Counseling with Choice Theory

by William Glasser

In Counseling with Choice Theory, Dr. William Glasser takes readers into his consulting room and illustrates, through a series of conversations with his patients, exactly how he puts his popular therapeutic theories into practice. These vivid, almost novelistic case histories bring Dr. Glasser's therapy to life and show readers how to get rid of the controlling, punishing I know what's right for you psychology that crops up in most situations when people face conflict with one another. Practical and readable, Counseling with Choice Theory is Dr. Glasser's most accessible book in years.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Nonfiction, Mental Health

272 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Nazanin Taghizadieh نازنین تقی زادیه · Rating 4 out of 5]

حرف تازه ای واسه گفتن نداشت. همون حرفای تئوری انتخاب بود. و حرف تخصصی مربوط به درمانگری نزده بود. به نظر من کتاب تئوری انتخاب کامل ترین و بهترینه
فصل 6 هم انقدر سانسور داشت که اصلا معلوم نبود چی میگه. به نظرم اگر حذفش می کردن بهتر بود
در کل به نظرم اگر نخونید چیزی از دست نمیدید و بهتره همون تئوری انتخاب رو بخونید

[Jen Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Counseling with Choice Thoery, William Glasser demonstrates how to communicate with people who are going through difficulty in ways that help them see the power of choice in their lives. Time and time again, Glasser shows people that when they honor the fact that they can only control their own actions, they become liberated from external control. When we stop trying to control others, we can better harness our energies to work with what we can influence: our own thoughts and behaviors.

This book is written in an anecdotal style that makes for easy reading. It is geared somewhat to the clinician who works with people undergoing great difficulties. However, anyone who finds Choice Theory a useful paradigm would gain greater understanding through reading this book. By demonstrating how the same perspective can be brought to bear on a wide variety of human suffering, Glasser shows the effectiveness of his theory in a very practical way. I feel far more confident in working in this paradigm after reading this book.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good one, full of solid ideas to use at work, even though I would never be as confrontational as this therapist is with his clients. Sending them home from your office angry at you is never a great idea.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, it makes you feel so good because it gives you that false hope that everything is in your control. You can control your actions, behaviour, and emotions and therefore by doing this you can possibly control the future.

[PeggyVW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glasser and I agree on many things. I'd be curious to talk with someone who has used Choice Theory independently or with the help of a therapist.

[Anne Peyton Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely thought provoking.

[Iain McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating series of case studies illustrating Choice Therapy. Well worth reading.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying read.

[Twitchmatic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing case-studies / overviews of Choice Theory in action. Love the commentary and birds-eye view of it in action.

[Ashley Van Vonderen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr William Glasser presents recreated client sessions with a wide variety of clients. The reader gets to see how Choice Theory applies to diverse problems of living and "mental disorders" in the conventional illness terminology.

This book is recommended for students or practitioners with an established foundation of Choice Theory who want to observe how and why this theory is implemented.

I will say that I was thrown back by the heavy marketing in some of the author's publications- giving off a snake oil, salesman impression- but that observation of bravado does not detract from the intelligence and reputability of the theory itself.

[Joshum Harpy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for work. I was very skeptical of the writing style and the "conversations" with clients that seemed too tidy, too convenient and too scripted, but the ideas were compelling and the examples were helpful, if somewhat contrived. I finished this about a month and a half ago I suppose, though I am just now writing a review and I can definitely say that it has been effective and helpful in terms of how I approach my clients (I work as a caregiver at a brain injury rehab housing facility) and that despite my cynicism, this is proving to be a practical and useful technique.

On the other hand, the book and possibly the theory itself is so oversimplified that some may find the real world application is quickly problematic, though I don't think that is reason enough to throw the baby out with the bath water. I think of it like most good ideas, they look good on paper, but it hangs on us to be creative and flexible enough to put them into any sort of practice.

I have not read any other books detailing choice theory and this was meant to be a book to familiarize one with the way in which choice theory is applied in counseling, so I think it is very likely that I will follow up with one of the core books on the essentials of choice theory.

[J-T · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fun in reading Glasser's books is in the real-life conversations with patients. You read one, and then you think Do I really believe him? Did that really happen? Is THAT how human beings work? Then you read another and you have to answer the same questions again.

Glasser challenges what I think human beings are capable of. He thinks more highly of every person he meets than I am inclined to.

[Heather Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good continuance of Choice Theory, a theory [with reality therapy] of which I plan to practice with my clients. I enjoyed learning the proper approach to an array of diagnosis examples, from a sexually charged teen to obsessive compulsive disorder to severe depression and suicidal ideation. With cognitive behavioral being such an empirically validated and widely used therapy, I found choice theory to be a good compliment with a focus on the 'doing' more so than the 'thinking.'

[Aderyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book presented many cases of reality therapy put into practices achieving goal of meaningful relationship and effectively influence client to choose to control their own behaviour that contribute to fulfil their need. The essence of therapy seem to encourage client to recognise they have no external control to change the behaviour of other but they have internal control to influence other by controlling their own behaviour and response.

[Neo Asiatico · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that would help counselors and therapists on how to communicate effectively to clients . Thumbs up !

[Sue Reifsnider]

Great read! I would recommend it to anyone studying for a career or job in the areas of psychology, ministry or education.