searching for a type of biography on Dr. William Glasser...

greenspun.com : LUSENET : GLASSER Choice Theory & Reality Therapy : One Thread

To Whom it may concern:

My name is Tasha King. I attend the University of Mississippi. I have chosen Dr. William Glasser for my research paper. I know Dr. Glasser is still living but I would love some information on his life. I am not looking for juicy stuff, but just general information so that my research paper will be more interesting. I have done some book reviews at a previous college, and I still have those. My research paper needs to be five pages typed. If you could help me I would be so greatful. I hope you have a WONDERFUL day :) Thank you for the time you spent reading this :) Thanks again.

Sincerely, Tasha King

-- Tasha King (tlking@hotmail.com), June 04, 2000

Answers

Tasha, You will find a brief summary of Dr. Glasser's life so far on http://www.wglasser.com/whoweare.htm I might also recommend his very latest book "Getting Together and Staying Together" in which he does disclose more about himself than he has in the past. He really does practise what he preaches ... even in the smaller things of life. Maybe some day he will do us all a favour and write about his early life. You will gather from reading his Choice Theory that he does not emphasize the past in therapy ... but maybe the story of his past would be therapy for us! It would be wonderful to hear the details of his childhood and more about this amazing teacher he had, Dr Harrington. Good luck in your work Tasha.

-- Brian Lennon (blennon@indigo.ie), June 04, 2000.

Tasha. I'm not sure where this came to be in my fiels, but it might help.

Lil Hosman Portland, OR

In 1967 Dr. William founded the Institute for Reality Therapy. Because of the dynamic growth of ideas, concepts and beliefs the Institute considered it was time to change its name to one that better reflected its teachings.On 1994 , it became the Institute for Control Theory, Reality Therapy and Quality Management and in 1996 the title became the Glasser Institute.

In 1965 Dr. William Glasser wrote the book "Reality Therapy". He had recently graduated as a psychiatrist and was working at the Ventura School in California with delinquent girls. Both in this program and in the Veterans Hospital, where he had done his psychiatric residence with Dr. Harrington, Glasser through his work was developing the principles of reality therapy. He said much of what he teamed was gained from observing people who had what he called a 'therapeutic personality' in interaction with clients. He observed that they were friendly and caring, that they focused on the positives and helped the client develop action plans for change. From his research and work, Glasser developed the eight steps of reality therapy that focused on the following: involvement; present behaviors; value judgment; planning; commitment. In 1969 Glasser published "Schools Without Failure", a book based on his work in the California schools helping children gain a success identity. This book established him as a major force in the educational field. Although Glasser is a psychiatrist, his approach to mental health is an educational model of teaching people to help themselves by understanding their own needs and by choosing better behaviors.

Reality therapy is not something that a counselor does to a client. It is something a client learns to do for him/herself with the guidance of the counselor who acts as a friend, questioner and teacher.

Glasser subsequently wrote the books: "Identity Society" (1972); "Positive Addiction" (1975); and "Both Win Management" (1980). Glasser says that for fifteen years after writing "Reality Therapy", he sought the philosophical base of reality therapy. In 1980, Glasser met William Powers, author of "Behavior the Control of Perception" (1973). This book set out the theoretical base of choice theory but in a highly and complex manner. Glasser took these ideas and wed them to the techniques of reality therapy, outlining them originally in "Stations of the Mind" (198 1) and later in "Choice Theory" (1984). Thus reality therapy outlines the procedures or techniques for counseling and choice theory explains why reality therapy works. Subsequent to the marriage of choice theory and reality therapy, the concept of Quality Management arrived influence by the principles of W. Edward Deming.

With Glasser's commitment to education and the educational process, he then focused on why so many of our young people were dropping out of school. He concluded that schools had to create a need -satisfying atmosphere: where students felt they belonged; were empowered to make decisions about their learning; and enjoyed what they were doing. He then wrote "Choice Theory in the Classroom" (1986), followed by "The Quality School" (1990) where he introduced the concepts of quality, lead-management, non-coercive practices and self-evaluation. Glasser believes that unless students see their work as useful to them, adds quality to their lives and therefore feels good, they will not do it. This expression is explored in his latest book "The Quality School Teacher"(] 992). Today, any study of the work of Dr. William Glasser must include the concepts of choice theory, the procedures or techniques of the reality therapy approach and the principles of quality management.

Credit to: Glenys Gardam

-- Lil Hosman (hlk2@qwest.net), April 22, 2001.


tasha, here is an antecdote concering Dr. Glasser.

when he was doing his residecy at the V.A. hospital he had an encounter with a patient and it went somwthing like this. I have been seeing as a patient for sometime and there has been no chang. Do you have any idea what it is that you want? To his syrprize the patient answaed yes but nobidy has ever ask me. That incident began Bill thinking that perhaps typical approches need to change.

I am a basic week instructor with the Gasser Inst. and have study with Bill for fouteen years. I have had the privilage of sharing in his wisdom and the bewildering experience of keeping up with dynamic thinker. He is a great man.

I can for sure document the above story, enjoy, good fortune with your paper.

-- Louis J. Barrier Jr. (loub1@nwi.net), June 25, 2002.


Even though it has been awhile since you posted your search I am now researching Dr. Glasser and can't seem to find anything about his early life (the past) or his family which is required in the paper-- any help

-- Terri Pilgrim (acp620tp@alltel.net), April 12, 2003.

Dr. Wubbolding's book "Reality Therapy in the 21st.Century" has detailed informatiom about Dr.Glasser's early work and life. isbn 1 56032 886-X

-- ken lyons (kenlyon@gofree.indigio.ie), April 13, 2003.


I have butt fleas! They're biting me! AHHHHHH!

-- danial garcia (garciadi@yahoo.com), April 20, 2003.

Inquiry: Tasha! Let us all know how your paper evolved and whether you have arranged to have it published for a wide audience. It could be very very useful because there are so many wonderful anecdotes about Bill Glasser. It's always helpful to "humanize" folks and let people know how genuine the mentor is. Please let us know the status of your paper, how it was received, what you and the professor learned, and what your class learned (in the event each student reported back to the class.) Have you done more with Choice Theory since you studied its inventor? All the best to you!

Suzy Bannigan (South Pomfret, Vermont)

-- suzy hallock-bannigan (suzyatdonegal@aol.com), May 18, 2003.


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