Introduction to Choice Introduction to Choice TheoryTheoryPresenter: Jim PollockPresenter: Jim PollockAAPCE Seminar, March 2012AAPCE Seminar, March 2012

Choice TheoryChoice Theory

CT is the life’s work of Dr William GlasserCT is the life’s work of Dr William GlasserIt is a form of internal control psychology, It is a form of internal control psychology,

as opposed to external control as opposed to external control psychologypsychology

CT is a complete psychological theory, CT is a complete psychological theory, represented in Glasser’s chart, which has represented in Glasser’s chart, which has been developed over the last 50 yearsbeen developed over the last 50 years

External control External control psychologypsychology

11stst level – the phone rings… level – the phone rings… CT – you choose to answer the phone (or not to)CT – you choose to answer the phone (or not to) 22ndnd level – I can make you do what I want, and you can level – I can make you do what I want, and you can

make me do what you wantmake me do what you want CT – the only behaviour you can control is your CT – the only behaviour you can control is your

ownown 33rdrd level – I know what is good for you and it is my level – I know what is good for you and it is my

duty to make you do it.duty to make you do it. CT – all I can do is give you information CT – all I can do is give you information

Basic needsBasic needs

CT states there are 5 basic needsCT states there are 5 basic needsSurvival Survival – physical needs, food, water, security– physical needs, food, water, securityLove and belonging Love and belonging – connecting with other – connecting with other

people that are important to youpeople that are important to youPowerPower – success, acknowledgement from – success, acknowledgement from

others, achievementothers, achievementFreedomFreedom – to have choices and control in your – to have choices and control in your

life…freedom from…. And freedom to…life…freedom from…. And freedom to…Fun Fun – laughter, the genetic reward for learning– laughter, the genetic reward for learning

Quality worldQuality world

The pictures in our head that we want to The pictures in our head that we want to experience in our life. Three clustersexperience in our life. Three clusters1.1.PeoplePeople that are important to us that are important to us2.2.ExperiencesExperiences – places, activities, things that – places, activities, things that we wantwe want3.3.Beliefs and values Beliefs and values – what we believe in – what we believe in If something is not in our quality world it is If something is not in our quality world it is not and will not be important to us. not and will not be important to us.

Comparing placeComparing place

All day long we are constantly All day long we are constantly comparing what we have (comparing what we have (our perceived our perceived worldworld) with what we want (our ) with what we want (our quality quality worldworld). If there is a close match we feel ). If there is a close match we feel happier and in effective control of our happier and in effective control of our life. If there is a mismatch we feel life. If there is a mismatch we feel unhappy and losing effective control. unhappy and losing effective control.

Our behaviour is what we do to close Our behaviour is what we do to close the gap or keep the match the gap or keep the match

Total behaviourTotal behaviour

CT states that behaviour has 4 CT states that behaviour has 4 dimensionsdimensions

Acting Acting – talking, doing– talking, doingThinkingThinking – self talk, ideas, – self talk, ideas, FeelingFeeling – emotions – emotionsPhysiologyPhysiology – ‘body talk’, headaching, – ‘body talk’, headaching,

sweating, sweating,

Car analogyCar analogy

WheelsWheels – – front wheels front wheels (acting, thinking (acting, thinking – more control), – more control), back wheels back wheels (feeling, (feeling, physiology - less direct control)physiology - less direct control)

Steering wheel Steering wheel – quality world– quality worldEngine Engine – needs (drive behaviour) – needs (drive behaviour) Rear view mirror, fuel, passengers, Rear view mirror, fuel, passengers,

Counseling with CTCounseling with CT

There are 4 main questions or parts of There are 4 main questions or parts of this processthis process

WantsWants – what do you want? – what do you want?DoingDoing – what are you doing? – what are you doing?EvaluationEvaluation – how is this working for you? – how is this working for you?Plan Plan – what can we come up with – what can we come up with

together together for you to do for you to do to make things to make things work better for you?work better for you?

Quality world (want) Quality world (want) questionsquestions

What did you want to get out of what What did you want to get out of what you did?you did?

Who do you want to be like?Who do you want to be like?What would that give you if you could What would that give you if you could

…..…..What is it about this that you like the What is it about this that you like the

most?most?

Doing questions (total Doing questions (total behaviour)behaviour)

What did you do when she called you a What did you do when she called you a bitch?bitch?

What were you thinking when you were What were you thinking when you were doing that?doing that?

How did you feel when you saw the How did you feel when you saw the teacher call out to you?teacher call out to you?

What was going on in your body when What was going on in your body when you started to feel angry?you started to feel angry?

Evaluation questionsEvaluation questions

Did you get what you wanted?Did you get what you wanted? How did that work for you?How did that work for you? How do you feel now that you are here with How do you feel now that you are here with

me?me? Is this the sort of person you want to be?Is this the sort of person you want to be? Is this how you want to be known?Is this how you want to be known? This is the heart of the CT counseling process – This is the heart of the CT counseling process –

without some discomfort here there will be no without some discomfort here there will be no change in ‘organised’ behaviourchange in ‘organised’ behaviour

Planning questionsPlanning questions

Can you think of anything else you could Can you think of anything else you could have done?have done?

What would you be doing (or thinking, What would you be doing (or thinking, feeling) if you were being the sort of person feeling) if you were being the sort of person you want to be?you want to be?

What else could you say to yourself when you What else could you say to yourself when you feel like that?feel like that?

Would you like some help with coming up Would you like some help with coming up with different ways to do that?with different ways to do that?

Further trainingFurther training

If you are interested in further training If you are interested in further training opportunitiesopportunitiesLet Let Stephen Larkin Stephen Larkin know. If there is a know. If there is a

demand we can run another longer demand we can run another longer workshop for chaplainsworkshop for chaplains

Glasser Institute training (4 Glasser Institute training (4 days Basic days Basic Intensive TrainingIntensive Training) is organised every March. ) is organised every March. Leave your email address with Jim PollockLeave your email address with Jim Pollock

Contact Jim Pollock on Contact Jim Pollock on James.Pollock@det.wa.edu.au James.Pollock@det.wa.edu.au