Chap 11-counsel - Lecture notes 5 PDF

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Chap 11 Sunday, March 7, 2021

5:17 PM

Choice Theory/ Reality Therapy •

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Reality therapists believe the underlying problem for most clients is the same: they are either involved in a present unsatisfying relationship or lack what could even be called a relationship. The therapist guides clients toward a satisfying relationship and teaches them more effective ways of behaving. The more clients are able to connect with people, the greater chance they have to experience happiness. Choice theory: the theoretical basis for reality therapy; it explains why and how we function. Reality therapy: provides a delivery system for helping individuals take more effective control of their lives. Therapy consists mainly of helping and sometimes teaching clients to make more effective choices as they deal with the people they need in their lives. It is essential for the therapist to establish a satisfying relationship with clients as a prerequisite for effective therapy. Once this relationship is developed, the skill of the therapist as listener and teacher assumes a central role.

Key Concepts: • Choice theory: we are not born blank slates waiting to be externally motivated by forces in the world around us. • We are born with five genetically encoded needs that drive us all our lives: ○ Survival or Self-preservation ○ Love and belonging or Inner control ○ Freedom or independence ○ Fun or enjoyment • Quality world: we store information inside our minds and build a file of wants. • Picture album: specific wants as well as precise ways to satisfy these wants. W tt ti t b h i th t i th

We are attempting to behave in a way that gives us the most effective control over our lives. Total behavior: teaches that all behavior is made up of four inseparable but distinct components- acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology- that necessarily accompany all of our actions, thoughts, and feelings. ○

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Characteristics of Reality Therapy: • The role of meaningful relationships in fostering emotional health is receiving increased attention in contemporary reality therapy, which quickly focuses on the unsatisfying relationship or the lack of a relationship. • Therapists ask clients to consider how effective their choices are, especially as these choices affect their relationships with other people. • Emphasis is on what a client can control • Reality therapists see clients as being responsible for their own choices as they have more control of their behavior than they often believe. • Reality therapists strive to be themselves in their professional work. ○ Can use the relationship to teach clients how to relate to others in their lives. • Does not need to focus on past unless client mentions it • Rejects notion that people with problematic physical or psychological symptoms are mentally ill. Therapeutic goals: Therapists role: • Teach clients how to engage in self-evaluation, which is done by raising the question "is what you are choosing to do getting you what you want and need?" • Challenge clients to examine what they are doing. • Assist clients in evaluating their own behavioral direction, specific actions, wants, perceptions, level of commitment, possibilities for new directions, and action plans. • Convey the idea that no matter how bad things are, there is hope. • Therapist is an advocate, someone who is on the client's side. Clients role:

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When clients change what they are doing, they often change how they are feeling and thinking. • Experience urgency in therapy (each session may be the last) Relationship of client and Therapist: • Supportive relationship is foundation for effective outcomes. • Therapists skill in establishing a trusting relationship is critical. • Client must see therapist as skilled and knowledgeable. • The counselor must have certain personal qualities, including warmth, sincerity, congruence, understanding, acceptance, concern, respect for others, openness, and willingness to be challenged. • Must have a fair, friendly, firm, trusting environment. The practice of Reality therapy • Cycle of counseling ○ Creating the counseling environment ○ Implementing specific procedures that lead to changes in behavior. • Clients explore their total behavior and make their own evaluation of how effective they are in getting what they want. • Rests on the assumption that a supportive and challenging environment allows clients to begin making life changes. • Reality therapists operate on the assumption that we are motivated to change (1) when we are convinced that our present behavior is not meeting our needs and (2) when we believe we can choose other behaviors that will get us closer to what we want. WDEP • Describes key procedures in the practice of reality therapy • Help clients explore wants, possible things to do, opportunities for self-evaluation, and design for plans for improvements. • Wants: ○ What do you want? ○ It is useful for clients to define what they expect and want from the counselor and from themselves. • Doing ○ What are you doing?

It is easier to change what we are thinking and doing than to change our feelings Self-evaluation ○ Does your present behavior have a reasonable chance of getting you what you want now? ○ Can help clients determine if what they are doing is helping them ○ Will not change unless its advantageous. Plan ○ What is your plan? ○ The process of creating a plan enables people to begin to gain effective control over their lives. ○ Gives client a starting point ○ Counselor urges the client to be willing to accept the consequences for his or her own choices and actions. ○ Plans are empty unless there is commitment to carry them out. ○

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Group Therapy • Provide members with many opportunities for exploring ways to meet their needs through the relationships formed within the group....