Dr. William Glasser was a distinguished psychiatrist and author known for his distinctive views about mental illness. Glasser broke away from the traditional model of psychotherapy in the early 1960s to develop his own model of counseling. Dr. Glasser began with the development of therapy before he developed his theoretical stance. Glasser created what is known as Reality Therapy. Glasser first defined Reality Therapy as “a therapy that leads all patients toward reality, towards grappling successfully with tangible and intangible aspects of the real world” (p.6).
In 1967, he founded The Institute for Reality Therapy. In 1969, Glasser published Schools Without Failure. Glasser suggests that children be taught about these needs as well as ways of more legitimately satisfying them. Choice theory places a great emphasis on helping children achieve their needs responsibly. Glasser states that when children’s needs are met, they find little cause to create trouble. The task of the teacher is to help them satisfy their needs legitimately and to help them learn to balance their needs.
In the late 70’s, Glasser was introduced to control theory systems through the writings of William T. Powers. In consultation with Powers, Dr. Glasser applied Powers’ knowledge of how systems work to the field of human behavior.
By 1980, he had begun to form the idea that led to choice theory: why so many people are unhappy in their relationships. Unlike all other living creatures, only human beings are genetically driven by the need for power. We try to satisfy that need by using what he calls, external control psychology – literally trying to force people to do what we want them to do. This struggle has led to the symptoms described in the DSM-IV. ...
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It is my goal to become a school counselor in a local high school. As a school counselor, it is also important to try and understand the different experiences that children go through in order to get through to them. After studying the different counseling theories, I have discovered that each theory is valid and there are ideas and techniques that I would use out of each of them. However, there are some theories more than others that I would use to guide me daily as a school counselor. Modern day counseling is equipped with a wide variety of therapies, techniques and approaches. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast three approaches of therapy. Also in this essay the views of the person and the Therapeutic process will be discussed. The three models that are going to be compared are Adlerian, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution Focused Brief therapy (SFBT). This essay is going to highlight the similarities and differences of the models and their main focus, and how the three models will help the clients choose goals that best fit their environment and resources. The main goal of using these models is to help people.
A determinist’s reply would state that humans are ignorant of the forces around them that are actually controlling their behavior in this sense; man becomes a puppet to irresistible forces acting upon him. Neither the free will nor the determinism theories can be proven to be wholly causal of human behavior. Alternate theories are formulated that incorporate main points of free will and determinism that appear...
A brief historical view of the counseling profession with a concentration of the philosophies on the wellness model will be discussed.
It has been sincerely obvious that our own experience of some source that we do leads in result of our own free choices. For example, we probably believe that we freely chose to do the tasks and thoughts that come to us making us doing the task. However, we may start to wonder if our choices that we chose are actually free. As we read further into the Fifty Readings in Philosophy by Donald C. Abel, all the readers would argue about the thought of free will. The first reading “The System of Human Freedom” by Baron D’Holbach, Holbach argues that “human being are wholly physical entities and therefore wholly subject to the law of nature. We have a will, but our will is not free because it necessarily seeks our well-being and self-preservation.” For example, if was extremely thirsty and came upon a fountain of water but you knew that the water was poisonous. If I refrain from drinking the water, that is because of the strength of my desire to avoid drinking the poisonous water. If I was too drink the water, it was because I presented my desire of the water by having the water overpowering me for overseeing the poison within the water. Whether I drink or refrain from the water, my action are the reason of the out coming and effect of the motion I take next. Holbach concludes that every human action that is take like everything occurring in nature, “is necessary consequences of cause, visible or concealed, that are forced to act according to their proper nature.” (pg. 269)
According to Glasser (1965), “reality therapy is a treatment based on changing negative behavior, habits and relationships by focusing on the present or current situations.” An essential aspect of Reality Therapy focuses on the five needs of survival, love and belonging, achievement and power, independence and freedom, and fun, being essential for individuals to ascend through life and establish relationships (Content Guide 5, n.d.). The various techniques utilized during Reality Therapy include: exploring behavior as a focus of change, focusing on the present situation, the adolescent assumes responsibility, a friendly relationship exists between the therapist and patient, the therapist is patient with the individual, the individual considers their ability to change, and lastly the therapist takes into consideration specific factors that are in control of the individual (Content Guide 5, n.d.). In the video, we see the Dr. McFarland create a both friendly and comfortable environment where Adrianne is able to express her opinions and thoughts of her present situation with her parents. Dr. McFarland is also patient with Adrianne, and this is one of the strengths of Reality Therapy, since the way the questions are presented to Adrianne, for example “what are the things your parents need to see from you”, this allows Adrianne to take responsibility and focus on the present situation. One limitation/weakness
Roth, A., Fonagy, P. (2005). What works for Whom? A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research. US: Guilford Press.
From an American Psychologist. Vol. 19, pp. 848-852, 1964.
Psychology is a field of adventure and experience it is a study of the brain where the human mind is at many places at once. William Glasser is a modern psychiatrist who developed reality therapy and choice theory. Many psychiatrists have established different theories and ideas to build success in their profession; however, Glasser began to develop his theories after numerous years of practice. He recognized many patients with the same issues. These people were tremendously hopeless with their lives, especially, with the relationships they held with people around them. Doctors throughout time have always managed to hold a similar trait in their profession. May it be a surgeon or a psychiatrist the idea is to treat and cure the patient successfully. Although Glassers profession as a psychiatrist did not agree with his reality therapy others accepted it well off, this reality therapy has come a long way for people to recognize the truths of the strangers living inside us.
Questioning helps the counselor learn of the client’s needs and behaviors. Bibliotherapy involves reading books, in reality therapy these books are usually Glasser’s books and range from understandings in relationships and working with children. When the counselor reframes, it allows the client to witness a different perspective on their personal situations. Self-disclosure helps aid the warm and personal relationship between the counselor and client. Sharing metaphors with the client can help the counselor in understanding and conveying perceptions. Lastly, physical activity and meditation are used as a positive addiction which leads to pleasure and the combination of mind and body (Murdock,
Corey, G. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (9th Edition). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing.
Fonagy, P. (1999). Relation of theory and practice in psychodynamic therapy. Journal Of Clinical Child Psychology, 28(4), 513--520.
Rational choice theory, developed by Ronald Clarke and Derek Cornish in 1985, is a revival of Cesare Becca...
...entation, or several, in which they choose to practice in their professional career. Psychoanalysis and Person-Centered Therapy are just two, out of over four hundred types, of counseling approaches in use today. The constructs and theories are extremely different, however, neither can be considered right nor wrong. They are simply based on different beliefs, assumptions and viewpoints of human development and their behavior. Although, however different and unique, there are still similarities between the two types of therapy approaches. Through case examples, such as the case of D and the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, the techniques and outcomes of different treatment approaches can be see in real life examples. Past research and writing support brings about contradictions, criticism and treatment outcomes to the theories and those who developed them.
Reality therapy is a practical therapeutic method developed by Dr. William Glasser, which focuses on here and now rather the past, problem-solving rather than the issue at hand, and making better choices with specific goals established. Reality therapy is a time-limited, no-nonsense approach that Glasser developed and taught as a method of counseling which is based on choice theory, which states: “all we do is behave, almost all behavior is chosen, and we are driven by five basic needs” (William Glasser Institute, 2010).
Corey, G. (2011). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. (ninth ed., pp. 291-301). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.