Reality Therapy & Choice Therapy
What is Reality Therapy and Choice Therapy?
Reality therapy and choice theory are often used interchangeably, but they are two different approaches to counseling developed by William Glasser. While there is some overlap between the two, there are also some differences.
Reality therapy focuses on the present moment and helping clients take responsibility for their choices and actions. It is based on the idea that individuals have basic needs that must be met in order to live a fulfilling life, and that individuals are capable of making positive changes in their lives. Reality therapy emphasizes the importance of taking action to achieve goals and focuses on the client’s behavior in the present.
Choice theory, on the other hand, is a broader theoretical framework that emphasizes the role of choice in human behavior. It is based on the idea that individuals have five basic needs: survival, love and belonging, power and achievement, freedom, and fun. According to choice theory, individuals make choices that are designed to meet these needs, and these choices can either be effective or ineffective. The goal of therapy is to help clients make more effective choices that are in line with their values and goals.
While reality therapy is a specific application of choice theory, choice theory can be applied more broadly to a variety of areas, such as education, management, and parenting. Both reality therapy and choice theory emphasize the importance of taking responsibility for one’s choices and actions, but choice theory takes a more broad and theoretical approach to understanding human behavior.