International Journal of Choice Theory® and Reality ... - CTRTJournal

EXTENDING REALITY THERAPY WITH FOCUSING: A HUMANISTIC ROAD FOR THE
CHOICE THEORY TOTAL BEHAVIOR CAR
Thomas K. Burdenski, Jr., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology, Tarleton
State University—Fort Worth, TX
Robert E. Wubbolding, Ed.D., Director of the Center for Reality Therapy, Professor Emeritus,
Xavier University
Abstract
In Glasser‘s Choice Theory®, the individual‘s total behavior is often represented using the
Choice Theory Total Behavior Car as a metaphor for the four dimensions of total behavior.
Focusing, a humanistic technique, is a powerful adjunctive tool for helping individuals tune
into the rear wheels of his or her total behavior car (feelings and physiology) so he or she
can travel more effectively toward his or her quality world destination.
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According to Glasser (1998), the brain functions as a control system by continually
monitoring our feelings to determine how well we are doing with our life-long desire to get
our needs (love and belonging, power, freedom, fun, and survival) met. Experiencing
distressful feelings such as impatience, annoyance, anger, anxiety, fear, sadness,
depression, etc., is a signal that one or more of our needs is not being met. Before learning
Choice Theory, clients may not know what their basic needs are, but they will use their
frustration as motivation for getting their needs met and try to satisfy them in more
effective ways.
Interestingly, we do not set out after birth to consciously meet our basic needs. Instead,
we each begin early in life to collect pictures of persons, activities, and places that are
satisfying to us and place them in our personal mental picture albums. Glasser describes
this collection of satisfying images as the quality world—a file of wants which is unique to
each of us and represents our personal paradise on earth—how we would like our lives if we
could have them exactly as we want them to be.
Wubbolding (2011) states that ―specificity is the foundation of the quality world. Needs are
general; wants are specific and unique to each individual (p. 42).‖ He later adds that: ―the
quality world, containing specific wants related to more generic needs…constitutes the world
we would like to live in, one that requires clarification, self-evaluation, prioritization, and
discussion with a trusted friend, colleague, family member, or therapist‖ (p. 44). The
quality world then, represents the destination we have in mind when we get into our total
behavior car and set out on the journey of life. It is a very personal and unique journey
aimed at satisfying the five basic universal needs. Therefore, the quality world with its
pictures of the desirability of the destination fuels the car for the journey and makes the trip
a worthwhile one.
International Journal of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy • Fall 2011 • Vol. XXXI, number 1 • 14