Training that empowers everyone!

Choice Theory and

Reality Therapy Training

Reduce the stress and distress you currently experience.
Learn powerful strategies to calmly manage all your life holds.
Develop coping mechanisms to take control back in your life.
You will no longer be a victim of your past, your emotions or your life circumstances.
Learn an effective strategy for helping yourself and others make more effective decisions in your lives.
Improve the significant relationships you have with the important people in your life.
Learn strategies for more effectively getting what you want in life.

What is Reality Therapy?

Reality Therapy is a counseling method that was developed by Dr. William Glasser in 1965. However, it is so much more than a counseling technique. Reality Therapy is a problem solving method that works well with people who are experiencing problems they want help solving, as well as those who are having problems and appear to not want any assistance. Reality Therapy also provides an excellent model for helping individuals solve their own problems objectively and serves as the ideal questioning series during coaching sessions.

The underlying key to Reality Therapy is the relationship that is established with the person who needs the help. This is most critical when you are attempting to help someone who doesn’t really want your help, such as a non-voluntary client, a resistant student or your sometimes even your own child. Without a positive relationship, you have no influence. To your helpee, you sound similar to the way adults sound in the Peanuts cartoons, “Whaa, whaa, whaa, whaa, whaa.” Your helpee doesn’t hear you without the relationship. Gary Zucov says, “Relationship is the root of all influence”. This is certainly true. You can have all the knowledge in the world but if the person you are attempting to help doesn’t believe you care and have their best interests at heart, they, most likely, will not be listening to you.

How Do You Build a Relationship?

So how do you build a relationship? Reality Therapy provides a model by instructing helpers to create a need-satisfying environment. The five basic needs of all humans are survival; love and belonging; power; freedom and fun. So, in a helping relationship, the helper must create an environment where it is possible for the person being helped to feel safe; to feel connected to the helper in some way; to be listened to and respected; to have some choices; and to have some fun or learning with the helper. After creating this need-satisfying environment and working hard to maintain it throughout the relationship, the helper can move on to the actual problem.

Counselors, Therapists, Social Workers

& Helping Professionals

The Basic Intensive Week in Reality Therapy and Choice Theory® will propel you to the next level in your therapeutic career. It will give you a road map to use in your sessions with clients. It will provide you with a model to help your clients self-evaluate their own behavior so they can take effective control of their lives.

I know some of the questions you ask yourself when you are having trouble reaching a client. What can I do differently? What will make the difference with this client? How can I get my clients to cooperate in their treatment? How can I help them make better choices? How can I get them to trust and confide in me?

If you’re like many professionals, you probably measure your success at therapy by whether your clients do the things that you suggest. This works great when your clients are cooperating but how do you feel when you base your worth as a therapist on something you have no control over—the choices another person makes? Reality therapy training will teach you a new gauge to measure with so you can combat helper stress and burnout.

"Kim Olver is inspiring! Her workshops are interactive and dynamic. Kim is an expert in ensuring the training she provides in Reality Therapy/Choice Theory is tailored to meet an organization’s needs. The Lead Management and Relationship Building concepts she has presented to our organization has assisted us in achieving improved communication and teamwork." - Linda C. Solano

School Administrators & Teachers

The Quality School Program is an initiative that will change the entire culture of your school. There are currently twenty (20) Glasser-approved Quality Schools—some are secondary, some are elementary, some are public, some are private, some are special education schools, some are in wealthy communities and some are in disadvantaged areas. These concepts and ideas transcend culture and socio-economic status.

Every student really can succeed and implementing Quality School ideas convinces even the most “tuned out” students that they, too, can succeed in school.

Schools have successfully applied for grant money to implement the Quality School training. Application of the ideas can be incorporated into your Continuous Improvement Plans.

Training in Choice Theory® not only helps individuals in their professional life, but it provides wide-spread applicability to one’s personal life. When your staff is more satisfied personally, they will be able to devote themselves more fully to the work at hand. Training can be done during staff development days or during the summer at your convenience.

Company Leaders & Decision Makers

Lead Management and Choice Theory® is an initiative that can change the entire culture of your company (see Dr. Whitmore’s comment above). Some companies are looking for a major overhaul. These are usually workplaces with a lot of relationship issues, low production, low morale and a lack of enthusiasm for one’s work evident. What follows is an excerpt from my article, “Top Ten Reasons to Implement Choice Theory® in Your Organization:”

I have assisted many companies with implementing the concepts and principles of Choice Theory (CT) in the workplace over the years. Their reasons ranged from mere curiosity to desiring a total immersion of their company into the concepts and principles of Choice Theory. Those companies that were committed to learning the Choice Theory model and implementing it correctly received surprising results.

Research has shown that good training programs are a big factor in encouraging employee retention.

Implementation of these ideas will increase customer satisfaction.

Choice Theory® provides individuals with tools for use in their personal, as well as professional life. When your workforce is managing its personal lives better, it will be better able to thrive on the job.

Choice Theory® is highly empowering for both employees and supervisors, which can be instrumental in reducing employee stress and burnout. Choice Theory® helps people move from a victim mode to that of empowerment.

"Years ago, when I realized I did not know what I was doing and hence did not have a right to counsel in the lives of persons facing difficulties and troubles, I became certified in RT. CT is the way God created us and RT provides the tools needed for effective, life changing counselors. I have used RT for over 20 year and highly recommend it for pastors."

Pastor Richard W. Conner

Salem United Methodist Church, Manheim, PA

Clergy Members

As clergy, you often find yourself in a unique position. You are a spiritual leader who is also charged with providing help and

support for your followers. This can be a daunting task. As a counselor, I know that many people would prefer to talk with their

spiritual advisor about their personal and family problems than they would consult a professional counselor. This can be a

challenging situation for religious leaders. While you have your holy texts as your foundation, and sometimes can clearly see a

better path for your congregation members, you may not have the counseling background or experience to provide the help they truly

need. Reality Therapy can change that!

Reality Therapy is a relatively easy, four-step process to help people reflect on their own behavior and solve problems. You, the helper, are really not the expert with all the answers, but rather you provide the guidance to help your followers figure out what path is best for them. Reality Therapy will provide you with a structure, a guidance system if you will, for providing counseling interventions for people in need.

Choice Theory®, the theory behind Reality Therapy® is a nondenominational approach but clearly integrates well with religious teachings. When others have asked me to explain Choice Theory® briefly, I tell them it’s similar to the Serenity Prayer. Choice Theory® is about helping people stop wasting their energy on attempting change things they have no control over and helping them to use their resources more wisely on things they can change—their own behavior and thinking. So many of today’s problems are caused by unhappy relationships—couples, parents and children, people at work. No one wants to change what they are doing so they can improve their relationships. It is easier to stay stuck and blame the other people for what they are or are not doing. Unfortunately, this approach leaves people frustrated and not knowing where to turn. Learning Choice Theory® can help you teach them why people do what they do and helps them create a plan to affect change in the relationship by changing something they are doing. It’s a very powerful process.

What are people saying?

"The Basic Intensive Training is the single best training I have ever attended. It honestly altered the way I view the world in such a positive and meaningful way. I think I have a much more powerful lens now for understanding students, where they are coming from, and how to help them learn to meet their needs. And, for helping teachers understand students. On a personal level it changed who I want to be and how I want to interact with others. The safe and supportive atmosphere Kim created allowed each of us to reflect on everything she taught us and how we could integrate this within our work. It also created a community of Choice Theory practitioners who are tightly bound together and will stay in close contact to support each other as we share what we’ve learned throughout Albemarle County." - Karen G. Ferrer *

"What Kim showed us in such a beautiful way is that experiencing Choice Theory in real life is not a “Theory,” it’s a “Reality.” That no matter who you are, no matter what your background is, and no matter what religion or status you have, as long as you don’t try to use your power to control others or try to change others, and instead you focus on yourself and what you can do differently or better to improve your relationship with others, you will be successful in improving your relationship with whomever you want to, no matter who that other person is." - Shlomo Tauber Rabbi

Self-Development Enthusiast

If you’re like me, you often find yourself wondering why you and the people around you do the things you do. Before learning Choice Theory®, I would often just shake my head at some of the things those close to me would do. Then, I learned Choice Theory® and began looking at the choices I was making in relation to the “craziness” around me. That was both frustrating and empowering. I learned that ANYTHING could happen in my life and I could handle it based on what I chose to do or think. It was like I was handed the genie in the lamp and told I could have all my wishes for the rest of my life. Now, don’t get me wrong—“bad things” still happen in my life but with my understanding of Choice Theory®, I can now manage anything life has to throw at me. I feel very powerful and free. Sound too good to be true? I guarantee you that it is true and you too can have that ability.

Choice Theory® can help you in every aspect of your life—it becomes the new way you view the world. When you apply these concepts, you will become a better person, a better parent, a better life partner, a better employee or supervisor and overall you will have more peace in your life. Your relationships with other people will become more satisfying and you will move closer to those you most care about. As you focus on becoming the person you want to be, it can help you improve the relationship with have with your self. Stop believing that some degree of unhappiness is necessary in this life and that relationships are always difficult and tumultuous. It doesn’t have to be that way! You can be happy and satisfied in your relationships. All it takes is some adjustments in the things you are doing and the thoughts that dominate your life. Learn the concepts of Choice Theory® and see the difference it will make. ·

Additional Information

Reality Therapy Certification

Reality Therapy Certification is a five-step process. If you are interested in certification in Choice Theory® and Reality Therapy, then this Basic Intensive Week is the first step. The certification process can occur in as little as 18 months. Certification can take as long as a person wants. There is no expiration date on training. The following are the steps in the certification process:

Basic Intensive
Basic Practicum
Advanced Intensive
Advanced Practicum
Certification

Continuing Education Credits

In Illinois:

National Board of Certified Counselor
CEUs Illinois LPC, LCPC, LSW & LCSW
EUs Illinois teacher CPDUs

In Pennsylvania:

National Board of Certified Counselor
Pennsylvania LSW, LCSW and LPC CEUs

Scholarships

Glasser Institute for Choice Theory provides for a scholarship program for individuals demonstrating economic need. There are a limited number of full paid and half paid scholarships available, so apply early. Should you be interested in applying, please contact me at 708-957-6047 or email me at [email protected] and I will give you the necessary information about applying for a scholarship.

The Logic and Ease of Increasing Your Practice Results through Choice

Theory and Reality Therapy

Meet your clients where they are right now and work forward, rather than looking back and dwelling on the past.

Choice Theory and Reality Therapy

Choice Theory and Reality Therapy are logical, forward-focused methods of expanding results in your clients’ lives. Meet your clients where they are right now and work forward, rather than looking back and dwelling on the past.