Reality Therapy is the term Glasser used to describe a solution focused approach to navigating problems. It is a method of coaching or counselling developed by Dr William Glasser which focusses on a person’s present behaviour and whether this behaviour can get them what they want.
This conversational framework is effective in a wide range of contexts including coaching, counselling, teaching, leading and managing.
It emphasises that, effective or not, we are all responsible for choosing our behaviour, especially our thoughts and our actions.
While listening to the person’s story with interest and compassion, the reality therapy approach invites the person to consider shifting from perceiving themselves as a victim. They are invited to explore what they want, what they are currently doing to achieve this, self-evaluate whether it is working and plan for actions that will support the meeting of their needs.
