Integrating the Bible into Reality Therapy/Choice
Theory
Introduction
William
Glasser, the founder of Reality Therapy/Choice Theory, set up a solution-based
cognitive philosophy on the five basic needs (genetic encoded needs) of every human
being. The five basic needs are self-preservation and survival, love and
belonging, power or inner control, freedom or independence, and fun or
enjoyment. When a client meets each of these five needs, they will be able to
live a healthy and fulfilled life. Stressing the importance of the relationship
between the therapist and client, Reality Therapists can effectively use a
system called WDEP (W: Want, D: Doing, E: Evaluation, and P: Plan). Through
WDEP, the Reality Therapist can guide their client into making the right
choices for their lives. This research paper will look at the history of Reality
Therapy/Choice Theory. It will also look at the areas in which it has been the
most useful. The strengths of this therapy/theory will also be addressed, especially
when incorporating the Bible into the equation. Finally, this paper will look
at the weaknesses of Reality Therapy/Choice Theory, discussing ways in which it
can become a more powerful tool, especially for the Biblical Counselor.
History of Reality Therapy/Choice Theory
Reality
Therapy/Choice Theory is a blending of ideas that helps therapists move their
clients past a life of hopelessness and futility. Robert E. Wubbolding, who was
a colleague of William Glasser, stated Choice Theory is the train track,
whereas Reality Therapy is the train that takes the client on the journey of
healing (Robey, 2011). Within the counseling session, the Reality Therapist
teaches their client how to live a life of self-preservation, love and
belonging, power in self, joy in life, and freedom or independence. William
Glasser, the founder of both Reality Therapy (1965) and Choice Theory (1998) gained
insight from G. L. Harrington who taught Glasser the foundation of what would
become Glasser’s life’s work (Jahromi, & Mosallanejad, 2014; Mickel, 2013; Robey,
2011). Glasser’s focus is to rid ineffective behavior, replacing them with
positive actions. The WDEP system, though not used by all Reality Therapists,
is an effective tool in helping to build a healthy relationship between
therapists and clients. With WDEP, the Reality Therapist is able to show their
client how to take the necessary steps (action) to live a fulfilled healthy
lifestyle (Robey, Burdenski, Britzman, Crowell, & Cisse, 2011; Graham, 2012).
Throughout the years, others have taken the structure of Reality Therapy/Choice
Theory and have expanded its reach, going beyond Glasser’s initial focus on children
and adolescents (Mickel, 2013).
Types of Problems Reality
Therapy/Choice Theory is Most Useful
Reality Therapy/Choice Theory, from the beginning, has been
used successfully in helping children and adolescents. From these models, it
has expanded its reach to the whole family. Through the years, Reality
Therapy/Choice Theory has continued the process of being restructured, giving
it the ability to reach others. Seeing the need to reach out to African
Americans, Elijah Mickel created African-Centered Reality Therapy. Expanding
upon the original five needs, Dr. Mickel broadened the restructuring process,
adding a sixth need: spirituality (Mickel, 2013).
Along with helping individuals, families, African Americans,
and a few other cultures learn how to live a successful, healthy, and fulfilled
life, Reality Therapy/Choice Theory has also been beneficial in systematic
applications. Through WDEP, Reality therapists can teach employers and
employees how to find mutual wants within their company, teaching them how to
resolve conflicts, producing a healthier and happier work environment (Robey, 2011;
Robey, Burdenski, Britzman, Crowell, & Cisse, 2011).
Drug
addicts have also benefitted from Reality Therapy/Choice Theory. Teaching
responsibility for their actions, Reality Therapists can reveal to addicts their
destructive behaviors using metacognition. Metacognition teaches the addict
through the self-cognition process. With metacognition, Reality Therapists can show
their clients how to produce a healthier lifestyle, filled with positive
choices and results (Jahromi, & Mosallanejad, 2014; Robey, Burdenski,
Britzman, Crowell, & Cisse, 2011).
Reality
Therapy/Choice Theory has also been recently applied to Labyrinth walking. Labyrinths
have been used for religious purposes (prayer and meditation), learning time
keeping principles, and other personal uses that have benefited individuals for
centuries. Medical facilities have been using labyrinths for years. However,
through the creation of portable labyrinths, Reality Therapists can use them in
their practice, making it a more practical tool in counseling.
Psychotherapists; Beck, Turnage, Jacinto, and Kirven have placed within the
labyrinths four questions adapted from Reality Therapy/Choice Theory. The
clients can go on a journey, meditating on the areas of need in their lives. When
they leave the Labyrinth, it symbolizes a new beginning (Hong, & Jacinto, 2012).
Strengths of Reality Therapy/Choice
Theory
When incorporating the Bible, therefore, restructuring
Reality Therapy/Choice Theory, it can be a valuable tool for therapists and
individuals. Within the foundation of Reality Therapy/Choice Theory is an
avenue in which individuals can face their issues and learn how to take
positive steps to create within them a happier successful life. Glasser stated
every human had five basic needs. Because of the humanistic approach, Glasser
left out an essential need: spirituality. The need for spiritualization can not
be left out of the equation. African-Centered Reality Therapy addressed and
restructured Reality Therapy/Choice Theory to incorporate the missing piece to
the puzzle. According to African-Centered Reality Therapy, spirituality
consists of both the physical and spiritual forces in a person’s life. Once
again, Glasser’s five basic needs are self-preservation and survival, love and belonging,
power or inner control, freedom or independence, and fun or enjoyment. As
stated above, adding spirituality is necessary for an individual to experience
wholeness and fulfillment in their life. The five basic needs (plus
spirituality) can only be satisfied when an individual builds healthy
relationships with others (Robey, Burdenski, Britzman, Crowell, & Cisse, 2011;
Mickel, 2013).
Glasser
based Reality Therapy on the premise an individual is responsible for his/her
actions. Therefore, the person has to be willing to acknowledge and take action
on the change(s) in their behavior needed to live a fulfilled, satisfied life. From
the beginning, God has taught personal responsibility. The teachings of the
Bible are beneficial and necessary in helping clients address their need to be
responsible for their actions. Blaming their upbringing, culture, era, and
being hurt by others, clients will not have the ability to produce the changes
necessary to fulfill the desires in their life. Clients have to understand they
are responsible for how they respond to others and the circumstances they are
experiencing (Galatians 6:5-18; Robey, Burdenski, Britzman, Crowell, &
Cisse, 2011).
The
Bible addresses the fives needs of Reality Therapy and the need for
spirituality found in African-Centered Reality Therapy. People cannot live a
life of fulfillment without each of the five needs being met, according to
Glasser. Once again, spirituality is also a need Glasser did not acknowledge,
and should have. Spirituality will be introduced into each of Glasser’s five
basic needs as they are addressed below. Being able to forget the past will
also be introduced. Delving into the past of the client is important for
Reality Therapists to understand the root problem(s) their client is facing.
However, living in the past will not allow a person to focus on the actions
needed in their lives to make their future filled with hope and accomplishment.
Survival
or Self-Preservation
The most basic need according to Glasser is the first
genetic encoded need: survival or self-preservation. Built into every human is
the instinct to strive to survive (Graham, 2012). Concerning survival and
preservation, the Bible has eternal instructions for the well-being of any
client, whether they are believers in God or not. The wisdom within its pages,
if applied to their life, will bring stability and preservation even during the
struggles they will encounter. When a client is a Christian, the therapist will
be able to share with them the promises God the Father made. Through Jesus,
they have become a New Creation. They have within them the ability to live a
life of hope and security. God has also promised eternal life to those who give
their lives to Jesus Christ. That is the ultimate in fulfilling one’s need for self-preservation.
Not only will a person experience survival and self-preservation through Jesus,
but they will also experience love and belonging (Proverbs 4:20-22; John 3:16;
Ephesians 2:10; 1 John 2:25).
Love
and Belonging
Glasser’s second genetic encoded need is the need to love
and belong. A sense of belonging and connection is crucial to the well-being of
every person (Graham, 2012). Glasser is correct in asserting people need to
love and be loved, and to need and be needed. In wisdom, God knew humans needed
to be in a relationship with someone, and knew they needed to love and be loved.
God’s love for mankind was fulfilled in Jesus Christ through the Cross. Jesus
declared loving God and loving others is the fulfillment of God’s perfect Law.
Through Jesus, creation can experience the love God has for them and also
experience a special relationship with those who are Believers as well. True
love is the foundation for a happy fulfilled life. Love gives a person the
ability to understand the power within and how to have self-control in their
life (Genesis 2:18; Matthew 22:37-40; John 17:24; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Hebrews
10:24-25).
Power
or Inner Control
In
Glasser’s third genetic encoded need is power or inner control. Having
self-confidence is the fruit of belief in self. When a person has lost self-confidence,
they no longer believe they can accomplish anything in their life. They do not consider
themselves of any benefit to self or others in this world. Without the sense of
power or inner control, they will, in the end, have no desire to achieve
anything in life. They will have lost all sense of hope (Graham, 2012; Mickel, 2013).
If the client has a relationship with Jesus, they can know there is hope even
in the face of struggle and tragedy. Instead of fear and timidity, God has
given them the spirit of power through the Holy Spirit. Inner control comes
through meditating on their source of hope; Jesus Christ, and following God’s
Word. Through Jesus, fulfilling the need for power or inner control is
available for all God’s Children. When a Child of God understands their source
of power or inner control, they will experience freedom. They will also know
their dependence is not based on self, but in the One, who gave them life (Psalm
119:9-11; Acts 1:18; 2 Timothy 1:7).
Freedom
or Independence
Glasser’s
fourth genetic encoded need is freedom or independence. Glasser believes
everyone has the need for self-governance. Every person has the desire to be
independent, being able to handle and accomplish any situation they face. To
Glasser, this is where people get their sense of hope. They feel good about
themselves because they believe they are in control of their life (Graham, 2012;
Barnette, 2009).
Freedom
for Believers is not through being able to take charge of their lives. Freedom
comes from the work of Jesus on the cross, setting an individual free from
guilt and despair. Freedom is not about being in control of one’s destiny, but
surrendering to the One, who understands, knows, and loves them better than
they do themselves. Freedom in Christ should not be taken lightly. Too often,
Christians use their freedom to act irresponsibly, not worrying about the
consequences of their actions because of the eternal freedom they have received
through Jesus’ death on the cross. Instead of abusing freedom, Christians
should be motivated to help others know and understand the freedom God offers
to those who give their lives to Jesus Christ. Freedom should also bring joy in
the lives of Believers. Knowing the God of the Universe is with them, even in
the midst of turmoil, should give them the ability to see hope in the midst of
darkness. With their hope resting on the freedom God has to offer, Christians
can and do experience joy (John 8:32; Galatians 5:1,13; 1 Peter 2:16).
Fun
or Enjoyment
Glasser’s
fifth and final genetic encoded need is the desire for all humans to have fun
or enjoyment in life. Everyone needs to engage in responsible activities that
will bring them and others pleasure. A person must decide to go out and have
fun instead of waiting around for it to happen. They need to take positive actions
in their life to experience pleasure and enjoyment (Graham, 2012; Barnette, 2009;
Mickel, 2013).
In
the makeup of humankind, joy is a healing power that will see them through
tumultuous times without frustration and despair. Christians understand fun and
enjoyment goes beyond just a response to an event. Joy comes from a
relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus promised Believers, their joy will be
complete because of the gifts God will give them. Not only will God give gifts
of joy, but will also provide for all of their needs in life. Therefore, their
heart will be filled with pure joy and pleasure because God is the source of
everything they need. Believers can also put their past behind them,
understanding they are no longer defined by their past because of their
relationship with Jesus. They are a New Creation (Proverbs 17:22; Ecclesiastes
2:24; John 16:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Timothy 6:17).
Forgetting
the Past
Glasser believed individuals needed to stop focusing on the
past. Instead, people should focus on changing their behavior as they produce
positive actions in their lives. When they see the changes, they will feel
better about themselves and have a better outlook on the future. A Reality Therapist,
since they are solutions-based, will listen carefully to their client, picking
out the positives from their past experiences, instead of focusing on the
negatives. They will not allow their client to spend too much time discussing
the past. Listening to misery for twenty minutes was all Glasser could handle.
Moving forward is the emphases in Reality Therapy. No one can change the past.
Only the present and the future can be altered (Robey, 2011).
Quality
World is a beneficial tool in helping to erase the hurts of the past as well.
Assigning values to the basic needs, clients learn to construct their lives,
striving to paint a beautiful life story for themselves. The individual must
focus on each of the five genetic encoded needs for there to be balance and
harmony. By constructing, they allow themselves the opportunity to view how
their world can change for the better through positive behavioral changes. They
must first be willing to let go of their past so they can focus on their future
(Graham, 2012).
Forgetting
the past will not only help individuals heal from within, but will also help
the person learn to forgive those who has hurt them. Holding on to a grudge
will impede healing. They need to forgive others to heal from within their soul.
For those who are Christians, they need to remember they are no longer
condemned because of what Jesus did for them. In return, they must forgive
those who have hurt them. Christians need to forgive as Christ has forgiven
them. Instead of anger; there should be forgiveness, peace, and harmony.
Instead of defaming others; there should be a love for one another, building
them up instead of tearing them down. If Christians would treat others
(Christian and non-Christian alike) as Jesus treated and treats them, there
would be very little need for counselors (Romans 8:1; Ephesians 4:31-32;
Colossians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Weaknesses of Reality Therapy/Choice
Theory
Following
are three of the major weaknesses of Reality Therapy/Choice Theory: Lack of
Spirituality and the Incorporation of the Bible, The Importance of the Past,
and Multicultural Delinquency.
Lack
of Spirituality and the Incorporation of the Bible
Reality
Therapy/Choice Theory’s greatest weakness is not including spirituality in its
theory and therapy. Relying solely on a solution-based cognitive philosophy,
Glasser dismissed spirituality as a need for humankind. In fact, action is
stressed so heavily in Glasser’s world, spirituality and emotions are often put
on a shelf, hoping never having to discuss them. Leaving out spirituality is a
flaw that was thankfully addressed by Elijah Mickel when including it in
African-Centered Reality Therapy. Nonetheless, spirituality is still not part
of Reality Therapy/Choice Theory to this day. Until spirituality is included,
Glasser’s therapy and theory will never be able to reach fully those who are
seeking help (Mickel, 2013).
The
Importance of the Past
Another
weakness in Reality Therapy/Choice Theory is not fully recognizing the
importance of focusing on the past. Yes, dwelling on the past is never
beneficial, but, addressing the past is needed to seek real healing. When a
therapist does not allow their client to spend quality time revisiting their
past, the root problem(s) they are facing, may never be revealed. Reality Therapists
are correct in stating the only way their client can change their life is
through action. However, the past must be fully addressed to move forward. If
the past is not adequately addressed, pain in the future will occur because of
unresolved conflicts that were never settled. Once the past is treated correctly,
the client can move forward, leaving the past behind them (Mickel, 2013).
Multicultural
Delinquency
Another weakness of Reality Therapy/Choice Theory is the
lack of multicultural outreach. It has not had the anticipated success in major
cultures throughout the world even though Glasser’s book on Reality Therapy has
been translated into several languages. Reality Therapy/Choice Theory has
failed to set up a system that can reach the major cultures around the world.
Until it does, this system will continue to be limited in scope and practice.
God,
however, is not limited to any culture or people. All nations and people are
the desire of God’s heart. That is why Jesus came to die for the whole world. In
the eyes of God the Father, all who give their lives to Jesus are one nation
filled with diverse people whose eternal home is Heaven. Jesus challenged
Believers to not be bound by their culture as they reach out to the world with God’s
eternal, multicultural message of salvation. To accomplish this, Christians
must be willing to understand and respect the culture and the people God has
called them to reach (Wubbolding, & Brickell, 2012; Matthew 28:18-20; John
3:16; Acts 17:27; Galatians 3:28; 1 Timothy 2:1-15;).
Conclusion
Reality
Therapy/Choice Theory’s solution-based cognitive philosophy lacks the ability
to lead their clients to complete healing. Without God, their client will never
live a life filled with security, love, inner peace, freedom, joy, forgiveness,
and the ability to forgive and forget the past. With God, hope and
encouragement replace regret and depression, despair and confusion for all who
seek the Wonderful Counselor. For those who seek God, they are promised, not
only will they know their Creator, but the God of the Universe will never leave
nor forsake them. Biblical Counselors must use God’s wisdom as they address the
lack of biblical principles in all humanistic therapies and theories.
Christians should never settle for the wisdom of this world. Instead, they need
to seek God’s wisdom and lead others to do the same. When seeking God’s wisdom,
the Holy Spirit will guide and direct the therapist and their client, revealing
the changes necessary to live a healthy fulfilled life. It is time for
Christians to begin the process of formulating a biblical philosophy that will
help the therapist reach the whole person. If the therapist does not take their
client to the Throne of God, there will never be true healing (Deuteronomy
31:6; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 13:5; Isaiah 9:6; John 14:27).
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