Reality therapy
Contemporary reality therapy concentrate quickly on the unsatisfying relationship or the lack of a relationship, which is frequently the cause of clients’ problems. Reality therapy is fundamentally based on choice theory as it is explained in Glasser’s (1998, 2001, 2003) latest books.
What to expect?
A primary aim of contemporary reality therapy is to assist clients get connected or reconnected with the people they have chosen to be a part of their quality world. In addition to this, an important goal of reality therapy is to help clients learn better ways of fulfilling most of their needs, including power or achievement, freedom or independence, and fun. The basic human needs guides to focus treatment planning and setting both short- and long-term goals.
How does it work?
It is not expected from the clients to backtrack into the past or get occupied into talking about symptoms. Neither is much time invested talking about feelings except from the acting and thinking that are part of the total behaviors over which clients have direct control. Clients are most likely find therapists to be gently, yet firmly confronting. The confronting questions forms the self-evaluation process, which is the cornerstone of reality therapy. Clients can be expected to experience some urgency in therapy. Time is an important factor, as each session may be the terminating session.
Relationship Between Therapist and Client
Reality therapy stresses upon an understanding and supportive relationship, or therapeutic alliance, which is the basic for effective outcomes (Wubbolding & Brickell, 2005). For rapport and proper interaction between the therapist and the client to occur, the counselor must posses certain personal qualities, including warmth, congruence, acceptance, sincerity, understanding, concern, openness, respect for the client, and the client’s willingness to be challenged by others. Wubbolding (2007b, 2008a) have identified specific ways for counselors to skillfully develop a climate that leads to involvement with clients. The proper working of therapeutic interventions effectively, its basis rests on a fair, friendly, firm, and trusting environment. Once involvement has been established, the counselor helps the clients in gaining better understanding of the consequences of their current behavior.
When is it used?
The practice of reality therapy is best conceptualized as the cycle of counseling, which includes two major components: (1) creation of the counseling environment and (2) implementation of specific procedures that lead to changes in behavior. Reality therapy is used in a variety of settings. This approach is applicable in counseling, education, social work, corrections, crisis intervention, and rehabilitation, community development, and institutional management. Reality therapy is applied in schools, general hospitals,correctional institutions, halfway houses, state mental hospitals, and substance abuse centers.
Therapist’s Function and Role
Therapy can be regarded as a mentoring process in which the therapist is the teacher and the client is the student. Reality therapists preaches clients to engage in self-evaluation, which is done by raising question. The role of the therapist is not to be evaluative about the clients but to challenge clients so that they examine and evaluate their own behavior, and then to devise plans for change. The outcome is better relationships, a sense of inner control of their lives and increased happiness, (Wubbolding, 2007b). It is the responsibility of therapists to convey the idea that no matter how bad situation is, there is hope. If therapist is able to instill the sense of hope, clients assumes that they are no longer alone and change is possible. The therapist acts as an advocate, or someone who is on the client’s side. Together they creatively address a range of concerns.
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