A Look at the Reality Therapy Method

Reality therapy is a method for building up a person’s level of mental satisfaction and helping them feel connected to the world around them. It is also known as choice theory. The best definition of reality therapy was given by Gerald Corey. He states that “the essence of reality therapy is that we are responsible for what we choose to do. We may be the product of our past but we are not the victims of our past, unless we choose to be.”

The founder of this theory was William Glasser who began his work in this area in the 1980’s. He rejected the Freudian model of psychoanalysis early on in his career and began to look for an alternate method to guide and shape human behaviours. Glasser first named this school of therapy “reality therapy” but later changed the name to “choice theory”. This theory urges an individual to focus on the future. It espouses the fact that nothing belongs to the past and that all is dependent on our future and that the future will be shaped depending on the behaviours a person has selected.

This theory continues to evolve today and research continues as well. Glasser’s theory has become one of the most used techniques in today’s society. Reality therapy helps people develop healthy interpersonal connections by establishing good relations and planning well for the future instead of focussing on the mistakes of the past. Glasser believes that the past is very valuable as a teaching aid, but this theory urges us to focus on the future instead. Since our success in the future is so dependent on the choices we make it is critical that we learn methods by which we can evaluate our alternatives and have the strength to make positive choices which are best for us and those around us.

Reality therapy is renowned, accepted and admired by many people in different professions. Parents, workers, doctors and psychiatrists all see the value in this school of thought. Making a better future requires building strong interpersonal relationships and thinking positively about others. This therapeutic method helps people who feel disconnected from others. Establishing new relationships with the people around us can be the first step in reconnecting with our environment. But in order for a patient to begin the choice therapy method, that patient must first be educated in the rules that this method sets out.

There are two main techniques used in reality therapy. The first is the creation of a reliable and safe environment that the patient can trust. The second is developing the sense of that environment in the patient. The patient needs to see that they are important to that secure environment and that their actions influence that environment. It is important for patients to establish that their actions do have an influence on the world around them and that they need to focus on positive aspects of those interactions in order to feel better about themselves and the people around them. 

Initial steps are taken by focussing only on positive thinking. The patient is encouraged to avoid negative emotions and they are not permitted to dwell on past anxieties or negativity. This method believes in focussing on goals and achievements which are easy to accomplish and not those which can lead to over thinking and depression. Blame is not used in therapy sessions either on the part of the therapist or the patient. Therapy sessions also stress making interpersonal connections and allowing the patients to work through their own tasks in their own way.

Therapists help those they are counselling to evaluate what they are doing to establish the interpersonal connections and help create a supportive and friendly environment. Many patients need an extremely supportive and patient environment for their therapy sessions.

 Reality therapy is based on the choice theory which stresses five main areas: survival, affection, internal energy, independence and joy. Reality therapy urges us to use our internal energy positively and avoid negative things which surround us. Relationship rebuilding may be the most difficult aspect of this therapeutic method. This is especially true if traumatic or negative events led to the severing of relationships in the past.

The work that Dr. Glasser has done in the area of reality therapy and the methods of the choice theory has made it increasingly easy for most people to put a more positive spin on their lives and experiences and find a way to develop meaningful, positive and nurturing relationships with the people around them.