What is Reality Therapy? (Choice Theory)

This video describes Reality Therapy. Reality Therapy is a therapeutic modality that was developed by William Glasser and it is based on a philosophy he also developed called Choice Theory. Reality Therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that emphasizes, needs, behavior, thinking, taking responsibility, and relationships. Reality Therapy is based on a few different needs: survival, freedom, fun, love and belonging, and power. In Reality Therapy, love and belonging is the most important need and power is expressed as a more negative need. All behavior is chosen and behavior is the only thing that is under direct control. Problems occur when people use external control when they try to meet the need for power, but in a negative way. This leads to frustration, conflict, and disconnected relationships. According to Reality Therapy disconnected relationships are the cause of all long lasting mental health symptoms. One of the goals include taking responsibility, generating a new perspective, and developing a specific plan to reconnect with other people. In Reality Therapy, there are seven deadly habits and seven caring habits. The seven deadly habits are criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging, threatening, punishing, and bribing or rewarding in order to exert control. The seven caring habits are supporting, encouraging, listening, accepting, trusting, respecting, and negotiating differences. To the extent that somebody can reduce their deadly habits and increase their caring habits, they can improve relationships and, in theory, reduce mental health symptoms. Another idea in Reality Therapy is total behavior. This comprises doing, thinking, feeling, and physiology. Feeling and physiology are looked at as difficult to directly control, and doing and thinking our thought of as much easier to control. In Reality Therapy almost all the activity starts with doing or acting and then moves to thinking, with feeling and physiology worked on later.

[DELIVERANCE-TODAY]

Teaching clients positive ways to get their needs met (responsibility) vs. negative ways (blaming)....is golden.

[davidp]

You are one of the best in psychology because you explain terms so easily to understand, Dr. Grande.

[marshadorito]

I’m studying for my NCE and keep finding myself back at your videos. Thank you for your succinct but thorough videos!

[lisalachapelle]

Being in the present tense is core to reality therapy imo. The use if verbs keeps that focus for the individual. For someone who is depressed, the idea that they are "depressing, " lends to the idea that it's changing or could be changed, instead of a static state of mind as "depressed." Combining some elements of spirituality this fits the grid...I am in the here and now, I am evolving = state of mind is the easiest to change. I'm working on a book on this now. I luv your video on this, and this topic.

[lotownowentown]

I'm in graduate school and I use your videos to supplement my chapter readings because my program doesn't offer traditional lectures. Thank you for your content; it's really helpful!

[sollen]

I went through the Reality Therapy training. It has been the most positive training I have ever had. It has enriched my life and helped me relate to others in a more positive way. As a teacher and school administrator, it gave me the tools I needed to create and maintain a positive environment.

[davisjm]

I would never use this type of therapy alone for types of mental health disorders born within the brain such as schizophrenia, Bipolar 2 and others that are similarly severe illnesses often associated with psychosis. However, it may work well in conjunction with other therapies. This theory alone has worked well in addiction recovery. In my own clinical experience, I see most therapy modalities and theories work better when in conjunction with others.

[fellowcitizen]

It was so long ago that I only just remember remembering this author, yet being uncertain of the title and name. I'd intended to buy this book, yet I entered a different life chapter and somehow "missed out" on it. Thanks for bridging me to this more resilient, intrepid time. I will find it now, if for no other reason than to answer that moment. It feels serendipitous, which is nice. Thank you.

[Jonny]

Speaking from experience RT is a great way to deal with the past and moving forward; I know this from helping others and myself.

[AmericanShia]

Thank you for this video. To my layman's ears, your assessment of Reality Therapy sounds very balanced. I am intrigued by Jungian psychology, and have also enjoyed reading Dr. William Glasser's books. While I do believe there is or has been a tendency for Physicians to prescribe anti-depressants to patients rather than having them seek professional counseling, I believe there is a need in some or many cases for a medication component in therapy. There is a happy medium that can be found in using Reality Therapy and prescription drugs in therapy.

[jillbeck]

As most theories that have endured and that we take the time to study, Reality Therapy or Choice theory have given us some insight or helpful ideas to incorporate into our practice. I do not like the use of verbs to describe symptoms ie: I am depressing. Although we do make choices that affect our mental health, my concern is that a depressive client may feel even more depressed or self-defeated if he believes that the symptoms are his "fault" because he is choosing it. However, choice is a key component to be explored with clients. Simplistically, we choose how to spend our time. We choose how to think about an interaction or interpret it. I agree that a major contribution of this modality is the identification of ways of relating (deadly and caring habits) and have seen ideas carried into other theories such as Virginia Satir's family therapy.

[tysonclarke]

Choice Theory was introduced to me in my early twenties, and it completely changed my life, and helped me to choose the field of Psychology.

It's a shame it's not nearly so popular. Glasser never prescribed a drug to a patient his whole career, successfully.

I wholeheartedly disagree that taking responsibility for the relationships and their effect on your mental health is a negative. And I believe it's this attitude that has worked to increase the thickness of the DSM ten fold; and the reliance on diagnostics as identities - that has contributed to the lack of mental health in 2022.

And, the lack of psychologists and psychiatrists who were interested in positive psychology like Choice Theory/Reality Therapy is ultimately why I left psychology to become a coach. Less liability, more positivity.

It's a shame that diagnostic psychiatry rose to prominence 5 years before incremental vs entity identity came about. A terribly tragedy in the history of human mental health.

[christinah.]

for a moment I thought the title was about retail therapy! You know where my mind was.

[fitwithartin]

I bought the book explaining the theory behind it last night(by William Glasser). Thank you very much for your informative video. Those were the questions I was wondering about after reading the introduction section of the book.

[Froggythegremlin]

I worked at a outdoor therapeutic program for about a decade. Reality therapy was a cornerstone for our group work. That and lots of hiking. 😑

[virginiamurrey]

The perspective on the seven deadly habits and seven caring habits was very interesting. I enjoyed listening to the explanation of what reality therapy is and the components listed within the video.

[shauntaepacheco]

Thanks for the explanation of reality therapy especially the
pros and cons. I do believe that some behaviors are within our control and
appreciate the concepts of the seven deadly habits and seven caring habits.
Even at that, I don’t’ believe that every problem is a choice, and sometimes
looking back is necessary for insight into the present.

[TheBusiness]

I recently read 'Choice Theory" by William Glasser and I have to say that your synopsis of the theory was spot on, directly from the book. At the time I was sold on Choice Theory due to his numerous teal world working successes that are still in use today. However, after watching this video I am a little more weary of this theory being a one-size-fits-all solution. The total elimination of psycho-pharmaceutical options are well defended in his book but does not recognize it's benefits whatsoever.

[wandamixon]

Thank you for this overview. In review of Reality Therapy, I did recall that behavior is chosen (stemming from Choice Theory), behavior is the only thing that is under direct control, and relationships are the cause of long-term mental health symptoms. However, I am not certain that I understood until now that the need for power is a primarily negative need when external control is utilized. It makes sense in light of conflict, frustration, and disconnected relationships. I find the aspects of taking responsibility, generating a new perspective, and creating a plan useful. I appreciate the emphasis on the seven caring habits (accepting, encouraging, listening, negotiating, respecting differences, supporting, and trusting ) and seven deadly habits of (blaming, bribing, complaining, criticizing, nagging, punishing, and threatening). The caring habits are particularly helpful in considering competency in counseling.

[alyssaimburgia]

listen bro I really need you to convert all these videos onto podcasts cuz you’re my idol & I listen to your videos every night to study for exams & papers 😂😂