glasser, W. (1998). Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom. Harper Collins. New
York City, New York.

Glasser, W. (2000). Counseling with Choice Theory. Harper Collins. New York City, New York.

Myers, L. & Jackson, D. (2002). Reality Theapy and Choice Theory. American Correctional
Association. Lanham, MD.

Wubbolding, R.E., (2000). Reality Therapy for the 21st Century. George H. Buchanan, Co.,
Philadelphia, PA.

Wubbolding, R.E., & Brickell, J., (1999). Counseling with Reality Therapy. Speechmark Publishing
Ltd., Bicester, Oxon, UK.