Encyclopedia of Counseling Practice Test

Reality therapy with choice theory was developed by William Glasser. The approach rests on the idea that people choose their behavior to satisfy five basic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. All behavior is seen as part of total behavior, which includes acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology. In therapy, the emphasis is on the present moment: clients examine their current choices, assess how those choices affect their ability to meet needs and form satisfying relationships, and take responsibility for shifting behavior through more effective plans. The goal is practical change and better outcomes in the here and now and in the near future, rather than dwelling on past causes. Glasser’s focus on personal responsibility and workable, committed plans is what defines reality therapy and ties it to choice theory. Other well-known figures contributed to different approaches—Jung with analytical psychology, Erikson with psychosocial development, Ellis with rational-emotive behavior therapy—but Glasser centers on choice and real-life results.