Reality (Choice) Therapy

1. Reality (Choice) Therapy

2. Themes • People are born with 5 innate needs that drive us all our lives: • Survival • Love and belonging • Power (achievement, competence, recognition, self esteem) • Freedom or independence (autonomy) • Fun or enjoyment • When we feel bad, one or more of these needs is unsatisfied • Often times these needs are also associated with relationships

3. Themes • Behavior has a purpose because it is designed to close the gap between what we want and what we perceive we are getting • All human behaviors are composed of doing (acting), thinking, feeling, and physiology and is generated from within • We are responsible for our behavior: therefore, we are capable of change by choosing more effective behaviors (we have most control over doing, thinking is second most)

4. Process • The focus of reality therapy is on changing total behavior by discussing the clients: • current actions • evaluation of their actions effectiveness in fulfilling needs and current wants • evaluation of the realistic attainability of these needs and wants, • current perceptions or viewpoints along with the helpfulness (or hurtfulness) of those viewpoints

5. Process • Emphasizes choice and responsibility (dealing with what one can control not what one cannot [including the past]) • Reject transference • Keep the therapy in the present • Avoid focusing on symptoms • If talking about feelings, need to strongly relate them to what people are doing and thinking

6. Process • Wants (Explore all areas of their wants and needs): • If you were the person that you wish you were, what kind of person would you be? • What would your family be like if your wants and their wants matched? • What would you be doing if you were living as you wanted to? • Do you really want to change your life? • What is it you want that you don’t seem to be getting from life? • What do you think stops you from making the changes you would like?

7. Process • Direction and Doing (Explore current behaviors and whether they are moving the individual toward meeting their wants and needs): • What are you doing now? • What did you actually do this past week? • What did you want to do differently this past week? • What stopped you from doing what you wanted to do? • What will you do tomorrow?

8. Process • Evaluation (Does your present behavior have a reasonable chance of getting you what you want now, and will it take you in the direction that you want to go?) • Is what you are doing helping or hurting you? • Is what you are doing now what you want to be doing? • Is you behavior working for you? • Is there a healthy congruence between what you are doing and what you believe? • Is what you are doing against the rules? • Is what you want realistic or attainable? • Does it help you to look at it that way? • How committed are you to the therapeutic process and to changing you life? • After carefully examining what you want, does it appear to be in your best interests and in the best interests of others?

9. Process • Planning and Action • Simple • Attainable • Measurable • Immediate • Controlled by planner • Committed to • Continuously done

10. Process • Therapist’s role • Educator and mentor • Good attending skills • Willing to be realistic about own behaviors and willing to talk about own struggles • Firm and confrontational • Provide idea that no matter how bad things get there is hope