You might have heard about all kinds of therapy. There’s talk therapy, music therapy, and even retail therapy. Reality therapy is not as well known if you’re not in the medical field, but it’s still prevalent today.
If you go to a mental health treatment center in California, it’s possible your therapist might recommend reality therapy. They will likely explain what it is before asking if it’s something that interests you.
We’ll talk about it in detail in the following article. This way, if you feel like therapy is something that might assist you, you’ll know about this option before seeking help.
What Exactly is Reality Therapy?
Reality therapy was developed by William Glasser back in the 1960s. It differs from some other forms of treatment that are still in use today, such as psychoanalysis. It is client-centered. It’s also one of the forms of cognitive behavioral therapy.
The best way to describe it is that it remains focused on present circumstances and relationships more so than past ones. In many ways, that makes it stand out among the various other forms of therapy that mental health professionals might advise. While many other forms of treatment want you to think back to experiences in your past that shaped who you are today, reality therapy does that much less.
Who Might Benefit from It the Most?
One of the key tenets of reality therapy is accountability. That means you can expect the therapist helping you with this treatment to ask you some hard-hitting questions about your actions and why you follow certain behavioral patterns.
Adults who have addiction struggles are likely the ones who will benefit from it the most. That’s mostly how this form of therapy continues in the present day. Some mental health professionals feel it can help a drug or alcohol abuser come to terms with and face their problematic behaviors.
Is Reality Therapy Right for You?
No therapy is easy, but many adults who try reality therapy may find it even more challenging than some other varieties. That is because it focuses on taking accountability for your actions. It allows for no excuses, and you must take a hard look at your behavior if you choose to undertake it.
It is not a form of therapy that is meant to be accusatory, but some who start on this path might feel that way in the early going. They will not be coddled by their therapist if they choose reality therapy as their path toward more socially acceptable behavior.
If you start on a course of reality therapy, you will likely come face to face with the negativity your actions have caused in the lives of those around you. That’s not easy, but there’s a distinct message of hope that’s waiting as a part of this therapy if you have the courage and conviction to continue.
Reality therapy might be characterized as tough love, but it may be what it takes to eliminate problematic behaviors from your life.
Never heard of this before – can definitely see the benefits
Ive never heard of reality therapy, it makes sense though, I think this would really help some people.
I had not heard of reality therapy before reading this. I can see how this could work for some people.