Counseling with Choice Theory - The New Reality Therapy

by M.D. William Glasser

In this plainspoken, welcome follow-up to his 1965 bestseller Reality Therapy, no-nonsense psychiatrist Glasser revisits some familiar psychological terrain and presents a series of candid chats with composite characters closely drawn from his patients. His reality theory emphasizes the importance of conscious choice and personal responsibility as effective alternatives to drugs or electroshock therapy for redirecting the destructive behaviors often labeled as mental illness. Glasser repeatedly stresses the importance to his clients of meaningful, loving relationships to sustaining good emotional and mental health; those clients include a teenage girl infatuated with promiscuity, a suicidal husband who dreams of becoming the woman he sees when he looks in the mirror, a battered wife fearful of freedom, a potentially explosive teenage boy raised on harsh words and cruelty, and an obsessive-compulsive man transfixed with his similarity to the nasty Jack Nicholson character in the film As Good as It Gets. Wasting no time on exploring dreams or childhood trauma, Glasser hones in on the obstacles to each patient's intimate relationships or normal functioning. While some of the results are extremely positive, not all of the conflicts are resolved favorably or predictably. Taking an unromanticized look at our modern phobias and manias, Glasser offers sharp insights into how making rational, effective choices can heal the mind and soul. 25-city radio campaign.

243 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Emma Llama · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was surprisingly eye-opening. it pushed me to see how much of our experience, whether difficult situations, strained relationships, or even certain ‘illnesses’, can be traced back to the choices we make. the author illustrates this through vivid case examples, from addiction to failing relationships, and some of the stories genuinely gave me chills. I found the insights both intriguing and illuminating.

[Pepper Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got exposed to Choice theory in 2019. Revisiting it this year has been amazing. If I were to curate a required reading list for my partner and any school, this (and Choice Theory) will be on this list.