background of therapy
Based off of Choice theory, developed by William Glasser and Robert Wubbolding, control theory was first emphasized (people have choices for what they are doing), revised to choice theory (concerned with phenomenological world, clients choose on future and are responsible for what they do, respond to world based on internal locus of evaluation), does not focus on the past, focuses on present choices we are making / plan to make, not an emphasis on transference, authenticity of therapist, what you choose to do not what others choose to do
basic beliefs of therapy
• Symptoms are the result of choices we’ve made in our lives
- We can choose to think, feel and behave differently
- Ex. Depression is the only way they know how to engage with the world, if they had different choices or opportunities of being they would have a different way of engagement
- Emphasis is on personal responsibility
- Therapist’s function is to keep therapy focused on the present
• We often mistakenly choose misery in our best attempt to meet our needs
-We do not know any better, this becomes familiar or comfortable
• We act responsibly when we meet our needs without keeping others from meeting their needs
- Should not be entanglement, everyone is responsible for own needs, we do not see alternative choices
- Two groups of people: those who try to find and understand and change way of life; and those who have given up and have not taken on personal responsibility
- Humans change when they determine behavior is not getting them what they want and they believe they have choices for behaviors
view on basic needs
- Everyone has basic needs, these are genetically encoded needs, natural to strive towards these, when they are not met it can lead to pathology
- All internally motivated behavior is geared toward meeting one or more of our basic human needs (all of these are necessary and intertwined)
what are the 5basic needs
o Belonging: sense of love and commitment, two-way street, when we do not feel this or engage in this it can lead to suicidality infidelity etc.
o Power: sense of feeling success, competent, recognized, etc., you are able to contribute to common good without the expense of someone else
o Freedom: we are not being forced to lose freedom, we should feel we have this and the responsibility to make decisions for ourselves, express and be creative, pathology comes when there is a loss of creativity
o Fun: we need pleasure, feel that we are laughing and learning and enjoying things; ex. People first dating and falling in love they are enjoying themselves and are more uncensored and unfiltered
o Survival (physiological needs): ability to respond to physiological needs, take care of us physically, eating exercise etc.
role of brain
• Our brain functions as a control system to get us what we want
o Monitors if we are fully engaging in these needs
what is quality world
• Our quality world (picture album, collection of wants related to all of these needs) consists of our vision of specific people, activities, events, beliefs, and situations that will fulfill our needs
o Helps person understand what they need to do to achieve goal
what are the procedures that lead to change (to reach a goal) WDEP
• Wants: what do you want to be and do”
o Your picture album
o Therapist serves as mentor to challenge clients to figure out what they really want, what is in the quality world
• Doing and Direction: what are you doing?
o Where do you want to go?
o What do you have to do to reach goals and what are you doing now
- Evaluation: Does your present behavior have a reasonable chance of getting you want you want
- Planning: “SAMIC”
what is SAMIC in planning
o Simple: easy to understand, specific and concrete
o Attainable: within the capacities and motivation of the client
♣ Something they can do now, therapist has to be able to collaborate with them and ask about it
o Measurable: are the changes observable and helpful?
o Immediate and Involved: what can be done today? What can you do?
o Controlled: can you do this by yourself or will you be dependent on others?
♣ Can you do this on a continuous basis?
♣ Independence is key, this leads to next step
usually you can give clients a few things to do
conceptualizing client
When we think about conceptualizing client, it is very active, we have to look at clients from what are clients doing and how is it impacting thoughts feelings and physiology (holistic approach- what we do impacts all other areas and vice versa, all of the areas are connected, role of therapist to understand these connections) therapist has to understand quality world in conceptualization and what is preventing them from getting it
what is total behavior and the different aspects of it
our best attempt to satisfy our needs
- Doing- active behaviors
- Thinking- thoughts, self-statements
- Feelings – anger, joy, pain, anxiety
- Physiology: bodily reactions
what are deadly habits and why do we need to change them
• We need to change something called “deadly habits”: there are 7 of these criticizing, blaming, complaining, threatening, punishing, bribing, nagging
o In an unhealthy relationship we engage in these habits and these do not foster sense of belonging or connection, we need to change these to 7 ways of positive engagement: respecting, supporting, encouraging, accepting, trusting, listening, win-win situation (seeing things from positive framework
limitations of this therapy
• Some feel it does not adequately address important psychological concepts such as insight, the unconscious, relational issues such as counter transference
o Reality therapy moves away from this
• clinicians and clients may have trouble viewing all psychological disorders (including serious mental illness) as behavioral choices
o downplays lack of control people can have with mental disorders
• There is a danger for the therapist of imposing his or her personal views on clients by deciding for the client what constitutes responsible behavior
o Make sure you understand what client is ready to do
o If you try to simplify it too much you risk imposing own values (have to master techniques), try to be active and involved with client which many appreciate, engage in problem solving and help them find better solutions (realistic and attainable), therapist has to be present and make client feel empowered (some of the strengths)
• Reality therapy is often construed as simply and easy to master when in fact it requires much training to implement properly
• More empirical support is needed
o Not many therapists practice this extensively, leads into behavioral work, concepts used in other therapies that are more recognized in the field
