Counseling with Choice Theory (Paperback)

by William Glasser (Author) "In the movie As Good As It Gets, the lead character,Melvin Udall, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, is a textbook illustration of what is known as..." (more)
Key Phrases: external control psychology, total behavior, reality therapy, Santa Barbara, Melvin Udall, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
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. (Jan.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews
The backlash may be on. Turn away from ``organic psychiatry,'' urges Glasser (Choice Theory, 1998, etc.); help patients with mental illness accept that they are responsible for their behavior; and drastically reduce our reliance on medications for treating mental illness. Joined by a growing crowd (Peter Breggin, for instance, and Schaler, below), Glasser reiterates his opposition to the theory that mental illness is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Instead, he insists that ``what is labeled mental illness . . . are the hundreds of ways people choose to behave when they are unable to satisfy basic genetic needs, such as love and power.'' He interprets brain scan research to show that as patients work in (non-drug) therapy, they begin to make better choices in life, and that as a result, brain chemistry changes. This collection of case histories and commentary ranges over marital discord, panic attacks, alcoholism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. Glasser demonstrates how he conducts therapy that helps patients take responsibility for their actions, gradually find better ways to meet their needs, and change inappropriate patterns of behavior. He is generally against ``external control psychology,'' arguing again that patients must learn to control themselves. Though his views are sometimes remote from the current mainstream (``A major purpose of all psychological symptoms is to get sympathy and attention''), he makes a cogent case for his dissent. For those looking for a new view of psychology and psychiatry, either for personal help or to follow the current state of the art. -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (May 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060953667
• ISBN-13: 978-0060953669
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,739 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mind of A Therapist in Action, December 11, 1999

By	Irish Tower (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reality Therapy in Action (Hardcover)

There is a certain fascination about reading case studies but these are special. The creator of Reality Therapy, William Glasser, opens his mind to the reader explaining the processes that guide his interventions with the clients. This gives a rare insight into the mind of a great therapist and theorist. The book contains 12 case studies some of which are documented over several sessions. They provide a range of typical counselling scenarios and Glasser explains how he applies Choice Theory through Reality Therapy. Several of the cases bring very modern issues into focus.

The book also offers the reader many ideas for dealing with the range of problems represented in its pages. Moreover, it shows clearly just how important a solid guiding theory is in the practice of therapy.

One comforting feature for the professional therapist is Glasser's admission of doubts and even mistakes in his process as he sometimes backtracks to change the focus of his counselling. There is a lot to be learned from his exploratory methods.

I write as an Instructor in Reality Therapy with an obvious personal interest in having a resource such as this available to my own trainees. However I believe that the practice and theory presented in <<Reality Therapy in Action>> will interest all students of counselling and therapy. Its firm approval by people such as Albert Ellis, Gerald Corey and Peter Breggin is a fair indication that this book will have an appeal beyond the confines of Reality Therapy and Choice Theory.

For the lay reader there is the Choice Theory message of personal responsibility, that in all human predicaments we have a choice. This is a message of hope and optimism well suited to a book that greets a new millennium.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Grand Slam Home Run for William Glasser! Excellent!, April 27, 2000

By	Taiji 218 (The Frozen North) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reality Therapy in Action (Hardcover)

This is in my opinion one of the best works by William Glasser, one that clearly illuminates both Dr. Glasser's thought processes as well as the ethical grid from which he makes his peoplehelping decisions. His focus on choice as the central feature of all human difficulties as well as helping efforts clearly puts him inside of a most noble tradition that includes Thomas Szasz, Harold Greenwald and John Narciso. Regardless of whether you come to this book as a professional or as a layperson, I would recommend that you closely read, study and apply what you can from the sterling case studies Dr. Glasser lays out before you in this book.

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before you buy..., July 4, 2001

By A Customer

I am a believer in many of Glasser's ideas and use his theory within my work. I was so excited to find a new discussion of cases because I had grown so much from <<Reality Therapy In Action>>. I received this book and upon reading the first page realized I was reading something I had read before. This book is the paperback edition of <<Reality Therapy In Action>>. I recommend the book to anyone who desires to be empowered and wants to see where you have more choices than you think. However, if you've read (or like me own) <<Reality Therapy In Action>>, check out something else by Glasser.