Reality Therapy Like many theorist, William Glasser, one of the founders, of reality therapy, was a Freudian psychologist who became displeased with this approach and began pioneering with new methods, which later came to called reality therapy. From 1960’s to the 1970’s reality therapy was designed at putting a few basic concepts of the approach to work in a variety of settings, such as correctional facilities, schools, private practice, marital and family, group work, and counseling in community clinics. Robert Wubbolding has advanced this approach through his explanation and research. Reality therapy is based on the premise that a person can gain control of their lives to accomplish and satisfy their needs. Reality therapy maintains …show more content…
Typically, clients seek to discover what they really want and how they are currently choosing to behave in order to achieve these goals. Glasser, suggested the people rushed to diagnose or label a person as mentally ill because they seemed to be different or out of sync (norm) with what everyone else was doing. We see this lot in working with the addictions community, adolescents and the elderly population. According to Glasser, the human being has four basic needs after survival; the greatest need is to love and being loved by another person, a need for love and belonging, freedom to be able to be autonomous but responsible, a need for fun, a need for power to feel like a winner for good psychological health. Reality therapy deals with helping client solving problems and coping with making realistic and more effective choices. The objective is to help improve and satisfy present relationships. This alone does not mean a person if given support and was able to look at other choices might choose different methods and achieve a different paths or outcomes, it is still a …show more content…
Once this relationship is established, the therapist can start the process of transformation by guiding the client’s attention to their present behaviors and out of their past. Using the client as an observer, the therapist asks the client to gauge their behavior and the effects it has had on their life thus far. This is the first step in mapping out new strategies. With cues and guidance from the therapist, the client should be the architect of their own transformation. This process empowers the client and builds self-confidence. Additionally, this type of therapy has proven successful at helping many other populations to include, family members, colleagues, and other peers better understand these often difficult situations. Reality therapy covers sensitivity and empathy in a genuine way that opens the eyes of clients without shame, regret or embarrassment. Using respect and acceptance, each group member or individual is given the opportunity to express their needs and desires in order to lay the foundation for a plan that will develop into closer bonds in relationships, deeper understandings and better coping mechanisms and conflict resolution. . Remembering the Acronym,WDEP, Wants are discussed at the beginning, Direction is the basic strategy utilized in establishing focusing on now behaviors, Evaluation which is cornerstone of reality therapy, recognizing behaviors negative and positive
Experiential Family Therapy is a therapy that encourages patients to address subconscious issues through actions, and role playing. It is a treatment that is used for a group of people in order to determine the source of problem in the family (Gurman and Kniskern, 2014). Experiential Family Therapy has its strengths and weaknesses. One of the strengths of this therapy is that, it focuses on the present and patients are able to express their emotions on what is happening to them presently. The client will have time to share everything about his/her life experiences one on one without any fears. As a result, it helps the client in the healing process because, he/she is able to express their feelings freely and come out of the problem. Therefore, in this type of therapy, the clients are deeply involved in solving their issues. It helps clients to scrutinize their individual connections and to initiate a self-discovery through therapy, on how their relationships influence their current behaviors (Gurman and Kniskern, 2014). By examining their personal relationships through experiential family therapy, family members are able to
What is unique about constructivism is its ability to examine problems from the client’s point of view is that it allows individuals to create their own reality during counseling appointment. According to Pamelia Brott (2004), therapists act more as facilitators of change than therapeutic leaders, the client is viewed as the agent of change (191). The constructivist perspective reality comes into being through the interpretations of what the world means to the client individually (p.192). As Sharf (2015) explains, “…in the act of knowing, it is the human mind that actively gives meaning and order to that reality to which it is responding…" (p.455). Because of this the constructivist perspective does not provide a single theoretical structure as each counseling session is unique in providing client’s a solution that is applicable to
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
As the field of counseling continues to progress numerous theoretical orientations have been developed. One theoretical approach to counseling has been coined as person centered counseling or client centered therapy. This type of approach is commonly referred to as Rogerian psychotherapy. Rogerian therapy focuses on the empowerment of individuals with the inner self. These constructs are vital to ensuring and promoting a transparent and honest atmosphere which subsequently results in effective counseling. The behaviors that are found in client centered counseling are valuable as they motivate the client to explore their "hidden feelings" and become aware of where their feelings derive from. Being afforded the rare opportunity to see Rogers
In regards to the questions and answers, I feel as though my personal approach to counseling is based off of my own priorities I set forth in myself that follow more closely to the aspects of Reality Therapy, and Adlerian Therapy. Though Reality Therapy primarily focuses on the present, it still has some grounding in the past but not as much as Adlerian does. Even knowing this I still feel these two therapies are more closely related to my own belief system. I am in agreement with Reality Therapy, in that we are responsible for the choices we make. I trust that we can exercise great control over our lives, over how we can change to better ourselves, and to better our relationships with those around us. I feel that we all as a society are influenced by basic needs: belonging, survival, freedom, and power, and that these needs can be used as motivational tool when working with clients.
In conclusion, Anderson et al. (2010) discussed the relationship between therapeutic models and the techniques utilized by them. However, the contextual model that they posit in this article is built upon a postmodern philosophy and has numerous flaws. As a result, I reject many of their arguments, at least as they are presented. Despite this, there was some information (albeit modified) from this article that I can incorporate into my own practice as a therapist.
The rapport and friendship built throughout this movie is vital to the success of the therapy exhibited here. This is a great example of Gestalt therapeutic approach and helps to identify most of the techniques incorporated. The techniques and ways of gently confronting but pushing a client all the way through are very beneficial to each viewer of this film.
The second stage in the psychodynamic therapy process is, the transference stage. In this stage the development of treatment is set and now it is the patient’s time to let their feelings out. The patient expresses those feelings, emotions, fears, and desires to the therapist without having to worry about censorship. The feelings and behavior of the patient become more pronounced and become a vital part of the treatment itself. During this stage the therapist could experience and better understand of the patient’s past and how it impacted their behavior in the
“The goal of reality therapy is to help clients get reconnected with the people they have chosen to include in their quality worlds and to teach clients choice theory” (Corey, 2013, p. 183). Letting clients understand that they have a choice in their lives will help them gain control. Furthermore, “the goal of existential therapy is to challenge clients to recognize and accept the freedom they have to become the authors of their own lives” (Corey, 2013, p. 74). As individuals, we have to face different aspects of life such as isolation, freedom, and responsibility. Helping a client through their struggles and acknowledge these life struggles may help guide the client to a positive point in their lives.
Summers, R.F., & Barber, J.P. (2010). Psychodynamic therapy: A guide to evidence-based practice. New York: Guildford Press.
The psychodynamics theory which was introduced by Freud to understand the human mind and psyche, reached a new level in the continuous analysis from therapists. Psychodynamics originally has been explained as a study of various psychological forces that affect human behavior which is related to early experiences. It specifically discusses the connection between the conscious and subconscious motivations. The theory was further analyzed and developed by Melanie Klein, Carl Jung and Alfred Adler. Based on the theory, the psychodynamic therapy evolved to help patients through psychoanalysis. With time other therapies like individual, group and family therapy evolved to offer treatment by understanding the present day complexities in more detail. The main aim of the therapy is self –awareness through identifying the various influences of many past events in life. The therapies are continuously evolving since it was introduced by Freud to help in solving a variety of psychological disorders within people.
Next, we will discuss key concepts involved in Reality Therapy. Then it will explain the various techniques used in this form of therapy. It will then analyze the target population. Finally, it will develop a scenario, using reality therapy, as a basis to present a hypothetical patient, as a counselor discussing the strategies that would be used to counsel this client. Thesis Statement: Does one’s past define his or her future?
Reality therapy deals with current behavior and the effects of that behavior. Glasser proposed that, to meet the five basic human needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun, that people decide and make choices about their behavior (Jacobs, Masson, Harvill, & Schimmel 2012). Whether in individual or group counseling the applications of Reality Therapy involve teaching people to make better choices, which should lead to more positive behaviors. Reality therapy is well suited to brief counseling and crisis intervention in some instances. The concepts can be used in many helping
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).
Three interrelated attitude of the therapist are central to the success of person-centered therapy, this include: congruence; unconditional positive regard; and empathy (Corey, 2010). Congruence represents the openness and geniuses of the therapists. Therapists who function this way does not hind behind a professional façade, and are willing to share significant emotional reactions with their clients. Unconditional positive regards refers to the therapist accepting the client totally as she or he is without disapproving particular behaviors, believes, feelings or characteristics. Therapists convey this message by their wiliness to listen without being judging, or directive. The therapist who creates a nonthreatening context allows the clients to explore and share their true feelings without fear of being judged. Empathy is the third necessary component of a therapist’s attitude. The therapist should try to see through client’s point to view, and show understanding and sensitivity to client’s feeling throughout the therapy session. When these three attitudes are conveyed by a therapist, according the Rogers, the client can freely express themselves without afraid of being