Reality Theory in in the Therapy Process to Overcome Depression and Adversity

Though depression can be a common mental health disorder, it is serious, and it has an adverse effect on how our participants think, feel, and act. Not only does this mental health disorder cause issues physically and emotionally, but it also interrupts one’s capacity to perform at home and work successfully. The great news is that depression is treatable, a form of therapy called Reality Therapy will help group participants problem-solve, set goals, form more meaningful relationships, and help them with unmet needs.

An approach that is person-centered, Reality Therapy will focus on the members’ current issues instead of their past issues. It will help members to make better decisions, and one of the critical elements is the notion that mental distress is not the product of mental health. Rather, mental distress is the result of an individual circumstance the happens when a person is not attaining their basic psychological needs. These needs include; “love and belonging, power and achievement, survival (nourishment and shelter, etc.), freedom and independence and fun (enjoyment and pleasure (Corey, Corey & Corey, 2018).”

Reality Theory places a focus on improving circumstances and relationships as they stand presently. Events of the past will be averted, and the approach will be that love, building secure connections, and feelings of belonging are essential. Reality theory states that individuals can gain control over the improvement of their own lives by only making better choices. The usage of the WDEP model from Reality Therapy, changes can be clarified (Corey et al, 2018). The model breaks down to “what do you Want, what are you Doing to get what you want, how well is this going (the Evolution stage), and let’s re-Plan or produce an explicit Plan linked to what you Want (Corey et al., 2018).” From this model, comes insights for participants, whether they fit together or not, can allow them to make sense of their circumstances and situations.

Members who participate in the therapy process will learn to define their current reality and what they have done to create that reality. They will learn what has happened to them to create the current reality and how they experience things both positively and negatively. They will then work to learn what they can do to change their reality, relationships, or situations and what resources are needed to do so. Understanding the things they cannot change will be valuable in this process as well. Reality Therapy will then help members to define their expectations and modify them if necessary (Wubbolding, 2017). Principally through the WDEP model of the Reality Therapy process, members will assume all responsibility so that they can then make all the necessary changes to self-improve and self-align with all things positive.

The benefits and strengths of Reality Therapy lie within its attention on solution-building, predominantly on shifting actions and thought processes. Members will be provided with self-help tools to acquire more adequate control over their relationships and lives overall. This acquired control, in return, will help in boosting their self-esteem and confidence levels as well as empowering them to grow more personally and better deal with adversity.

Other than depression, Reality Therapy can help treat any members that might have anxiety, additional issues emotionally, substance abuse, and more (Wubbolding, 2017). It has also proven useful in the treatment of more sensitive areas such as cultural clashes, racial issues, and even sexual identity. Further, Reality Therapy can help improve interpersonal relationships and social anxiety, which can be experienced by those living within the military culture (Wubbolding, 2017).