Term Paper
on
Reality
Therapy A Treatment for Anger
Introduction
Anger is an absolutely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets
out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems. These problems
may eventually affect the overall quality of life. It is not uncommon with
people having such problems to feel as though they are at the mercy of an
unpredictable and strong emotion. Most people in these situations try to seek
professional help of counselors who can devise specific treatment plans for
them. Counselors who work with adults who are aggressive may be required to use
a vast number of counseling strategies to help their clients. These
interventions may be required to allow the client to achieve a greater social
and academic autonomous functioning ability. (D. C. Dinkmeyer, D. C., Jr.
Dinkmeyer, & L. Sperry, 1987)
The following treatment plan shows how councilors can use reality therapy to
help aggressive people cope up with their problems.
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Statement of Problem
According to Charles Spielberger, anger is "an emotional state that varies in
intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage". Like other emotions,
it is accompanied by physiological and biological changes. When a person gets
angry, his heart rate and blood pressure goes up, as do the levels of his energy
hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenalin.
Anger can be triggered by both external and internal events. A person could be
angry with a particular person (e.g. a coworker or supervisor) or event (e.g. a
traffic jam, a canceled flight), or anger could be caused by worrying about
personal problems. Memories of disturbing or enraging events can also trigger
angry feelings.
Expressing Anger
The automatic, natural way to express anger is to respond aggressively. Anger is
a natural, adaptive reaction to threats. It motivates powerful, often
aggressive, feelings and behaviors, which allow people to fight and to defend
themselves when they are attacked. Therefore, a certain degree of anger is
necessary to survival.
On the other hand, it is irrational to physically abuse every person or object
that is irritating or annoying. Laws, social norms, and common sense place
limits on how far anger should take us.
People use a range of both conscious and unconscious processes to cope with
their angry feelings. The three main approaches are expressing, suppressing, and
calming. Expressing angry feelings in an assertive and not aggressive manner is
the healthiest way to express anger. To do this, a person has to learn how to
make clear what their needs are, and how to get them, without hurting others.
Being assertive doesn't mean being pushy or demanding. It means being respectful
of oneself and others.
Anger can be suppressed, and then transformed or diverted. This happens when
people hold in their anger, stop thinking about it, and focus on something
positive. The aim of this exercise is to inhibit or suppress anger and convert
it into more constructive behavior. The peril in this type of response is that
if it isn't allowed outward expression, it can turn inward on ones own self.
Anger turned inward may cause hypertension, high blood pressure, or depression.
(J. R. Weisz, G. R. Donenberg, S.l S. Han, & B. Weiss, 1995)
Unexpressed anger can create other problems. It can lead to pathological
expressions of anger, such as passive-aggressive behavior like getting back at
people indirectly, without telling them why, rather than confronting them
head-on, or a personality that seems continuously skeptical and antagonistic.
People who are constantly putting others down, criticizing everything, and
making sardonic comments haven't learned how to constructively express their
anger. Not surprisingly, they aren't likely to have many successful
relationships.
Finally, people can calm down inside. This means not just controlling outward
behavior, but also controlling internal responses by taking steps to lower heart
rate, calm down, and let the feelings subside.
As Dr. Spielberger notes, "when none of these three techniques work, that's when
someoneor somethingis going to get hurt."
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Anger Management
The goal of anger management is to reduce both emotional feelings and the
physiological stimulation that anger causes. People can't avoid the things or
the people that infuriate them, nor can they change them, but they can learn to
control their own reactions.
Measuring the Intensity of Angry feelings
There are psychological tests that measure the intensity of angry feelings, how
prone to anger someone is, and how well he can handle it. But most people, who
have a problem with anger, already know it. If someone finds himself acting in
ways that seem out of control and scary, they might need help finding better
ways to deal with this emotion. According to Jerry Deffenbacher, PhD, a
psychologist who specializes in anger management, some people really are more
"hotheaded" than others are. They get angry more easily and more strongly than
the average person does. There are also those who don't show their anger in loud
spectacular ways but are persistently irritable and cantankerous. Easily angered
people don't always curse and throw things. They sometimes withdraw socially,
sulk, or get physically ill. People who are easily angered generally have what
some psychologists call a low tolerance for frustration, which simply means that
they feel that they should not have to be subjected to frustration,
inconvenience, or annoyance. They can't take things in stride, and they're
particularly infuriated if the situation seems somehow unjust: for example,
being corrected for a minor mistake.
A number of things can make these people this way. One cause may be genetic or
physiological: There is evidence that some children are born irritable, touchy,
and easily angered, and that these signs are present from a very early age.
Another may be socio-cultural. Anger is often regarded as negative; we're taught
from the very beginning that it's all right to express anxiety, depression, or
other emotions but not anger. As a result, we don't learn how to handle it or
channel it constructively.
Research has also found that family background plays an important role.
Characteristically, people who are easily angered come from families that are
troublesome, disorganized, and not skilled at emotional communications.
Strategies to Keep Anger at Bay
Cognitive Restructuring
Cognitive restructuring means changing the way a person thinks. Angry people
tend to curse, swear, or speak in highly colorful terms that reflect their inner
thoughts. When they're angry, their thinking can get much exaggerated and overly
dramatic. They should try replacing these thoughts with more rational ones. For
instance, instead of telling themselves, "oh, it's awful, it's terrible,
everything's ruined," they should tell themselves, "it's frustrating, and it's
understandable that I'm upset about it, but it's not the end of the world and
getting angry is not going to fix it anyhow."
It is important to be careful of words like "never" or "always" when talking
about oneself or someone else. "This !&*%@ machine never works," or "you're
always forgetting things" are not just imprecise, they also make people feel
that their anger is justified and that there's no way to solve the problem. They
also estrange and disgrace people who might otherwise be willing to work with
them on a solution.
Logic defeats anger, because anger, even when it's justified, can quickly become
irrational. One should always try to think about a problem logically. Reminding
oneself that the world is "not out to get me," and Im just experiencing some
of the rough spots of daily life are good practices. One should do this each
time he feels anger getting the best of him, and it'll help him get a more
balanced perspective. (A. E. Kazdin, T. C. Siegel, & D. Bass, 1990).
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Angry people tend to demand things: justice, approval, agreement, and
willingness to do things their way. Everyone wants these things, and everyone
gets hurt and disappointed when they don't get them. But angry people demand
them, and when their demands aren't met, their disappointment becomes anger. As
part of their cognitive restructuring, angry people need to become aware of
their demanding nature and translate their expectations into desires. In other
words, saying, "I would like" something is healthier than saying, "I demand" or
"I must have" something. Practicing this, when people are unable to get what
they want, they will experience the normal reactions: frustration,
disappointment and hurt, but not anger. Some angry people use this anger as a
way to avoid feeling hurt, but that doesn't mean the hurt goes away.
Counseling
If a person feels that his anger is really out of control and if it is having an
impact on his relationships and on important parts of his life, he might
consider counseling to learn how to handle it better. A psychologist or other
licensed mental health professional can work with patients in developing a range
of techniques for changing their thinking and their behavior. One such treatment
is Reality Therapy.
What Is Reality Therapy?
Reality Therapy was developed in the mid-sixties by William Glasser MD, an
American Psychiatrist, and its techniques, theory and wider applications
continue to evolve at his hands. Reality Therapy is a method of counseling,
which teaches people how to direct their own, lives, make more effective
choices, and how to develop the strength to handle the stresses and problems of
life. The core of Reality Therapy is the idea that regardless of what has
"happened" in our lives, or what we have done in the past, we can choose
behaviors that will help us meet our needs more effectively in the future.
(William Glasser Institute Ireland, 2001)
The Practice Of Reality Therapy
The practice of Reality Therapy is an ongoing process made up of two major
components:
1. Creating a trusting environment; and
2. Using techniques, which help a person discover what they really want, reflect
on what they are doing now, and create a new plan for fulfilling that 'want'
more effectively in the future.
Reality Therapy: Treatment Concepts
Reality Therapy has been one of the traditional approaches used with aggressive
people. Below is a very brief summary of the key concepts that are adopted to
devise a treatment plan for aggressive people. (R. E. Wubbolding, 1988)
Creating a Therapeutic Environment
The goal of this approach, like most others, is to develop a supportive,
non-threatening atmosphere. The counselor makes an effort to be friendly, both
through verbal and non-verbal behavior. Listening is important, but the
counselor tries to keep the client in the present, rather than focusing on the
past. Reality therapists are not very reflective in their interviewing style,
preferring to use a lot of probes. However, they show understanding by
frequently summarizing what has been said.
The counselor, besides making the sessions safe, attempts to meet the needs of
the client, using humor to make parts of the process fun and engaging. Effort is
made to act very confident that the client can find ways to deal with past
difficulties. Accepting no excuses for irresponsible behavior is part of this
demonstration of confidence. Remember the "Deadly Cs": control, criticism, and
conflict. All are avoided. (R. W. Wubbolding, 1991)
Setting the Stage for Change
Counselors see the basis for change in the client coming from evaluating the
behaviors that have not worked in the past, those things that do not meet needs.
The big questions are repeatedly asked about the present:
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What do you really want?
What are you doing now?
Does what you are doing now get you what you want?
Eventually, variations of these questions will be directed to more long-term
goals:
What direction do you want to take?
Is what you are doing going to get you where you want to be?
Helping the client to change through better planning assuming the client is able
to honestly evaluate their actions in the way described, the counselor can help
the client to see that more effective behavior needs to be developed. Since no
one does everything all right or all wrong; planned changes include doing some
things different, but repeating those that work.
The plan the client develops should be simple and the goals attainable.
Long-term goals are worked toward in steps, progressing from the simple to the
more complex. In line with the principles of Reality Therapy, procedures that
are valued are those that attain goals without violating the rights of others.
(V. R. Sherwood, 1990)
In planning, try to get the client to offer suggestions first by saying
something, like "what do you think you can do?" Ask the client if they know
anyone else that has solved the same problem, and what they did. If you offer
suggestions, limit the number; keep the emphasis on the client working on the
solutions. (A. E. Kazdin, 1993)
What a plan is finally developed, get a commitment from the client to follow it;
it can be verbal, a handshake, or written. As before, accept no excuses ("Im
more interested in what you can do, than in what you cant do.") Remember not to
be severe of punitive, and never give up.
WDEP Probes
Listed below are the basic WDEP steps in Reality Therapy, expressed in probes
with examples of other ways to explore the material related to the basic probe.
There are many other ways to explore the same or related material.
What do you want?
What could improve your life?
What would make your life better?
What is really important to you?
If you could have anything you want, what would it be?
Whats missing?
Tell me about your dreams?
What do you want from others? Your parents? Your friends?
What kind of person would you like to be?
What would you like to accomplish in counseling?
What do your picture yourself having?
When you think about school (home or job) what is missing?
How could you feel better about yourself (school or work)?
Listen for: want, important, like, love, enjoy, prefer, miss, care about)
What are you doing?
How do you handle this problem?
What have you tried to get what you want?
Lets run through a typical day at school (with your parents, at work); tell
me what goes on and how you respond.
What are your reactions when that happens?
What do you do about it?
So, how do you go about getting what you want?
When that happens, how do you feel? What do you say to yourself? How do you
react?
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Is what youre doing getting you what you want (Evaluate)?
Is what you are doing working?
Does it seem reasonable that your approach will succeed?
What do you really think about the way you are acting?
What do you think will happen if you keep doing that?
What is really in your best interest?
If you did nothing at all instead of what you are doing, would you be better
off?
How enjoyable is it for you after you have done that?
Is there a better path to take than the one you are on now?
If you keep up what you are doing, what will happen?
Do you enjoy what happens to you when you do (blank)?
Is this hurting you (friends, parents, siblings)?
Is it helping you to do this?
What will your approach get you?
If you keep doing this, what will it ultimately get you?
What would be different if you were not into doing that?
Is there a better plan?
What are your options?
What can you do differently?
What have you tried before?
What have you done that is different from this?
Are you stuck with doing this?
Have your friends done it in a different way?
Can you change what you are doing?
Getting a Commitment
Are you really serious about this?
How will you feel if you do this?
Do you think you will really be better off if you do it in this way?
What could go wrong with your plan?
How could you shoot yourself in the foot?
What excuses are you likely to make not to do this?
Are you tough enough to go through with this?
What will your friends say if you do this?
Do you have what it takes to do this?
Are you willing to accept the problems this will cause?
References
Dinkmeyer, D. C., Dinkmeyer, D, C., Jr., & Sperry, L., (1987) Adlerian
counseling and psychotherapy (2nd. Ed.) New York: Maxwell Macmillan
International Publishing Group.
Kazdin, A. E. (1993). Adolescent mental health: Prevention and treatment
programs/. American Psychologist, 48, 127-141.
Kazdin, A. E., Siegel, T. C., & Bass, D. (1990). Drawing on clinical practice to
inform research on child and adolescent psychotherapy: Survey of practitioners.
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 21, 189-198.
Sherwood, V. R. (1990). The first stage of treatment with the conduct disordered
adolescent: Overcoming narcissistic resistance. Psychotherapy, 27, 380-387.
Weisz, J. R., Donenberg, G. R., Han, S.l S., & Weiss, B. (1995). Bridging the
gap between laboratory and clinic in child and adolescent psychotherapy. Journal
of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63,688-701
Wubbolding, R. E. (1988). Using reality therapy. New York: Harper & Row
Publishers.
Wubbolding, R. W. (1991). Understanding reality therapy: A metaphorical
approach. New York: Harper & Row Publishers
What Is Reality Therapy 09/28/2001 http://indigo.ie/~irti/whatis.htm
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