My Favorite Theory

Extra Credit Opportunity – Counseling Theories

                One of my most favorite therapies is Reality Therapy because allows the therapist to potentially be an advocate for the client and a good relationship between the client and therapist is fundamental.  I believe without this type of relationship it would be more difficult for the client to be open and comfortable with disclosing and discussing issues.  Reality Therapy assumes that psychological problems are the result of our resistance of control by others or of our attempt to control others.  The basic focus is on asking the client to evaluate if what they are currently doing is working for them and then they work together to find changes that can be made in order to improve things.  The therapist asks what the client wants, is what they are doing is working for them and help them make plans to change and get them to make a commitment in order to fulfill all of their psychological needs.  Reality therapy can be used in individual and group counseling sessions, working with youthful law-offenders and couples and family therapy.  This theory can also be used by teachers, nurses, ministers, educators, social workers and counselors.  It can also be used with a diverse population. 
       William Glasser rejected the Freudian model because in his observation of psychoanalytically trained therapists, they did not seem to be implementing Freudian Principles but were holding people and not their past or environment for their behavior.  Glasser worked at a prison and school for girls operated by the California Youth Authority.  He was convinced that psychoanalytic approach was not appropriate for treating these clients.  Glasser believed it was best to talk to the sane part of clients rather than their disturbed side.  He was influenced by G.L. Harrington who was also a psychiatrist and mentor.  Harrington believed in getting his patients involved in projects in the real world and this is where Glasser began to put together ideas that later became known as Reality Therapy.  Glasser also believed it was important to have clients accept personal responsibility for their behavior.  He began trying to find a theory to explain all of his work.  This is where he learned about Control Therapy.  He spent the next 10 years expanding, revising and clarifying what he initially taught.  Control therapy was later changed to Choice Therapy to reflect all that Glasser had developed. 
       Robert Wubbolding taught high school history, worked as a school counselor and was a consultant to drug and alcohol abuse programs in the U.S. Army and Air Force.  He was also in the Catholic Priesthood but later left the clergy freely and honorably.  Wubbolding became director of the Center for Reality Therapy in Cincinnati.  He attended many of Glasser's training workshops and in 1988 Glasser appointed him to the director of training for the William Glasser Institute.  Wubbolding has extended the Reality Therapy and Practice with his idea of the WDEP system.

Reference:

Corey, Gerald (2013). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (9^thed.). Belmont, CA:Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning .