Reality Therapy is…

• a method of counselling/interviewing based on Choice Theory
• used in education, parenting, leadership, management and mental health
• used to help people satisfy their own needs in responsible ways.
• based on the belief that we all choose what we do with our lives and that we are responsible for these choices.

Responsibility is defined as learning to choose behaviours that satisfy basic needs, and does not deprive others of a chance to do the same.

Reality Therapy Question

• What do you want?
• What do you really want?
• What are you doing?
• Is what you’re doing helping you get what you want?
• What are you prepared to do to get what you really want?

Reality Therapy is used to bring about a change in behaviour, by focussing on the pictures in our Quality World. All of our behaviours are learnt and chosen in an effort to get what we want. Behaviour is referred to as “Total Behaviour” and has the following four components...

• Thinking
• Acting
• Feeling
• Physiology

Total Behaviour is...

• the best we can do at the time, under the circumstances, and with the information we have.
• New behaviours initially feel difficult and uncomfortable
• All behaviours are connected with our belief systems
• Where the session goes is determined by the client.

Reality Therapy enables the formation of an environment where; dignity, trust and respect build rapport. This enables a working partnership where the focus is on the person’s Quality World, Basic Human Needs and Total Behaviour. In such a partnership the question shifts from…

“what is wrong with this person”

to

“what can the person do to meet his/her needs and live the life that he/she chooses to live”.
Dr William Glasser

Reality Therapy Hints

• Questions are genuine… if you know the answer to the question it is not Reality Therapy.
• Use of PAUSE is very powerful.
• Avoid giving advice, moralising, shoulding … these are not Reality Therapy strategies.
• There are a number of valid routes to working it through … each client is unique. This is a process – not a formula.
• Interviewer’s job is to help the client find their own answers.
• Avoid questions that give answers, e.g. “Did you ring her and tell her what you thought?”
• Don’t accept excuses.
• Don’t punish – but don’t protect from reasonable consequences.

Never Give Up!!!
Dr William Glasser.