Reality therapy

Reality Therapy

Introduction :

Reality Therapy was developed by William Glaser. It is a distinct form of therapy differing greatly from Psychiatry, psychoanalysis and Behavioral therapy in its decline of medical model of illness and emphasis on responsibility. Glaser developed two theories of personality development and psychopathology they are theory of Control later developed as Choice theory was developed in 1960's  and theory of identity developed in 1980's. Reality Therapy is based on above two theoretical framework.

Choice Theory
According to william glasser "People are in control of what they do. People make choices and are responsible for their behavior. and the goal of the Reality therapy is to help them gain control over themselves in improving their effectiveness.

Choice theory explains human behavior in terms of choices taken by individuals. We have our perception of what reality is like and of how we would like it to be. And our behaviors are constant attempt to reduce the difference between what we want and what we have (glaser 1984) which may be positive behavioral patterns like problem solving or negative behavioral patterns like anger, guilt or pouting. People who have chose negative behaviors have failed to be responsible in their choice of behavior or they are simply have not learned a responsible course of action.

Choice theory is based on the assumption that all behaviors represent the individuals constant attempt to satisfy one or more of the five basic inborn needs. It stresses on the internal locus of control. That no behavior is caused by person or situation outside of individual unlike behavioral therapy. The five basic innate needs are survival, belonging or  love, freedom, power and fun. To satisfy the basic needs a person muct behave. when there is a difference between what we need and what we have got the behavioral system is activated to manage the discrepancy. We behave to try and satisfy our needs which has 4 components. Doing, feeling, thinking and physiology. The feeling component of the behavior is the most obvious. However if a person can recognize the feeling component is just one part of the total behavior, the person stays in control of his or her life. The choice we have is the doing aspect of a behavior. People always have control over the doing component of the behavior. To get the needs met effectively people must realize that they always have control over the doing component and that they can choose to do something more effective and pleasant to self and others.

Principles of Reality therapy

1. Focus on behavior rather feelings
2. Encourage responsible behavior
3. Accept no excuses for irresponsible behavior
4. Avoid punishing, criticizing or protecting the person for reasonable consequences of behavior
5. Focus on the persons total behavior
6. Plan your behavior/solution/to achieve your needs

Reality therapy seeks to help clients by rejecting irresponsible behavior and learn responsible ways of behaving in satisfying their needs. It rejects the medical model of labeling mental disorders emphasizing that it worsens the condition.


Additional Reading :
http://socialworkpodcast.blogspot.com/2007/03/reality-therapy.html