William Glasser developed Reality Therapy. Although Reality Therapists believed that humans are essentially positive, they acknowledge that humans can also demonstrate negativity. This approach allows people to be in complete control of their own lives. People choose their own behaviors, behaviors are motivated to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. The gap between what we want and what we have is what motivates our behavior. Humans have five basic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom and fun.
As a school counselor I will definitely be incorporating Reality Therapy. One situation that I could apply this approach is with students who are making destructive decisions, such as students who are caught drinking and using drugs. Through this approach I would work the student to help him/her make better choices in the future. I would work with students to change what they want, change what they are doing, or change both. Perhaps a student is acting out for a specific reason, through RT I could help them change. Empowering students is very important. Instead of focusing on the past and focusing on bad memories, a school counselor could help a student look to the future and think of ways to make better choices.
Video: Individual: Re-framing Perceptions
This video is a perfect example of Reality Therapy. The therapist took a story that the client was trying to portray as negative, and turned it around to focus on the positives. The client crashed the reunion, he wasn't invited, so the counselor pointed out his determination to attend the party. The counselor then suggested that the client spread that determination to other aspects of his life such as his career. Instead of focusing on the negative and the past the counselor asked the client what would he like to be doing in the future.
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